Boao, Xinhuanet, November 26 (Reporter Yang Jing) — From November 25 to 28, the 2022 China Entrepreneurs Boao Forum was held in Boao, Hainan. At the 2022 High-Level Dialogue on Peaking Carbon Emissions and Achieving Carbon Neutrality, held on the 26th, attendees gathered under the theme of “Green Innovation and Development,” sharing their perspectives from diverse angles, engaging in vigorous intellectual exchange, and jointly exploring sustainable pathways to promote continuous green and low-carbon economic development.

During critical periods and window periods, both macro-level guidance and proactive action are essential.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period represents a critical window of opportunity for China to achieve its carbon peak target, as well as a major strategic opportunity for high-quality energy development.

Liu Yafang, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of the National Energy Administration, stated that, against the backdrop of the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, balancing energy security, accelerating the green transition of the energy sector, and promoting high-quality development is both a glorious mission and a formidable task. “The National Energy Administration will work in close coordination with the National Development and Reform Commission and other relevant departments to continuously strengthen top-level design and enhance macro-policy guidance.”

Seizing the opportunities presented by carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is the only path for Chinese enterprises to achieve high-quality development, and the timely realization of these goals is inseparable from the proactive actions of business leaders.

Tan Yuping, a member of the Party Committee Standing Committee and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Xinhuanet, believes that China’s achievement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality requires both a robust policy framework—comprising the “four pillars and eight beams”—and a solid foundation built by the business community.

Leveraging Technological Innovation to Establish a Carbon Neutrality Innovation System

Achieving the “dual carbon” goals hinges on technological innovation. At present, the world is undergoing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, with many countries and regions actively developing green, low-carbon industries and advancing clean technologies. Peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality have thus become new frontiers for global technological innovation.

“Technological innovation related to peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality can be divided into four stages: carbon control, carbon reduction, low-carbon development, and carbon neutrality.” According to Xu Qigong, Deputy Director of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences, in line with China’s dual-carbon strategy, the technological needs at each stage should be addressed accordingly. At present, the most critical measures for technological implementation are energy conservation and efficiency improvement; next come the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources; and finally, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCS) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage with enhanced recovery (CCUS). These measures should be advanced in a steady and coordinated manner, taking into account the realities of economic and social development to ensure that economic, technological, and environmental benefits are achieved simultaneously.

Xue Yong, a professor at China University of Mining and Technology and an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, believes that advancing carbon neutrality in a proactive yet prudent manner requires robust quantification of carbon emissions. At present, integrated space–air–ground monitoring and analysis serves as a critical foundation for greenhouse-gas reduction initiatives and for achieving synergistic benefits in pollution control and carbon reduction. The deployment of carbon-monitoring satellites can effectively track emissions of carbon dioxide and methane.

Yan Xiaolin, Chairperson of Jiangsu Fengxin Aviation Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., believes that information technology and digital technology are key drivers of low-carbon development for manufacturing enterprises.

Promote emissions reductions across all sectors and leverage the pivotal role of new energy.

Against the backdrop of proactive responses to climate change, accelerating the development of new energy sources such as wind power and solar power has become an inevitable choice for China’s green and low-carbon energy transition—and a strategic move to achieve the “dual carbon” goals.

Chang Jiwen, Deputy Director of the Institute of Resource and Environmental Policy at the Development Research Center of the State Council, stated that achieving the “dual carbon” goals first requires launching a low-carbon energy revolution by phasing out and upgrading coal consumption, vigorously developing new energy sources, tapping hydropower potential in accordance with local conditions, actively, safely, and orderly expanding nuclear power, appropriately regulating oil and gas consumption, and accelerating the construction of a new-type power system.

Chai Bo, Secretary-General of the Hydrogen Energy Professional Committee of the China Energy Conservation Association, stated that hydrogen energy is a crucial tool and measure for addressing sectors where emissions reductions are particularly challenging. “Hydrogen can be stored across regions and over time, and it can facilitate the integration of the power grid, gas network, and heating network into a unified system.”

Yu Xiang, Vice President of Nenglian Zhidian (NASDAQ: NAAS), stated that on the transportation front, new-energy vehicles are a crucial lever for achieving the dual-carbon goals, and Nenglian Zhidian will serve as a key industry connector, delivering end-to-end services that integrate online, offline, and non-electric solutions.

Calculate the economic benefits of carbon reduction and enhance society-wide awareness of decarbonization.

How do we calculate the economic benefits of carbon reduction? This is likely a question of great concern to businesses today. Du Shaozhong, Vice Chairman of the China Environmental Protection Federation, emphasizes that we should not limit ourselves to a simple tally of direct economic gains; rather, we need to account for the full lifecycle of the low-carbon transition. “When a region implements a low-carbon project, the environment improves, property values rise, and this generates additional value—while also serving as an important demonstration effect that encourages more stakeholders to follow suit.”

Tao Lan, Executive Director of the Green Circulation and Inclusive Finance Special Committee of the China Environmental Protection Federation and founder of Green Inclusive Finance, explained that since 2022, governments and enterprises in many regions have launched carbon-inclusive platforms. These digital platforms record the carbon emissions generated by consumers’ adoption of green, low-carbon lifestyles in a “carbon ledger,” providing a practical mechanism for public participation in pollution reduction and carbon mitigation and raising awareness across society.

The four-day 2022 China Entrepreneurs Boao Forum is co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the People’s Government of Hainan Province, with the Xinhua News Agency National Brand Project Office and Xinhuanet serving as the organizers. As one of the forum’s sub-forums, the 2022 High-Level Dialogue on Peaking Carbon Emissions and Achieving Carbon Neutrality, themed “Green Development, Innovation, and Growth,” drew nearly 200 representatives from government, academia, and the business community. Participants shared their insights and presented case studies to help better translate the dual-carbon goals into concrete actions.