Program

Opening Remarks

Moderator: Dr. GUO Wanda, Executive Vice President of China Development Institute

Speakers:

• Prof. FAN Gang, President of China Development Institute
• Prof. LI Junfeng, Director of Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association
• Mr. David MORRIS, Vice President of the United Nations Sustainable Business Network for Asia Pacific

Session One: Green Economy and Carbon Neutrality

Moderator: Dr. GUO Wanda, Executive Vice President of China Development Institute

Speakers:

• Prof. TANG Jie, Professor of School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen; Former Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, China
• Dr. LI Lailai, Affiliated Researcher of Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
• Prof. YANG Lei, Deputy President of Energy Institute at Peking University, China

Session Two: Energy Transition and Carbon Emission Reduction

Moderator: Dr. LI Lailai, Affiliated Researcher of Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden

Speakers:

• Dr. Louise VAN SCHAIK, Head of Unit EU & Global Affairs, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations
• Prof. Joachim VON BRAUN, Director of Center for Development Research (ZEF) University of Bonn, Germany
• Mr. LIU Qiang, Director of Programmes (China) of Children's Investment Fund Foundation
• Ms. Margaret CHEN, BP China Chief Economist

Highlights

China to promote international collaboration on climate change to achieve peak emissions and carbon neutrality goals

Firstly, enterprises and local governments need to have a better understanding of the rationale behind China’s peak emissions and carbon neutrality goals. This will require extensive education regarding these goals and carbon transition. Secondly, scientific and policy research is essential, especially in dealing with the relationship between the government and the market, and the government and the private sector. Thirdly, the emphasis should be shifted from total energy consumption to total carbon emissions to avoid unhelpful restrictions being placed on renewable energy generation as we endeavour to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Fourthly, carbon lock-in should be prevented, building new coal power plants should be prohibited and R&D and application of carbon caption and sequestration technologies should be undertaken.

• Prof. FAN Gang, President of CDI 

The core of “carbon neutrality” action is to advance the transition from the resource-dependent development model to the technology-driven development model across both the economic and social planes. This transition manifests in three areas: growth model, energy system and lifestyle. It is important that carbon neutrality is approached without compromising energy or economic security. To better advance this energy transition, it is important to first, complete the policy transition from total energy consumption control to total fossil fuel consumption control; second, promote an earlier carbon peak of coal consumption with appropriate control of coal power plant development; third, control the development of non-fossil fuel energy such as wind power and solar power; fourth, create systematic safeguarding of the advancement of this energy transition.

• Prof. LI Junfeng, Director of Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association

Climate change poses great challenges for all mankind. It is crucial for all nations to avoid zero-sum thinking and to instead keep an open mind and work collaboratively towards realising the common goal of advancing green development and climate change action while reserving differences and allowing competition. The Asia-Pacific region could explore the establishment of a regional cooperation framework to better facilitate energy transition, green infrastructure construction, green finance implementation and green BRI development.

• Mr David MORRIS, Vice President of the United Nations Sustainable Business Network for the Asia-Pacific

The structural reform of the supply side of business is vital to achieving peak emissions and carbon neutrality. Taking Shenzhen as an example, the city’s structural upgrade of its industries, energy and technologies in recent years has successfully shifted its economic growth pattern while meeting air quality standards and reaching peak carbon emissions. The Shenzhen experience proves the close correlation between advancing manufacturing and reaching peak carbon emissions.

• Prof. TANG Jie, Professor of the School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen; Former Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, China

The sixth IPCC assessment more accurately observed that the Earth’s climate system is undergoing a significant change characterised by warming at an unprecedented speed. The heavy rainfall seen in China and many countries around the world in 2021 is an example of the danger of global warming. These grim facts warn all mankind to take immediate action to mobilise the necessary resources to adapt to climate change, thereby reducing the impact of natural disasters. The advantage of appropriate adaptation measures is three-fold: they avoid future losses, encourage economic growth through innovation and offer wide-ranging social and environmental benefits.

• Dr LI Lailai, Affiliated Researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden

Firstly, carbon neutrality and energy transition is a comprehensive project; the approach to which varies, as illustrated by the different methods employed in developed countries. It is important to find a route that is appropriate for China’s economic development. Secondly, a healthy and functional energy market is fundamental to the advancement of energy transition and the achievement of carbon neutrality. Thirdly, it has been proven in many instances that carbon neutrality is viable. We need to have faith in ourselves and settle our minds on success. The general public needs to be informed and motivated as well.

• Prof. YANG Lei, Deputy President of the Energy Institute at Peking University, China

The European Union has been aware of the severity of climate change since the 90’s. In the following decade, related policies and legislations were introduced. In 2005, carbon exchange was set in motion, as well as a corresponding standards and policy system. Recently, the European economy has suffered a major blow from the Covid-19 pandemic. The green economy and digital economy will be the driving forces behind the region’s post-pandemic economic recovery. The European Green Deal has proposed even stricter goals for carbon neutrality. In the future, the EU will further improve energy foreign policy to facilitate a synergic energy transition. Here, there is great potential for China and the EU to collaborate to create standards for environmental protection, energy transition and R&D for green technology.

• Dr Louise VAN SCHAIK, Head of Unit EU & Global Affairs, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations

Firstly, China and the EU both play important roles in setting the global climate policy agenda and coordinating initiatives for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. They are thus able to collaboratively mobilise resources for the Green Climate Fund and work towards building the global carbon market and strengthening the link between climate policy and development. Secondly, China and the EU should enhance trade coordination to minimise the negative environmental impact that trade activities can have on other nations. Thirdly, considering China’s extraordinary success in reforesting, China and the EU could potentially collaborate in sustainable agriculture policymaking. Fourthly, China and the EU could initiate joint cooperation activities with African nations for sustainable land use, food security, forest protection and energy innovation.

• Prof. Joachim VON BRAUN, Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) University of Bonn, Germany

Firstly, it is important to focus on coordinating the energy transition and economic development, especially the balance between costs and benefits, as well as between short term and long-term goals. Secondly, the road map for reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality needs to be clarified to avoid carbon lock-in. Thirdly, coordinated planning at the regional level should be explored taking into account regional variations and local needs. Fourthly, international cooperation and exchange should be strengthened to seek mutual benefits.

• Mr LIU Qiang, Director of Programmes (China) of Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Firstly, the decline in total primary energy consumption in 2020 was significant, nearly 5%, with carbon emissions falling by about 6%, the largest annual decline since World War II. However, the huge reduction in oil consumption in the transportation sector was caused by Covid-19 prevention measures, which are unsustainable. Secondly, the world's energy structure is still moving towards cleaner energy and low carbon. The use of coal and oil has been decreasing while the use of natural gas and renewable energy has been increasing. However, the level of oil consumption in China is bucking global trends and continues to grow. Thirdly, last year, despite the world being in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, global power generation and electricity consumption did not see dramatic reductions and instead remained roughly the same thanks to China. The global increase in renewable energy has mainly come from China as well. Fourthly, the leading global trend in primary energy structure change is the continuing decline in the use of fossil fuels.

• Ms Margaret CHEN, BP China Chief Economist

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