The Consulate’s activities, led by the Climate Change & Energy Section, aim to support the work of provincial governments in south-west China in meeting their own current and potential future climate change related targets and facilitating the transition to a low carbon economy. We achieve our objectives through a variety of methods, which generally fall under the headings of knowledge-sharing and capacity-building. Specific activities include organising international seminars and high-level bilateral visits; working with the local and international business community to encourage low carbon trade and investment; identifying and implementing long- and short-term research and capacity-building projects (in particular via the FCO SPF programme) and public diplomacy work. More information about some of our activities can be found below.

1. SPF Project – Chongqing: Towards a Low Carbon Economy, with case studies in the automotive manufacture, energy and petrochemicals sector. (July 2009 - September 2010)
A research and capacity-building project with an experienced consortium of implementers including the China Academy of Sciences, the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, Environmental Resource Management (ERM) and Chatham House. This project involves extensive engagement with local government and industry stakeholders and will draw heavily on international best practice in the identified sectors and an initial scoping study conducted by Chatham House. The aim is to produce a roadmap which can be of use to the Chongqing Municipal Government as it develops its own 12th Five Year Plan.

2. Chongqing News Net Low Carbon Web Page (cq.cqnews.net/dt/)
Launched in November 2007, this webpage is the first of its kind in south-west China and is hosted by Chongqing News Net, sponsored by the British Consulate-General and supported by the Information Office of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Economic and IT Commission and Chongqing Environment Protection Bureau.  
Chiefly a forum for climate change related news stories and blogs, it also organises activities to engage with the public such as the Low Carbon Advertisement Campaign in June 2008, and the Effective Low Carbon Legislation Seminar in February 2009.
On 30 July 2009, a new Low Carbon for Business column (http://cq.cqnews.net/dt/dtqy) was launched. It serves as a platform for local and international businesses to share low carbon information and experience. A bilingual Low Carbon Business Bulletin is distributed to stakeholders on a monthly basis. Please register here if you want to receive our e-bulletin: http://cq.cqnews.net/dt/dtqy/qyxjs/

3. Seminar: Financing Sustainable Development in Chongqing (5th June 2009)
This half-day event was co-hosted by the British Consulate-General Chongqing and the Financial Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government during the 3rd visit of the Lord Mayor of the City of London to Chongqing. The seminar discussed how the financial sector can help the sustainable development of Chongqing’s economy in the current financial crisis; facilitate the co-operation between the UK and Chongqing on sustainable and green financial products; and help Chongqing accelerate the adjustment of its development model resulting in a low carbon economy.

4. Seminar: Carbon Capture and Storage - The Technology of Future (22 October 2009)
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) covers a set of developing technologies that capture carbon dioxide from point sources like coal-fired power plants and store them permanently away from atmosphere.
This half-day seminar is one activity under the umbrella of Chongqing International R&D Mission. CCS experts from UK, USA and China will gather in Chongqing to update the audience on progress on CCS technology and to discuss the commercial feasibility of the technology in the near future.
For more information about the seminar, please check the official web-site of Chongqing International R&D Mission: http://www.cstc.gov.cn/class.aspx?clsId=584

5. Bilateral visits
Most bilateral visits involving the UK and Southwest China contain a strong climate change element.
- Climate change was included as a priority area for co-operation in the UK-Chongqing Memorandum of Understanding on Balanced Urban-Rural Development, signed during the visit to Chongqing by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, in February 2008.
- Visits to Southwest China in 2008 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alastair Darling and the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan also included discussions on climate change with Chinese counterparts.  
- A Low Carbon, High Growth delegation consisted of senior officials from the Development and Reform Commission of Chongqing, Zhejiang and Ji Lin city; Guangdong Economic and Trade Commission; and the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong SAR paid a 5-day visit to London, Sheffield and Birmingham in February 2009.
- The Chairman of the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Mr Tim Yeo MP, visited Chongqing in February 2009 and delivered a series of speeches on climate change and effective low carbon legislation.

6. Chevening and Climate Change
As well as the regular Chevening Scholarships, the British Consulate is inviting applications from senior professionals in south-west China for climate change related Chevening Fellowships. Among the variety of three-month courses offered at UK universities and sponsored by the FCO are The Economics of Climate Change, The Economics of Energy and Finance and Investment in a Low Carbon Economy. More information on the Chevening programme can be found here (http://www.chevening.com/)