Implementation of the Sino-Canadian Climate Change Project

The Sino-Canadian Climate Change Project (C5) with financial support from Canada's CIDA (Canada International Development Agency) is scheduled for 2 years. The project's overall objective is to highlight Canada's dedication to the ongoing problem of global climate change, helping China to better solve the problem of climate change, making a contribution to China's realisation of sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Of the 4 parts of the C5 project, one deals with public awareness and communication, to help resolve China's disparity in meeting the requirements of the climate change problem as well as with regard to awareness, and to improve the capacity of information dissemination channels. This project is again sub-divided into the following subjects: public awareness survey, national awareness and communication strategy, development of teaching materials and training, public and media activities, and also youth activities.

In March 2002, training for key position holders was conducted in Vancouver, Canada, with the aim of creating an understanding for Canada's methods and experiences in public communication and education with regard to climate change, moreover enhancing the capacity of project planning and implementation of Chinese subsidiary projects for key position holders, and making preparations for the project's official start.

On Nov. 24, 2002, the opening conference for the awareness and communication project was convened in Beijing, where the project's leading group and also the working group were officially set up. Strong management and technological support ensured that subsidiary projects unfolded smoothly. Within the process of project implementation, the project was affected by SARS to a certain extent, but due to the prompt cooperation initiative between the two partners, the working plan was adjusted accordingly, and with each particular basic project aspect adjusted respectively, plan progress reached a stage of success.

Information materials on climate change: the Canadian side provides English information materials (altogether 126 vols., 35 min.)