The 2nd “Europe-China Climate Collaboration Forum” Successfully held on 12th October

On October 12th, 2022, the 2nd Europe-China Climate Collaboration Forum, co-hosted by Ireland China Institute (ICI), National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China (RUC), UCD Confucius Institute, and supported by UCD Energy Institute, RUC Institute of Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality, RUC Institute for Europe-Asia Studies, International Culture Exchange Centre, and National Academy of Belt and Road Green Development, China, was held by video conference. More than 250 representatives from the United Nations, the European Union and China, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom, officials from international organizations, heads of enterprises and institutions, university presidents, scholars and young student representatives attended this webinar.

(Group Photo of Guests)

Marie O'Brien, Chairperson of the Ireland China Institute, chaired the forum’s opening ceremony. H.E. He Xiangdong, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Sun Zhen, Counsel (director-general level), Ministry of Ecology and Environment, P. R. China, and Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) delivered opening speeches.

Enda Kenny, former Taoiseach and President of ICI, Du Peng, Vice President of Renmin University of China, and Mark Rogers, Acting President of University College Dublin, gave welcome speeches. Wang Yi, Vice President of Renmin University of China, was the moderator of this session.

Closing remarks were delivered by Wang Liming, Director of UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies, Li Zhenshi, Director of the Confucius Institute Office, RUC, Xu Qinhua, Vice Dean of National Academy of Development and Strategy at RUC and Zhu Xiao, Vice Dean of School of Environment and Natural Resources, RUC.

In addition to the Keynote Forum, three other parallel forums were held simultaneously. The keynote speeches were chaired by Yan Jinming, Executive Dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy at RUC. The keynote forum, Higher Education and Europe-China Green Economy Transformation-University Presidents’ Roundtable was moderated by Dolores O’Riordan, Vice President for Global Engagement, UCD. The 1st parallel forum, Energy Safe and Development in Europe, was moderated by Xu Qinhua. The 2nd parallel forum, Energy Accessibility and Climate Finance Collaboration was moderated by Wang Ke, Associate Professor of the School of Environment, RUC. The 3rd parallel forum, Technology Transfer and Capacity Building Collaboration for Developing Countries, was moderated by Ruairi Quinn, former Minister for Education and Skills, ICI board member. Furthermore, Robert H. T Zhao, Editor-in-Chief of Bio Nexthyopthesis, Imperial College London was the moderator for Climate Change and Green Economy-College Students Roundtable.

Other distinguished representatives included Lorenzo Fioramont, former Italian Minister of State for Education and founding Director of Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability, Li Junfeng, founding Director of National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation and Executive Council Member of China Energy Research Society, Xie Yuhong, Vice Chair and Secretary General, All China Environment Federation, Sawako Shirahase, Senior Vice-Rector of United Nations University, Liu Yuanchun, President of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and former Vice President of Renmin University of China, Hai-Sui Yu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Leeds, Li Jinyuan, Vice President, Shanxi Vocational University of Engineering Science and Technology, John Hearn, former Executive Director of Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) and Chairman of the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN), Michael Williamson, Section Chief of Energy Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Pradeep Monga, former Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Director of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), etc.

The Forum brought together representatives from international organizations, governments, think tanks, universities, and enterprises to have a frank and in-depth exchanges and discussion on topics such as energy security and development in Europe, energy accessibility and climate finance cooperation, sustainable technology transfer and capacity building cooperation to developing countries, climate change and green economy. The Forum also put forward some suggestions and practical measures as an action plan on accelerating the transition to a green economy and climate cooperation between China and Europe. For the first time, roundtables for presidents and young students were hosted in this forum.

As the challenges of climate change and energy security are becoming increasingly severe for all humans today, it is crucial for China and Europe to cooperate in taking action plans. To this end, the China-Europe Climate Collaboration Forum provides a long-standing platform and will be held as an annual high-end forum in December.

This year's forum was broadcasted on October 13th at 4pm Beijing time on iFeng.