LocationsUNDP and Partners Convene Forum on Green and Low-Carbon Development to Accelerate China's Green Transition
September 17, 2026
Mr. Stefan Liller, UNDP China Resident Representative, delivers the opening remarks
TIANJIN, 17 September 2026 — Against a backdrop of accelerating climate change and the urgent need to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Forum on Green and Low-Carbon Development was held today as part of the 2026 Global Low-Carbon and Green Development Exhibition and Conference in Tianjin.
Convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners, the forum explored practical pathways to foster green, low-carbon, and inclusive development through innovation, partnerships, and sustainable investment.
Governments, enterprises, international organizations, financial institutions, research institutions, and development partners came together to engage on topics including green industrial transformation, renewable energy, sustainable finance, biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions, and emerging low-carbon technologies.
Opening the forum, Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP China, stressed the urgency of collective action in the face of increasingly visible climate impacts around the world:
“The consequences of climate change are becoming more visible with each passing year,” said Liller. “Across Asia and the Pacific, communities are facing stronger storms, longer droughts, and more extreme weather events. Climate change is no longer tomorrow’s challenge. It is today’s reality.”
In a video message to the forum, Stephen Jackson, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, highlighted the importance of green and low-carbon development for achieving the SDGs and building a more sustainable future, stating: “The transition towards green and low-carbon development is one of the defining challenges and opportunities of our time. It is not only essential for addressing climate change, but also for promoting sustainable economic growth, creating jobs, improving livelihoods, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Through partnerships, innovation, and collective action, we can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and build a more resilient future for all.”
Mr. Stephen Jackson, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, delivers the video message
Participants agreed that accelerating the green transition will require stronger collaboration among governments, businesses, academia, financial institutions, and international organizations. Discussions emphasized the importance of scaling up innovation, mobilizing sustainable finance, advancing clean energy technologies, strengthening green supply chains, and fostering international cooperation to translate commitments into action.
The forum also highlighted the growing recognition that green and low-carbon development is no longer solely an environmental agenda, but increasingly an economic and development imperative. Participants noted that decisions made today on energy systems, industrial production, infrastructure, finance, and consumption patterns will shape the sustainability and competitiveness of economies for decades to come.
Alongside the forum, visitors to the 2026 Global Low-Carbon and Green Development Exhibition and Conference explored the United Nations exhibition booth, jointly presented by five UN agencies under the UN Country Team’s Planet Results Group. The exhibition showcased practical examples of international cooperation, policy innovation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, water governance, green industrial transformation, and sustainable development financing in support of China’s green transition.
Through the forum and exhibition, UNDP and its partners seek to foster new partnerships, facilitate knowledge exchange, and accelerate collective action towards a greener, more resilient, and more sustainable future.
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