International climate endeavors shouldn't stall

Editor's note: The United States' announcement that it will withdraw from 66 international organizations, conventions and treaties, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, has raised concerns. But at a seminar on multilateralism hosted by the Research Center on Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind on Monday, Liu Zhenmin, China's special envoy for climate change, said the world should remain confident in advancing global climate governance. Below are excerpts of Liu's comments. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

The US decision to withdraw from 66 multilateral treaties and international organizations under the Donald Trump administration is a selective withdrawal from the UN system. It should be viewed calmly and not be taken as a sign that the international order is going to collapse.

While its withdrawal from multilateral organizations and treaties is a significant setback for the international order, it is just one of the 193 UN members; the UN system can continue to survive and develop in the absence of the US.

Last year's COP30 was the first Conference of the Parties to be convened without the participation of the US. Frankly speaking, its absence was damaging, as it created a leadership vacuum among developed countries. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, developed countries share the responsibility to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries. Suddenly, due to the absence of their leader, the developed countries were unable to present a unified stance.

However, global climate governance will not stall just because the US is not present. The world will continue to advance climate governance in accordance with the Paris Agreement, push forward the transition to a green and low-carbon economy and promote carbon neutrality. There should be confidence in this process.

From a global perspective, three trends will remain unchanged. First, the world will continue to move toward multipolarity. Second, economic globalization is irreversible. Third, multilateralism will not be reversed.

The current international order centered on the UN has been effective over the past 80 years, and it will continue to endure. But all countries have to make serious efforts in three areas. The first is to prevent a world war, especially a nuclear war. The second is to effectively address climate change. The third is to effectively regulate artificial intelligence.

In particular, the Global South needs to unite and actively address these issues, instead of losing confidence due to the US' decision to withdraw from 66 international organizations and treaties.

Of course, it is hoped that sooner rather than later the US will return to multilateralism and support the international order.