On May 27, a virtual conference titled “Climate Change, Energy Security and Geopolitics” was held by the Ditchley Foundation, featuring China Forum experts Wang Yuanfeng, professor at Beijing Jiaotong University; Teng Fei, deputy director of the Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy at Tsinghua University; Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies; and Gong Jiong, vice president of the University of International Business and Economics-Israel.

In his opening remarks, China Forum Vice Chairman Eric Li noted the significance of the Global Security Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping as it paints a new path for security governance.

The event was structured in two sessions. Session I, titled “Achieving Climate Goals in Advance of COP27,” focused on climate convergences and divergences among China, the US and Europe, and international climate collaboration. By achieving its carbon neutrality targets, China could avoid a climate loss of over USD 130 trillion by the end of this century, Professor Teng Fei said. Professor Wang Yuanfeng suggested countries reassess and enhance the effectiveness of the UNFCCC to promote global climate action.

Session II, titled “Responding to the War in Ukraine and Strategic Thinking on Energy Industrial Policy,” focused on the balance between global climate action and energy market inflation, as well as how countries can accelerate the renewable energy transition amid geopolitical crises. Professor Cui Hongjian believes that major economies will need a balanced approach to energy transition and security, while Professor Gong Jiong stressed the validity of neutrality towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as “taking sides” will not help defuse the conflict.

In his concluding remarks, China Forum Secretary General Zhang Lirong called on countries to move beyond zero-sum confrontations, respect each other’s core interests, seek peaceful co-existence, and work together to address global challenges.