Foster Ecosystems and Collaborations
Promoting cross-regional knowledge sharing and cooperation through capacity building and international exchange.
Capacity Building
Recent Events
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Zhenhua Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Fund Local Capacity Building for Climate Action Project Launch and Hangzhou Research
From June 17th to 18th, the Zhenhua Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Fund of the China Environmental Protection Foundation launched the Local Capacity Building for Climate Action project and conducted field research in Hangzhou. The event was organized by the Zhejiang Economic & Information Center and marked the first on-the-ground practice of the Zhenhua Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Fund. Over 20 representatives from local authorities and industry enterprises, including the Zhejiang Economic & Information Center, the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, participated in the event. Xu Guang, Chairman of the China Environmental Protection Foundation, expressed that the project aims to enhance local capacity to address climate change, promote the green transformation of local economies, and achieve sustainable development goals. The research team conducted on-site visits to several low-carbon demonstration projects in Hangzhou, including Future Villages, Multi-Energy Complementary Supply Systems, and Zero-Carbon Industrial Parks. During the project launch meeting, experts discussed the status of green low-carbon development in Zhejiang Province and shared perspectives and practical experiences in the field of green transformation. Through this exchange, participants reached a consensus on how to promote green low-carbon development in Zhejiang and the nation as a whole. They also expressed anticipation that summarizing and disseminating local experiences gained from the project will contribute to global efforts in addressing climate change.
Seminar on Local High-Quality Development of Renewable Energy and Power System Transformation under the 15th Five-Year Plan
On June 10th, the seminar on Local High-Quality Development of Renewable Energy and Power System Transformation under the 15th Five-Year Plan was co-hosted by the Tsinghua-CTG Joint Center for Climate Governance and Low-Carbon Transformation (JCGLT) and iGDP, with the Climate Change and Energy Transition Program of Institute of Energy (CCETP) as a co-organizer. The event brought together over 40 experts in power systems, industry experts from key coal-power provinces, and enterprise representatives from across the country. The discussions focused on the transformation of China’s power system in the context of dual carbon goals. The seminar addressed how local areas can respond to the rapid growth in electricity demand, achieve high-quality development of renewable energy, and optimize the power system through policy innovation and technological breakthroughs, achieving green transformation. Policy such as the revision of the Renewable Energy Law, the implementation details of Document 136 and Document 394 also became hot topics of discussion. The specific practices and challenges faced by local areas in green certificate trading, energy storage development, and coal-power transformation provided valuable insights. During the discussions, the capacity mechanism was considered essential for ensuring the construction of resources to maintain system security and flexibility, while coal-power transformation needs to be driven by local resources and technological innovation. For example, in Shandong, coal-power units face multiple tasks, and the local authorities must develop non-coal flexible resources to support the orderly exit of coal power. To address the challenges in absorbing green electricity in the northwest region, experts suggested improving energy storage facilities and linking the carbon market. In Guangdong, strengthening grid resilience is necessary to cope with the challenges brought by the increasing share of renewable energy. Additionally, experts discussed the Renewable Energy Law. They called for legal revisions to clarify policies, guide investment, and boost renewable energy development. The meeting proposed that by strengthening the integration of policy guidance, technological innovation, and local practices, China's power system can navigate challenges and achieve a smooth transition in meeting its dual carbon goals. This seminar provided an efficient platform for communication on the high-quality development of renewable energy and power system transformation during the 15th Five-Year plan period. Experts and enterprise representatives exchanged ideas through policy interpretation, market analysis, technical prospects, and experience sharing, identifying challenges and opportunities in the transformation process, and promoting inter-regional and industry-wide exchanges and cooperation.
Zhenhua Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Fund Local Capacity Building for Climate Action and Hangzhou Research
On July 3-4, the "Local Capacity Building for Climate Action" initiative, part of the Zhenhua Green Transition and Sustainable Development Fund under the China Environmental Protection Foundation, investigated in Guiyang. The research team included Xu Guang, President of the China Environmental Protection Foundation, Fang Zhi, Liaison Officer of the Zhenhua Fund, and other experts in the field of climate and low-carbon development. The Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress Progress (iGDP) also participated in the event. On July 3, the investigation team visited the National Big Data (Guizhou) Comprehensive Pilot Zone Exchange Experience Center, the Guizhou Construction Research and Design Institute, and the Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd. They conducted on-site investigations into the development of the digital economy, low-to-zero carbon renovation of old buildings, and digital and intelligent transformation of factories. The discussions during the Guiyang investigation focused on topics such as the digital economy, zero-carbon buildings, and green factories. Participants expressed their anticipation that this event would help distill replicable and scalable technical solutions, systematically summarize the project, promote Guizhou’s low-carbon experiences, and ultimately form a replicable and scalable "Guizhou Case" to support the green and low-carbon transition of the economy and society.
Changchun Field Research under the Zhenhua Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Fund’s “Local Climate Action Capacity Building” Initiative
From November 4 to 5, the field research of the "Local Climate Action Capacity Building" project—supported by the China Environmental Protection Foundation's Zhenhua Green Transition and Sustainable Development Fund—took place in Changchun. Organized by the Zhejiang Economic & Information Center, the research team of more than 20 members visited key facilities including the Changchun Circular Economy Industrial Park, the Changchun Kuancheng Resource Comprehensive Recycling Base, and Yitong Manchu Autonomous County Huada Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd., conducting on-site investigations into waste-to-energy incineration, end-of-life vehicle dismantling, and integrated biomass utilization. The team also held seminar discussions with local stakeholders. Ms. Wang Yanhui, Deputy Executive Director of iGDP, was invited to deliver a keynote speech. She introduced ACTION 2035, a project aimed at enhancing comprehensive local capacity for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality actions, as well as the newly established Local Climate Action Partners Platform launched under the Zhenhua Fund in September. She expressed hope that the initiative will conduct grounded research and analysis across China, identify representative, replicable, and scalable cases of local green practices, strengthen experience sharing and dissemination, and thereby fully unlock local emission reduction potential, raise ambition for low-carbon transformation, and accelerate the transition process.
International Cooperation
Recent Events
ACTION 2035 Partners Participate in the 2025 EU Coal Region Annual Political Dialogue and Conduct Research Visits
From June 22 to 29, partners of Action 2035, including representatives from the ACTION 2035 Climate Solution Shanxi Center, Agora, and iGDP, participated in a research organized by the CCICED to Poland, Spain, and Germany. In Poland, the delegation attended the Annual Political Dialogue on EU Coal Regions in Konin. This forum provided insights into Just Transition policies and practices from EU, Polish, and local Konin perspectives, as well as the EU's broader experience in supporting coal region transitions. The delegation then visited Proferrada, a coal-producing region in Spain. There, they exchanged views with the CIUDEN Foundation and visited a local coal power plant undergoing transformation and a coal mine ecological restoration area. These engagements offered an in-depth understanding of practical approaches to advancing Just Transition. Concluding their trip in Germany, the delegation visited Agora's headquarters and the energy self-sufficient village of Feilheim, deepening their understanding of its sustainable development model.
Zero Carbon Leading the Future - 2024 Vietnam New Energy Industry Study Tour
From October 21 to 24, 2024, iGDP organized a delegation of 23 experts, researchers and business representatives from Guangdong Kaiming Greater Bay Area Carbon Neutrality Research Institute, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangdong Low-Carbon Development Promotion Association, and Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, among other organizations in the energy and environmental fields. The delegation participated in the "Zero Carbon Leading the Future - 2024 Vietnam New Energy Industry Study Tour" and explored key areas of clean energy in Vietnam, with the aim of exploring new opportunities and challenges in the development of renewable energy between China and Vietnam under the complex international situation and exploring possible solutions and future cooperation directions.
US-China Workshop on Local Climate Action
From May 30-31, 2024, the US-China Workshop on Local Climate Action was co-hosted by iGDP and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in San Francisco, USA. The workshop attracted over 50 policymakers and scholars from both China and the United States, along with representatives from Guangdong, Shanxi, Hainan, Shanghai, Tianjin, and the Macao Special Administrative Region of China. The event focused on critical areas of climate action in both nations, covering topics such as flexible grids, industrial emission reductions, low-carbon construction, non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, and carbon markets.
UN Side Event: Rooted in Real-Life Scenarios, Partnerships Spark Climate Action Momentum
On November 18, during the UN side event titled "Rooted in Real-Life Scenarios, Sparking New Momentum for Climate Action: Innovative Partnerships Advancing Sustainable Retail and Circularity," Lyu Yaning, Communications Manager of iGDP, launched a special issue of World Environment entitled "Synergizing Pollution Reduction and Carbon Mitigation: Proactive Responses to Climate Change." The special issue features expert insights into China’s policies, measures, and achievements in implementing synergistic pollution and carbon reduction strategies. It also highlights outstanding local, industrial, and corporate climate actions across China—case studies jointly produced by iGDP and its local partners through on-the-ground collaboration. These examples are rooted in the work of the ACTION 2035 platform, a collaborative initiative co-launched by iGDP and multiple partners to advance subnational climate action. Released at COP30, the special issue aims to showcase authentic progress and innovative practices in China’s green transformation to a broader international audience, fostering greater understanding and inspiration for global climate solutions.