Zou Ji
CEO & President of Energy Foundation China

Reaching the age of 25 is a momentous milestone, characterized by vibrant energy, creative potential, intellectual maturity, and a readiness to embrace challenges. It is a time when the future appears boundless and full of possibilities. In 2024, Energy Foundation China proudly marks its 25th anniversary. As we reflect on our journey, we feel both pride and gratitude. Looking ahead, we are brimming with anticipation and excitement for what the future holds.

Since its arrival in China in 1999, Energy Foundation China has been steadfast in its commitment to advancing renewable energy development and enhancing energy efficiency. Over two decades ago, along with our partners, we were invited to provide expert advice on the Renewable Energy Law, delivering early research and capacity-building support for its enactment. Fifteen years ago, we worked with industry partners to engage comprehensively in the formulation and revision of energy efficiency standards for China’s key industries, and facilitated the implementation of energy conservation and efficiency improvement measures within enterprises. More than ten years ago, we initiated discussions on the promotion of new energy vehicles, becoming one of the first international organizations to advocate for their adoption in China. Five years ago, in collaboration with over 20 organizations, we facilitated international dialogue in the development of China’s strategy for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by around 2050, which culminated in the ambitious announcement of China’s 2060 carbon neutrality goal.

Today, China stands as a global leader in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle advancements, playing a pivotal role in the international fight against climate change. Energy Foundation China is immensely proud to be part of this transformative journey. As China’s sustainable energy and climate strategies have evolved, so too have our understanding and capabilities, growing in tandem with numerous domestic and international partners. What began 25 years ago as the China Sustainable Energy Program with a few million dollars in funding and a small team of a dozen people has now blossomed into an independent professional foundation. With an annual fundraising capacity approaching 100 million dollars and nearly 80 employees, we are actively engaged across a wide array of climate and energy sectors, including power, industry, transportation, urban development, environmental management, low-carbon economic growth, and strategic communications. In addition to our sector-specific work, we address crosscutting and integrated issues through six dedicated task forces: Long-Term Strategy for Decarbonization, Urbanization, Coal Transition, Electrification, Air Quality, and International Cooperation. The growth of Energy Foundation China exemplifies the robust demand and drive for international cooperation in energy transition, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development that defines our era.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the confluence of a new wave of technological and industrial revolutions with globalization has profoundly reshaped human society, upending the conventional equilibrium of global political, economic, and energy strategies. Amidst ongoing geopolitical conflicts between major powers, the climate change crisis has intensified at an alarming rate, posing escalating threats to human survival and development. In this epoch of unparalleled transformation, humanity must transcend conflicts and unite to confront global challenges, including climate change, and forge a path of innovative development together. This imperative requires the rethinking of global and national governance frameworks and development models to effectively catalyze technological and industrial revolutions, thereby generating robust momentum for addressing global climate change. These changes epitomize the progression of human civilization from an industrial to an ecological paradigm, with “carbon neutrality” as the core emblem. “The paradigm shift induced by carbon neutrality will continue to drive profound changes in science and technology, production modes, consumption patterns, lifestyles, social organizational structures, and value systems.” This collective foresight emerges from our research in collaboration with eminent economists such as Lord Nicholas Stern, Joseph Stiglitz, and Professor Zhu Min.

At present, 149 countries, responsible for over 80% of global carbon emissions, have set carbon neutrality targets, offering a beacon of hope in combating the escalating climate crisis. In 2020, China unveiled its “dual carbon” goals—to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060—embarking on a systemic transformation as the world’s second-largest economy and largest carbon emitter. This transformation is poised to play a crucial role in achieving global climate goals. As an international philanthropic organization with 25 years of dedication to China’s energy, climate, and environmental progress, Energy Foundation China is privileged to be at the forefront of this epochal change. In collaboration with our partners, we are fostering Sino-foreign exchanges and cooperation, injecting new vitality and potential into the global effort to combat climate change.

In the pursuit of carbon neutrality, the energy transition is undoubtedly the primary battleground. Considering the current state of energy resources, technology, and industry in China and globally, we observe extensive opportunities for transformation across nearly all sectors of the economy. These opportunities encompass technological updates, industrial project development, investment and financing arrangements, enabling environment shaping, and systemic and institutional reforms. On the scientific trajectory towards carbon neutrality, we should find solutions through energy conservation and efficiency improvement, deep decarbonization of the power system, electrification of end-use sectors, zero-carbon substitutes for high-temperature and specific fuels, negative emission technologies such as carbon sinks, and the reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gases. This profound and comprehensive socio-economic transformation, spearheaded by academia, enabled by government policies, driven by entrepreneurial innovation, backed by industrial investment and trade, and engaged by public participation, involves sweeping changes in concepts, paradigms, technologies, finance, and governance. Over the span of three to four decades, this transformation will fundamentally redefine the relationship between humans and nature, leading to a shift in growth momentum and development paradigms within the human socio-economic system. In this monumental transformation, Energy Foundation China is resolutely committed to its mission and is poised to make new contributions.

The greatest fortune of Energy Foundation China lies in its collaboration with numerous visionary, capable, passionate, and like-minded partners. Over the past 25 years, with more than 4,000 projects and nearly a thousand partners, every step we have taken has been imbued with the collective wisdom of the entire field. The path forward has not always been easy, which makes the maintenance of trust and collaborative effort all the more precious. I take great pride in the fruitful outcomes that Energy Foundation China and its partners have jointly cultivated.

Together, we explore key and cutting-edge topics, and conduct scientific, objective, and impartial research and pilot projects. As exemplified today, we collaborate across sectors with scholars, leading enterprises, and local governments to focus on the development of renewable energy. Our aim is to integrate considerations of power supply, grid infrastructure, energy storage, end-use electrification, and corresponding business models and policy levers into a comprehensive green power expansion solution that unites both the supply and demand sides.

Together, we promote dialogue and exchange, strengthen mutual trust and understanding, and drive the realization of more ambitious climate goals. Whether it involves organizing dialogues among global economists, supporting exchanges between China-U.S. climate and energy experts to implement the Sunnylands Agreement, fostering mutual learning between Chinese and European or Southeast Asian institutions, or building a network for implementing outstanding project concepts, we firmly believe that communication, cooperation, and mutual benefit are the eternal themes of achieving energy transition and climate goals.

When we envision the future, we see a world that is clean, green, safe, abundant, and inclusive. We believe that such a world can only be realized through cooperation and perseverance. Though the road ahead is challenging and difficult, our goals can be achieved through relentless effort. At 25, in the prime of its youth, Energy Foundation China remains committed to the spirit of philanthropy and scientific inquiry. We will continue to collaborate with colleagues across all sectors, moving forward with passion, pragmatism, and determination.

The future promises to be better.