The first phase of the 2020 UN Biodiversity Conference, the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15), was successfully held in Kunming, China, from October 11-15. President Xi Jinping delivered the keynote address at the leaders' summit. The theme of the Conference is "Ecological Civilization: Building a Community of Life on Earth". Biodiversity conservation, as a millennium plan to deepen the construction of ecological civilization and the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, has rapidly become a hot topic in the political, legal and scientific circles in China. Prof. Qin Tianbao, director of Wuhan University Research Institute of Environmental Law and Chief Expert of Wuhan University Academy of International Law and Global Governance, relies on his many years of research accumulation and the support of the National Social Science Foundation's major project "Research on Legal Regulation of Biodiversity Conservation under the Whole System View", and takes advantage of Wuhan University's law discipline, he has been actively contributing to the work by participating in negotiations, publishing papers and receiving interviews.
The Party Central Committee attaches great importance to the conservation of biodiversity. On October 12, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Leaders Summit, president Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address, profoundly explaining the Chinese concept and practice of ecological civilization construction, and putting forward four initiatives to promote high-quality human development. This will inject wisdom and strength into building a global community of life and a clean & beautiful world.
Since 2014, Prof. Qin Tianbao has participated in the negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a member of the Chinese delegation, and has been elected as a member and next as vice chair of the Compliance Committee of the Nagoya Protocol under the Convention upon the recommendation of the Chinese government. Before this COP, Prof. Qin Tianbao participated in the online negotiation of relevant issues as a member of the Chinese delegation, he was the only university representative and law professor in the delegation. He attended all the meetings of the first phase and successfully completed the work tasks arranged by the delegation.
On October 8, 2020, the eve of the UN Biodiversity Conference, a white paper on "Biodiversity Conservation in China" was released, it was the first white paper in the field of biodiversity in China. Qin Tianbao's interpretation article "China's Biodiversity Legislation, Current Situation and Future" was published on the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's official WeChat public website and China Daily online; two articles written in English "A sound legal system for biological diversity" and "Life guards by law" were published in China Daily; the commentary "Building a firm defense line for biodiversity protection under the rule of law" was published on the front page of "Legal Daily" on October 14. The article "Showing the world biodiversity protection with Chinese characteristics" was published in the Ecological Civilization section of "Study Times". After the publication of the above articles, they were reproduced by many media and websites, generating a large social response. In addition, Prof. Qin Tianbao also published an academic paper "Global Biodiversity Conservation and China's Changing Role" in the journal Contemporary World of International Department. Central Committee of CPC.
In order to introduce China's efforts and achievements in biodiversity conservation, Qin Tianbao was also interviewed by several central and local media, including CCTV, CGTN and China Youth Daily. Following President Xi Jinping's keynote address at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) Leaders Summit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), professor Qin Tianbao was interviewed by CCTV News, revealing China's transformation over the years from a follower, to an important participant, then to an active contributor in the field of global environmental governance. Following the release of China's Biodiversity Conservation, Qin Tianbao was invited by CGTN's The Point program to explain the white paper to a global audience from the perspective of building the rule of law. On issues such as the respective roles and contributions of China and the U.S. in global biodiversity governance, professor Qin Tianbao, interviewed by China Daily, Global Times, Guancha Syndicate and Guangdong News, analyzed the interests behind the U.S. failure to join the CBD for more than 30 years, arguing that the U.S. absence has undermined global efforts made in the field of biodiversity. In contrast, China has shown its image as a great power that respects international law and has supported global biodiversity conservation with practical actions such as the establishment of the Kunming Fund. Professor Qin Tianbao was also interviewed by China Youth Daily, Hubei Daily, Hubei TV, Wuhan TV, Southern Weekly, Yangcheng Evening News and other media.
Prof. Qin Tianbao's work and efforts were appreciated by Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. She exclaimed that she could always see and hear the voice of Wuhan University Research Institute of Environmental Law in her 20 years of international environmental law practice.
As a key research base of humanities and social sciences of Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan University Research Institute of Environmental Law ( RIEL ) is bravely undertaking the mission given by the state and society, adhering to the tenet that "stands on top of the earth", inheriting the tradition of "daring to be the first and pursuing excellence". Wuhan University will continue to support to build the Research Institute of Environmental Law into a new high-end think tank and contribute its wisdom to the construction of the rule of law in global environmental governance.
Edited by Wang Yuting & Wu Liuqing
