The SCO Year of Ecology Forum was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on 8 July 2024 as part of the Green Development Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The forum is a vital element of the efforts to implement the decision on declaring 2024 the year of ecology, which the SCO leaders adopted in New Delhi last year.

The forum was organised by the SCO Secretariat, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, the Chinese Committee for Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the SCO, and the People's Government of Shandong Province. It was attended by about 200 delegates from Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as from dialogue partners, including the heads of ministries and agencies in charge of environmental protection, diplomats, experts, scientists and representatives of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and other international organisations.

In his remarks, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming spoke about the environmental situation in the region and the importance of deepening international environmental cooperation. He praised the member countries' efforts to coordinate documents on environmental cooperation and their joint nature protection actions and relevant cooperation with the UN and other international organisations within the SCO Year of Ecology 2024. Zhang Ming expressed the hope for the deepening of environmental cooperation in the interests of a healthy, stable and sustainable development of the SCO.

Speakers at the Qingdao forum pointed out that the issues of environmental security were well beyond the scope of individual countries and had a global significance. The world, including the SCO countries, is facing major challenges such as climate change, the depletion of natural resources, the loss of biological and landscape diversity, the deterioration of ecosystems, and the build-up of waste, including plastic.

At the same time, the forum participants mentioned achievements on the path of green growth, low-carbon development, and the use of technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions which promise additional ecological, economic and social benefits.

The forum has made a substantial contribution to updating the SCO's environmental agenda as part of strengthening the practical and operational principles of its activities. Ultimately, this will help strengthen the organisation's positive image and international standing.