On April 26, 2021, Green Development & Cooperation: Global Joint Efforts and Pathways to Carbon Neutral was jointly held by the China Forum under Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy, Hainan Green Finance Research Institute, and Central University of Finance and Economics, bringing together more than 10 heavyweights from academia and industry at home and abroad, including China Forum Secretary General Mr. ZHANG Lirong and Executive Committee Member Professor HAN Hua.

In the roundtable themed “Achieving Global Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges”, Professor DING Yifan, a China Forum Expert and Vice Chairman of the China Society for World Economics, presented China’s achievements and goals regarding low carbon development. Professor WANG Yuanfeng, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Association of Development Strategy Studies, analyzed the challenges faced by the government and businesses to achieve carbon neutrality. Professor TENG Fei, Deputy Director of Tsinghua University’s Institute of Energy, Environment, and Economy, explored pathways to leverage the current energy transition to create opportunities for carbon neutrality.

A Tsinghua study shows that China needs to invest approximately RMB 138 trillion to become carbon neutral, especially in green and low-carbon development. Devanand Ramiah, Deputy Country Director of UNDP China, called for extensive investment portfolios given the immature market for sustainable development bonds.

Thorsten Jelinek, Director of the Taihe Institute’s Europe Center, took stock of recent progress in China-Europe climate cooperation. Professor TU Jianjun from Columbia University and Professor Daniel M. Kammen from the University of California, Berkeley, agreed that climate change can only be addressed if China and the US work with each other.

Representatives from financial institutions and clean energy enterprises also participated in the forum.