On August 26, 2022, with the support of Energy Foundation China, the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) at Tsinghua University held its interim evaluation meeting in Beijing of the flagship research project on China’s 2035 and longer-term development strategies in the context of the country’s carbon neutrality goal. Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, made a speech at the meeting. More than 10 leading experts from the field also provided their suggestions for how to refine the research report, including Zou Ji, CEO and President of Energy Foundation China.

This project aims to provide scientific evidence for China’s decarbonization goals and pathways toward 2035 and 2060, as well as suggestions on China’s role in international climate governance, against the backdrop of a comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society. After reviewing the interim resarch findings, the experts recommended to connect climate change with other priority topics in China—especially high-quality development—and incorporate new dynamics around the world and in China, before making policy proposals.

Zou Ji said in his opening remarks that from now to year 2035 would be an important time window for China to build a modern country; and he expected this project to help identify China’s low carbon transition pathway and its role in international climate collaboration, based on an analysis of economic growth, energy security, and climate change priorities under the new circumstances.

Other experts present at the meeting included Liu Shijin, Vice Chair of China Development Research Foundation and Vice Chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee; Liu Yanhua, former Vice Minister of Science and Technology; Wang Jinnan, President of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Du Xiangwan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Zhou Dadi, Member of China’s National Expert Committee on Climate Change; Bai Rongchun, Advisor of Energy Fundamentals and Management (SAC/TC 20); Wang Zhongying, Director of the Energy Research Institute in China; Jiang Kejun, Senior Researcher at the Energy Research Institute; and Li Shantong, Senior Research Fellow at the Development Research Center of the State Council. The meeting was hosted by Yang Xiu, Director of ICCSD’s Research Department, and Li Jie, Energy Foundation China’s Vice President of Programs.

The next step for the ICCSD project team will be refining its final report based on comments from the experts.