11 February 2015: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) has brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and the private sector for a workshop on implementing TEEB in China and strengthening information and knowledge sharing in the TEEB stakeholder network. Stakeholder discussions focused on a range of national and international topics, including global implementation, valuation methodologies, sustainability practices of businesses and NGOs, and the development of policy-based TEEB frameworks.

The Multi-stakeholder International Workshop took place in the context of a decision by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to develop a TEEB National Action Plan (NAP) for the country, in accord with the Government’s 2013 adoption of the concept of an “ecological civilization.” The TEEB China NAP has been approved by an expert review and is to be implemented over the next three years. The six key components of the plan are: systematizing TEEB theory and methodologies; developing a TEEB China methodology; selecting pilot sites and case studies; raising awareness and training for TEEB; international collaboration and communication; and promoting the mainstreaming of TEEB into policy.

The workshop provided an opportunity for representatives from counties in China that were selected to pilot the plan to voice policy concerns with national officials and identify connections with TEEB and broader environmental goals. In particular, they noted that TEEB could help in the design of payments for ecosystem services (PES), eco-compensation for greening industrial chains and other policy instruments.

The workshop, held in Beijing, China from 20-21 January 2015, was jointly organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) of China, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES), and German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). [TEEB Press Release] [PowerPoint Presentation of TEEB China NAP]