The effects of a warming climate on the world's ecology and sustainable development will be discussed in the coming International Symposium on Climate Change (ISCC) scheduled from March 31 to April 4.

With a theme of "Climate Change: Science and Sustainable Development," the symposium will not only cover scientific problems about climate change, but also involve related political, economic, environmental and diplomatic topics.

According to sources with the China Meteorological Administration, the symposium aims to meet the pressing demands for scientific research on global climate change.

In addition, it will serve as an impetus to drive China's exchanges and cooperation with other countries in climate change.

Global warming of the past century has increasingly influenced economic construction, social development and people's lives. It is also closely connected with the security of water, food and energy resources as well as human health.

As the largest developing country, China has taken workable measures to alleviate the harmful impact of climate change and worked out general strategies to solve related problems.

Preparations for the international symposium are going on well, already attracting over 400 participants both at home and abroad.

The ISCC will be jointly held by the State Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, State Natural Science Fund Committee, China Association for Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration and World Meteorological Organization.

(China Daily March 7, 2003)