Green tech to help fight climate change

A national nonprofit academic organization launched a committee focused on green and low-carbon technologies in Beijing on Tuesday, aiming to promote and apply these technologies and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global green transformation.

The Green and Low-Carbon Technology Application Committee, established by the Innovation Method Society under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technology, will focus on China's dual carbon goals to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

"Against the backdrop of global climate change and energy transition, low-carbon technologies have emerged as a pivotal force in driving sustainable economic and social development and achieving the dual carbon goals," said Zhu Junhao, director of the committee and CEO of Green Technology Bank (Shanghai) Co, at the launch ceremony.

"However, the industrialization process of green and low-carbon technologies lags behind, with a technology transfer rate of less than 30 percent. Market applications face challenges of enthusiastic policy support but challenging implementation," Zhu noted.

He added that a trilateral mechanism integrating government guidance, industrial collaboration and capital empowerment is needed to tackle bottlenecks in technology commercialization, and the committee serves as such a platform to pool industry expertise and drive innovation and development in low-carbon technologies.

Liu Yanhua, former vice-minister of science and technology and honorary director of the national expert committee on climate change, said in a congratulatory letter that the establishment of the committee serves as "a rallying cry for advancing methodologies to combat climate change and a brand-new starting point where experts from various fields join hands to forge ahead with innovation and collaboration."

"The issue of climate change is complex and ever-changing, and traditional solutions are insufficient to meet current demands," Liu said.

"We need to boldly explore and analyze from various dimensions, including technological innovation, policy innovation and operational model innovation. This approach will provide a scientific foundation for policymaking and promote the country's energy transition and green revolution," he added.

Zhu Xian, former vice-president of the New Development Bank, emphasized that the world is at "the most critical, most challenging and most perilous" moment in the fight against climate change.

While concerns exist that rising energy demands driven by artificial intelligence might limit renewable energy to a supplementary role, Zhu said that disruptive technologies hold the key to addressing climate change effectively. He also noted that China's advancements in low-carbon technologies have significant potential to lead this transformative effort.

Ji Tao, a member of China Daily's editorial board, said that China, as the world's largest developing country, has made significant strides in its low-carbon transition. It aims to move from peaking carbon dioxide emissions to achieving carbon neutrality faster than any country in history, a goal that demands ongoing, intensive efforts.

"The specialized committee will focus on promoting innovation and application of low-carbon technologies, facilitating their research, development and commercialization, thereby driving China's low-carbon transition," Ji added.

At the launch ceremony, China Daily also initiated the Green China International Communication Portal, leveraging its role as a key player in international communications to share stories, Chinese wisdom and solutions in green development globally through forums, reports and media coverage.

The launch ceremony was hosted by the Innovation Method Society in coordination with China Daily, Green Technology Bank (Shanghai) Co, and Carbon Workshop (Beijing) Scientific.