Co-organized by NSFC and FAPESP, the Workshop on The Synergy on Climate Change Research in China and in São Paulo was successfully held online from November 22 to November 23, 2021. NSFC President Prof. Jinghai Li, along with Prof. Marco Antonio Zago, his counterpart in FAPESP, attended the workshop and delivered opening remarks.

Prof. Li stressed the importance of paradigm shift in science when addressing climate change, and advocated closer bilateral cooperation between NSFC and FAPESP. Prof. Zago hoped the workshop can reinforce the capacity building of both Chinese and Brazilian researchers and tap the potential for their future collaboration. Mr. Liyao Zou, Director General of NSFC Bureau of International Cooperation, and Dr. Luiz Eugenio Mello, Scientific Director of FAPESP elaborated on the future plan for collaboration under NSFC Sustainable Development International Cooperation program and looked ahead to the bright prospects for bilateral cooperation in realizing the UN SDGs.

The workshop joined Chinese and Brazilian researchers active in climate change and created avenues for an exchange of knowledge that is both international and interdisciplinary. With “international cooperation in climate change” as its theme, the workshop encompassed 2 topics, i.e. “response and adaptive management of ecosystem to climate change” and “impacts of climate change on coastal ecological environment, agroforestry ecosystem and human health and their responses”. During the workshop, 20 Chinese and Brazilian researchers shared their research findings and future cooperation interests. More than 60 other researchers were also present online. The workshop provided scientists from both sides with a platform for academic exchanges and mutual learning, opening a new chapter for further cooperation between the two funding agencies.

Dr. Sheng Yu, Executive Deputy Director General, and Dr. Chaolin Zhang, Deputy Director General of Department of Earth Sciences also attended the event.