Lecture Forum
A Journey Towards a Greener Tomorrow
GCIC "ESG for High Quality Green Growth" Roundtable at Columbia University
On February 28, 2023, the Global Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) hosted "ESG for High Quality Green Growth" roundtable at Columbia University's School of International Relations. The forum invited Giulio M. Gallarotti, Tenured Professor of Government at Wesleyan University and Co-Professor of Political Science at Columbia University; Dr. Chao Yan, Founder and CEO of Princeton NuEnergy and Research Scientist at Princeton University; Mr. Liu Guyan, Founder of Miles GL Capital Management and Investment Director of Cambridge Information Group; and Mr. Luo Jiangang, Founder of Cleantech Global Limited. The forum discussed the relationship and importance of the three aspects of policy and environment, market and system, trade and industry, clarified the methods and development direction of enterprises practicing ESG, conducted Q&A session, and provided references for enterprises' green transformation.
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COP 27
From November 6th to 20th, 2022, the GCIC executive team went to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and actively participated in the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The GCIC delegates exchanged ideas with key stakeholders from a cross-section of industry, government, non-profit, and academia, and contributed innovative solutions to climate change, aiming to accelerate solutions to global climate crises and sustainability challenges facing people and ecosystems worldwide.
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the Global Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) Roundtable Forum——China's power at the UN Climate Change Summit
On January 8, the Global Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) roundtable forum on China's power in the United Nations Climate Change Summit successfully concluded. The four participants attended the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022, and had in-depth exchanges with government officials, innovative enterprises, scientific research institutions and civil society organizations in the field of climate change from all over the world. It has a forward-looking and professional perspective on the impacts and solutions of climate change in various fields and from multiple perspectives.
At the GCIC Roundtable Forum on January 8, four guests shared their exclusive experiences at COP27, what platforms organizations and individuals should use to obtain information and support on climate and environmental protection, and encourage young people to actively participate in the practice of combating climate change, which brought a lot of inspiration to the participants.
Countries are backing climate action
COP27, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is an annual conference held under the leadership of the United Nations to achieve the goals of the landmark Paris Agreement.
The COP27, held in Egypt from 8 to 20 November 2022, focused on implementation, putting forward the slogan "Together for implementation", bringing together heads of state, politicians and civil society representatives to discuss ways to tackle global climate change.
On many important occasions, China has announced that it will achieve "carbon peak" by 2030 and "carbon neutrality" by 2060, in order to tackle climate change.
Iris A. Song, Executive President of the Global Climate Innovation Coalition, said that the GCIC mainly promotes the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from three aspects: educating climate talent, innovative solutions, and connecting industry leaders.
Referring to COP27, Iris shared her observations from three perspectives: "Sustainable art" gives old things a new lease of life and can intuitively show the importance of recycling waste; The plight of Indigenous people, who are often regarded as "voiceless", in the face of climate change should be highlighted. GCIC will also take people through research workshops to learn about such groups and their stories through field research. One of the biggest outcomes of COP27, the Loss and Damage Fund, will provide financing to developing countries affected by climate disasters, and the GCIC responded to the UN's fundraising call last year to contribute to flood-hit Pakistan.
Xinchao Wang, Director of the Environmental Project Department of the China Association for the Promotion of International Civil Organizations Cooperation, introduced the highlights of the various regions of the Egyptian Climate Change Conference venue, and shared a lot of internal information about the United Nations side conference and the Chinese Corner side conference. In addition to the official message, Director Wang also said that many representatives of developing countries are longing for China and expressed their strong willingness to exchange and cooperate with Chinese institutions. Director Wang called on Chinese youth to spread Chinese stories such as double carbon practice and the Belt and Road; Young friends should have confidence in the big country and culture, and create a carbon-neutral future without everyone's efforts.
Zhiyao Lu, Director of the SEE Foundation's Climate Change and Business Sustainability Program, first introduced the original intention of his organization: Alxa SEE was founded many years ago by a group of entrepreneurs who found that Alxa's vegetation needed to be repaired. Director Lu introduced that from COP27 to COP15, Chinese entrepreneurs in the process of participating in climate governance, through sustainable means, from the "chaos" of carbon reduction programs to "practitioners".
Zhe Yao, Director of Strategic Communication of the Green Innovation Development Center, shared China's views and attitudes towards international climate integration, and the phased results of professional and technical negotiations conducted by experts in climate-related fields. Referring to the intense agenda of COP27, she shared the experience of people sitting on the floor at a media conference with the former president of Ireland, and funny images of tired delegation members taking a nap on the sofa. In addition, Director Yao Zhe affirmed the joint efforts of all countries in promoting sustainable development and called on the public to pay attention to the urgency of climate change.
At the meeting, the guests answer questions to the participants
Before the forum began, nearly 100 audience members asked a lot of thought-provoking questions to the participants by filling out questionnaires, and the live audience also actively asked questions through the chat dialog box for heated discussion. Zhu Yilin, the host, selected 3 of the most representative and discussant topics and conducted a live Q&A interaction with the guests
Q: How can climate action be implemented?
A: At the technical level, strong support for clean energy; Institutionally, all countries need to set environmental protection targets with sound laws. Adopt market means to adjust, so that enterprises have "carbon emission costs, carbon reduction benefits"; Everyone should also take climate change as their own responsibility and practice environmental protection.
Q: How can youth engage in climate action?
A: Increase the knowledge base of sustainable development by participating in climate change research workshops, seminars and climate innovation competitions; Supporting green enterprises in terms of career choice and practice; In life, green travel, green consumption.
Q: What can industrial enterprises do in addition to saving energy and changing the application of raw materials in actual production?
A: For energy sources we should choose clean energy; Buy recyclable raw materials; Take the initiative to carry out green transformation; Participate in supporting carbon offsetting projects, etc.