On September 26, the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Forum was held as part of the 2021 ZGC Forum. Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hou Jianguo, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Yuzhuo, Vice President and Chief Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, Yin Hejun, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Wei Xiaodong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference attended the forum.
In his keynote speech, Ding Zhongli pointed out that to achieve carbon neutrality, we need to take a three-pronged approach that focuses on energy production, energy consumption, and carbon sequestration. We must work for the transformation from traditional innovation to original or even disruptive innovation by carrying out exploration with a relatively high risk of failure. National R&D capacity shall be mobilized in a holistic manner, and technological alliances need to be established. Actors engaging in research of core technologies shall be assigned clearly-defined responsibilities. The effort to improve carbon sequestration capacity through eco-construction needs to be integrated into national strategies such as rural revitalization and building a beautiful China. We also need to study the core scientific issues related to carbon emissions, and check the carbon budget of each country and the world as a whole.
Hou Jianguo said that achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality (the "dual carbon" targets) requires a comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development, including in energy structure, industries and transportation, and ecological conservation, and it is pivotal that we leverage the guiding and supporting role of innovation in this process. He pointed out that we need to draw up a roadmap for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, come up with new theories on carbon reduction and sequestration, develop new technologies on processes and equipment that reduce emissions and increase carbon sinks, and keep a clear record for the monitoring and calculation of the carbon sources and carbon sink capacity.
Zhang Yuzhuo said that to achieve the "dual carbon" targets, we need to focus on the industrial sectors, optimize energy and industrial structure, and rely on science and technology. It is necessary to improve the top-level design of strategies and policies and find the best way to achieve the "dual carbon" targets. We need to reinforce research on key and core technologies and work for breakthroughs in original and leading innovations. We also need to build consensus on green development by promoting the thought, method, and knowledge of ecological conservation. We need to enhance scientific and technological cooperation in global climate governance and join hands with other countries to explore possible ways of supporting the development of a low-carbon economy with science and technology.
Wei Xiaodong said that Beijing will follow the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's video speech at the 2021 ZGC Forum, strive to achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and contribute to China's endeavor of becoming a world leader in science and technology. To facilitate the capital's high-quality development and build a world-class harmonious and livable city, we need to promote the spirit of Zhongguancun's pilot reforms and set the important goal of leading the country in achieving carbon neutrality. We need to drive the green and low-carbon revolution with technological innovations, take the lead in realizing the socio-economic low-carbon and green transformation, and step up efforts in achieving the "dual carbon" targets.
Zhang Tao, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presided over the speech session. As an important part of this year's ZGC Forum, the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Forum promoted exchanges of experts from government departments, research institutions, industries and companies, and provided a platform for all-around discussion and in-depth analysis of the "dual carbon" targets.
(Reporter: Wu Hongli)
