GCA to better cooperate with China in adapting to climate change as it launch Beijing office

Launching its first regional office in Beijing on Thursday, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), a managing partner of the Global Commission on Adaptation, has promised to deepen its cooperation with China, in an effort to share the best practices from across the globe.

"The Global Center of Adaptation China Office will support the government and the people of China, and implement adaptation action here in China itself, but also share lessons outside China with other nations," Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, told People's Daily Online.

According to Verkooijen, the office will primarily focus on, as requested by the Chinese government, infrastructural development in cities.

"China already has a significant and very advanced initiative regarding "sponge cities" which was launched a few years ago by President Xi Jinping, that will make 30 Chinese cities climate resilient, smartly harvesting water so that floods will not turn into disasters," said Verkooijen.

He further noted that China's ambition is enormous. The country plans to transform this initiative of 30 cities into more cities across the nation, and the center is ready to offer the best practices and expertise.

"We are delighted to work with the people and government of China. We will start our efforts immediately," said Verkooijen.