Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Canadian environment minister becomes first to visit China in 4 years

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 28 Aug 2023 12:04
4 Min Read

Steven Guilbeault hopes that both China and Canada can discuss a wide range of issues, such as climate change and cooperation.

  • x
  • Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Canada speaks during a press conference at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 (AP)
    Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for Canada speaks during a press conference at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 (AP)

Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault's visit to China on Saturday marked him as the first minister to visit China in four years, to discuss climate change and biodiversity.

Experts believe this is a door to ease the China-Canada tensions, given that climate change has always been a window for cooperation between China and the West.

This comes as Guilbeault is scheduled to partake in the annual meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) from August 28 to August 30, under the title of "Green Transition for High-Quality Development: Modernization in Harmony with Nature."

The CCICED is a high-level international advisory body, founded in 1992, to enhance cooperation between China and the international community on environment and sustainable development.

In light of this move, Canadian Ambassador to China Jennifer May showed gratitude to China for the efforts done for Guilbeault's visit for a meeting with Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu on Friday, expressing that she is hopeful for extended cooperation in the field of environment and climate with China.

Read more: Rich countries breach climate promises, increase fossil fuel spending

A former advocate for environmental groups, Guilbeault said he hopes both nations can have honest conversations about a range of issues such as climate change, and find opportunities to cooperate, according to Reuters on Saturday. 

Guilbeault voiced that the two issues he wants to bring up are methane emission reductions and a global renewable energy target, already being discussed before the UN climate change conference (UNFCCC) later this year.

Reuters further reported that Guilbeault intends to follow up on the results of the second part of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's COP15, which was hosted in Montreal and presided over by China last year.

Related News

Cutting air pollution could save 30,000 US lives by 2030

Study links Iberian wildfires to climate change, 40x higher risk

Skeptic steps

Citing experts, the Global Times said that cooperation between China and Canada will yield positive significance and lead an example to the world.

Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Sunday that both nations are signatories to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and that "as major countries in the traditional energy chain, the two countries have many prospects for cooperation in the field of energy transformation," adding: "The two countries can also further strengthen cooperation in technological innovation in renewable energy."

She brought up the fact that Canada has been a hotspot for wildfires, which has left an excessive amount of carbon emissions and encourages a common global response to climate change.

Xia Guohan, founder and director of Zonghengce Strategy Institute and Research Fellow of the Charter Institute think tank, told the Global Times that tackling the global carbon market could be an additional and potential common cooperation point, noting that Guilbeault's visit amid tensions signals a détente between both.

"Fighting climate change is one of the main areas where China and the West have generally been able to de-ideologize and reach cooperation, and a window of cooperation has always been open," he said.

China has been welcoming envoys recently, such as US climate envoy John Kerry in July, while major countries such as France and Germany have also dispatched climate representatives.

Read next: Biden 'applauds China' in Canadian parliament in new gaffe

"Climate cooperation could serve as a knock on the door to improve bilateral relations," Xia said, adding: "If a relevant cooperation agreement can be reached, then naturally, this can be used as an opportunity to upgrade cooperation and expand it to other areas."

Guilbeault's visit to China however is yielding skepticism that it will result in substantive cooperation, given Canada's limited potential to reduce emissions.

Xia argues that if Guilbeault demands China catalyze its "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality" in a condescending tone, the result could be counterproductive.

  • Climate change
  • Canada
  • US
  • carbon emissions
  • China
  • John Kerry
  • Ma Jun
  • Steven Guilbeault

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS