On November 7, the 1st World Conference on Best Practicing of Carbon Neutrality was held in Beijing. A supporting event of the 4th China International Import Expo, this conference was hosted by the Silk Road Cities Alliance, China-EU Association and China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation, with the support of dozens of organizations including the China Forum, SinoCarbon Innovation & Investment, Beijing Belt & Road Cooperative Community, Shanxi Institute for Silk Road Digital Economy, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, Panasonic China, Jupeng Bio, Guizhou Qingli Group, RSBK, CIECC Overseas Consulting, JETRO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, etc.

Close to 100 government officials, business leaders and scholars took part in in-person and virtual exhibitions and seminars to explore climate solutions. Among the participants were Kong Quan, Deputy Director, Foreign Affairs Committee, National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General, Shanghai Cooperation Organization; Rudolf Scharping, former German Federal Defense Minister; Claire O’Neill, former UK Minister for Energy and Clean Growth; Zhao Penggao, Deputy Director, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission, China; Ren Shuben, former Director, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission, China; Wang Longyun, Vice President, China-EU Association; Zhang Zhiqiang, Director, Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, China.

This conference may be seen as an indirect outcome of COP26, and the mechanism it set up may serve as a national and global platform for promoting climate literacy and dialogue, participants pointed out. They agreed that China’s “dual carbon” target is an essential part of the global action to reach net zero, which is a big task requiring synergies between national policies and corporate efforts. In addition, three innovative technologies were released at the event.

The conference concluded with the announcement of the establishment of the International Net Zero Action Club (3060 Club) and the Alliance of Carbon Industries for Net Zero.