Minister Dabrusin advances Canada-China cooperation on climate, clean growth, and the environment

BEIJING, Oct. 1, 2026 /CNW/ -- For more than 30 years, Canada and China have worked together on the environment. This week, Canada's Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, led Canada's delegation to the Annual General Meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), which took place in Beijing, China, from September 27 to 29, 2026.

The CCICED is a high-level international advisory body that brings together expertise from China and various governments, United Nations agencies, academia, and civil society to develop science-based recommendations to the Government of China on environmental issues. This year's meeting brought together ministers, experts, and business leaders from around the world on the theme Pragmatic and Innovative Cooperation, Advancing Together for Green Development.

While in Beijing, Minister Dabrusin met with His Excellency Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China. The Ministers agreed to relaunch the Canada–China Ministerial Dialogue on the Environment. Minister Dabrusin also spoke with His Excellency Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council and Chair of the CCICED, on the margins of the meeting.

No country can tackle climate change or protect nature alone. Global environmental challenges require global solutions. As the world's second largest economy, a major source of global emissions, and one of the most biodiverse countries, sustained engagement with China is essential to advancing progress on climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. During Prime Minister Carney's January 2026 visit to China, Canada and China forged a new strategic partnership and committed to deepening cooperation on climate and the environment, including through the CCICED, bilateral memorandums of understanding, and other multilateral frameworks. This week's meeting put that commitment into practice. Against this backdrop, the CCICED provides a valuable forum for Canada to translate high-level commitments into practical cooperation, share international expertise, and advance solutions with potential impacts beyond China.

China is also the world's largest market for clean technology. Minister Dabrusin met with the Canada China Business Council and Canadian private sector leaders to discuss how Canadian clean technology expertise can be further deployed in the Chinese context. The Canada China Business Council is planning to help connect Canadian businesses to opportunities in China through its Canadian Cleantech Mission to China in November 2026. When Canadian clean tech companies grow globally, they create good jobs and economic growth at home, supporting Canada's goal of becoming a clean energy superpower.

Canada will continue to lead the global fight against climate change and protect nature and the environment. By working with partners around the world, Canada is strengthening our position on the global stage and helping shape the decisions that will impact Canadians for generations to come.

Quotes

"For more than 30 years, Canada and China have worked together to protect the environment. No country can tackle climate change or protect nature alone. By deepening our cooperation, we're working to bring global emissions down, protect nature, and safeguard our environment."

– The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Quick facts

• Canada has been an international partner of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) for over thirty years.
• The CCICED has been an important forum to advance progress on environmental issues such as preventing pollution, protecting biodiversity, and advancing climate action. Various countries, United Nations agencies, and environmental non-governmental organizations support the CCICED in this work.
• The CCICED's recommendations have led to significant achievements, including advancements in climate change mitigation, ocean protection, and plastic pollution reduction.
• The Canada–China Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Environmental Cooperation and the Canada–China Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change Cooperation create a formal framework for bilateral action on environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate action.
• Canada holds annual ministerial on climate action (MoCA) meetings with China and the European Union to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement and provide a forum to discuss the economic opportunities of climate action with business leaders.
• On September 6 and 7, 2026, Canada and China co-chaired the Kunming Dialogue, a multilateral working-level meeting held ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Armenia in October. The Dialogue focused on progress and challenges in implementing the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Associated links

• Canada's Climate Competitiveness Strategy
• Prime Minister Carney Forges New Strategic Partnership with the People's Republic of China Focused on Energy, Agri-food, and Trade
• China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) (English only)
• Canada–China Agreement on China Council on Environment and Development

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Contacts: Amy Falkner, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, 873-355-9725, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]