Social Dynamics between Chinese Environmental NGOs and the Global South: Challenges and Achievements

Between October 25th and 28th, 2023, dozens of scholars, students, researchers, activists, indigenous leaders, youth leaders and policymakers from institutions across the globe came together at the University of California, Santa Barbara for a conference of historic scope. The aim of this convening was to collectively create dialogue and generate impactful solutions. Deploying our “Research for Action” model that unites enriched student and youth education, activist scholarly collaboration, and policy-changing public engagements, the gathering identified key challenges and opportunities shaping the social, ecological, and geopolitical landscape in the Global South, specifically the Amazon region of South America and its environs. The conference, titled “The Future of the Amazon: A New Era of Indigenous Activism, Post-Carbon Environmental Models, and Latin American Partnerships with China and the Global South,” was organized and hosted by the UCSB Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies. One of the major themes of this conference was recognizing China as a global player in these environmental issues, acknowledging and critiquing many of its approaches, while avoiding a reductive, Sino-phobic Chinese “boogeyman” narrative. Additionally, many speakers were clear that we must work with Chinese partners and stakeholders on these issues, and incorporate them into our conversations. It follows the methodology of this conference that we included a webinar session with Chinese NGOs working on this environmental issue. We were joined by Xin Yu from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) China, Priority Project Coordinator; Peng Ren from the Global Environmental Institute (GEI), program director of overseas Investment, trade and environment; and finally Boya Jiang from ClientEarth, who is a nature and climate lawyer. Claudia Melim-McLeod, from the Rainforest Foundation Norway, served as the webinar’s moderator.

Speakers (from left to right): Xin Yu, Peng Ren, Boya Jiang, Claudia Melim-McLeod

Sustainable Meat Supply Chains in China: World Wildlife Fund’s Integrated Approach and Key Achievements

Xin Yu from WWF China emphasized the importance of China’s role in the food system, and focused on understanding sustainable commodity supply chains to better address environmental issues. She particularly emphasized the meat sector in China and outlined WWF's integrated approach, which aligns with its global approach, encompassing a range of tactics, including consumer advocacy and research, aimed at supporting environmental objectives. A notable achievement was the collaboration with the China Meat Association, resulting in the 2017 Chinese Sustainable Meat Declaration, which introduces eight principles for sustainable practices in the meat sector. Since the 2017 launch, their work has focused on addressing deforestation and conversion issues across the meat supply chain, with efforts centered around capacity and awareness building. “However, we recognize the need to provide tangible tools and support to help the industry implement the principles outlined in the meat declaration.”

Following this success, Xin Yu and her team at WWF China, in collaboration with the China Meat Association, launched a groundbreaking initiative called the "Specification for Meat Industry Green Trade." This group standard, the first of its kind in the food sector, specifically focuses on deforestation and conversion issues within supply chains, utilizing principles from the Accountability Framework. 

Along with this initiative, WWF China has developed tracking tools and mechanisms to ensure that these standards are not just theoretical but implemented on the ground. In 2023, a group was chosen to pilot the group's standards, with the goal of transforming the meat supply chain into a more forest-friendly and low-carbon system, while fostering a system of transparency and accountability within the meat sector, and along the supply chain. Xin Yu also discussed the broader implications of their work, emphasizing policy advocacy, research, and international cooperation. Through workshops and platforms, like those organized in Beijing for beef traceability, WWF China seeks to connect stakeholders, including Brazilian and Chinese colleagues, in order to address the critical environmental challenges associated with supply chains. She highlighted the need for South-South cooperation and outlined joint efforts with Brazil on green commodity supply chains. WWF China is engaging with the financial sector – working with regulators and banks like the Bank of Beijing – to create financial tools that promote sustainability. 

Also stressed was the importance of consumer engagement, noting the organization’s efforts to drive social behavioral change and push the market towards rewarding sustainable practices. “We believe it's essential to influence consumer choices to drive market shifts toward sustainability. I've outlined key areas for collaboration, particularly in fostering South-South cooperation between China and producer countries, as joint efforts are crucial for success. Finally, I suggest further dialogue programs, joint pilot projects, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance collaboration and mutual understanding,” she concluded.

ClientEarth’s Strategic Environmental Advocacy in China: Collaborative Approaches and Capacity Building

Boya Jiang from ClientEarth, an environmental law charity, discussed the organization's work and strategies. Established in 2007, ClientEarth has offices worldwide, most recently in China. ClientEarth's primary focus is promoting the environmental rule of law, typically engaging in litigation against governments and companies to address environmental issues. However, in China, due to restrictions on legal actions by international NGOs, ClientEarth adopts a different approach, involving close cooperation with Chinese government agencies, such as the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and judiciaries. 

Boya told of their support for environmental laws and initiatives led by the ministry and the central government, particularly in areas such as biodiversity protection, marine conservation, and deforestation. This was exemplified by their involvement in EU-China high-level dialogue on environmental issues, and support for several negotiations for the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) through workshops and consultations. As well as collaborations with the National Climate Strategy Center to promote climate legislation and finance in China, “ClientEarth is involved in Greening the Belt and Road Initiative and expanding South-South cooperation with countries like Indonesia and Brazil, where we provide training and support on energy transition and environmental governance,” said Boya. 

Since in China, prosecutors and judges are part of the judiciary, Boya stressed that a significant aspect of ClientEarth's work includes training thousands of prosecutors and judges in order to enhance their capacity for environmental rulings and connecting them with international counterparts. Although they do not engage in litigation or directly work with companies in China, their work includes supporting information disclosure and public participation. 

Promoting Sustainable Development: GEI's Global Initiatives and China's 'Going Global' Strategy

Final to speak was Peng Ren from the Global Environmental Institute (GEI), a small Chinese NGO based in Beijing, with a focus on China's international presence and the country's "going global" strategy. GEI conducts research and policy analysis, producing publications on Chinese environmental protection policy and the social and environmental challenges of global expansion. GEI actively implements programs in areas like energy, climate change, ecosystem conservation, communication, overseas investment and trade, and marine conservation, with projects in over ten countries and throughout China. 

GEI’s mission is to promote sustainable Chinese outward investment and trade by ensuring the adoption of environmental and social principles in decision-making and facilitating bilateral and multilateral communication on sustainable investment, trade, and green finance. They have supported bilateral agreements, such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between China and Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. More recently, they have worked on China-Brazil collaborations. In 2007, they developed policy recommendations, such as a guideline on sustainable overseas silviculture and updated environmental guidelines for foreign investment in 2020. GEI has done much work in the last decade, but beginning in 2020, it shifted attention toward the beef sector, specifically enhancing traceability within the China-Brazil beef supply chain. “Our goal is to establish a traceability system that includes deforestation and low-carbon information, thereby improving market access and alignment with supportive policies and financial incentives,” said Peng.

In closing the panel, Claudia Melim-McLeod brought home some of the anti-sinophobia themes stressed throughout the conference. “There are many people who are aware of the social and environmental impacts of Chinese investments overseas, but not everybody is aware of the great work that Chinese organizations are doing, often under difficult circumstances,” she concluded.