Mr Xie Zhen-hua contributed to the “prevention of climate change” in two important aspects: first, in leading and promoting China’s own domestic efforts; and second, in championing and promoting international action on climate change, culminating in the successful conclusion of the Paris Agreement in 2015.

On the first aspect, since 1993, Mr Xie has successively led the efforts of the State Environmental Protection Agency (later the State Environmental Administration) and the National Development and Reform Commission in environmental protection, energy conservation and pollution reduction. Given the significance of China, the policies he devised, advocated and implemented have had an enormous impact on the prevention of global climate change as well as served as models for other developing economies.

On the second aspect, Mr Xie was absolutely crucial to the success of international negotiations leading to the Paris Agreement of December 2015, which required the unanimous approval of all 195 participating countries and regions. Through his patient and intelligent efforts, Mr Xie successfully convinced the governments of both China and the U.S., the two largest economies and largest emitters of greenhouse gases, to work together and the smaller developing economies to go along.