Topic: An Exploration of the Approaches for Realizing Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals in China

Speaker: Researcher Liu Weidong

        Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS

Time: 13: 30-15: 00, October 11, 2021 (Monday)

Venue: S818, South Building, Mong Man Wai Technology Building, Tsinghua University

Introduction to the Lecture:

China has promised to the world that it will adopt more effective policies and measures, and strive to achieve carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Meanwhile, it has been promised that by 2030 China’s carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will be reduced by more than 65% from 2005, and the proportion of non-fossil energy in primary energy consumption will reach about 25%. The central government has set up a leading group for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and the related work has also been included in the overall plan for promoting ecological progress. How to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and reshape the social and economic system has become a major concern of the whole society. This report will be based on the research results of the national key R&D project “Research on Optimized Approaches for China to Achieve Carbon Peaking by 2030”, and discuss some major issues for China to achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”, including energy structure, industrial structure, and technological progress, among others.

Profile of the Speaker:

Liu Weidong graduated from the Department of Geography of Peking University in 1988, obtained a master’s degree from the Institute of Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991, and obtained a doctorate from the Department of Geography of the University of Hong Kong in 2000. He is currently Deputy Director, Researcher (level 2), Doctoral Supervisor of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS and Director of the “B & R” Strategic Research Center. He is also Director of the B & R Research Branch of the Geographical Society of China and Chairman of the China Branch of the International Association for Regional Studies. His honors include Winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars 2011, the 7th National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker (2016), Talent of the “National Talent Program”, “Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding National Contributions” (2014), Winner of special government allowance of the State Council (2015), the collective award for outstanding contribution to the development of the western region (2010) and the collective award for outstanding scientific and technological achievements of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2009). He has published more than 230 academic papers, including more than 80 SCI/SSCI-indexed papers; he has led the publication of 15 monographs, including 4 in English; led the implementation of more than 10 major national planning studies, and participated in the compilation of plans. He is mainly engaged in the research on economic globalization, regional development, the “B & R” Initiative, and carbon peaking approaches. He has presided over the “Silk Road Environment Special Project” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, “Research on Scientific Evaluation and Decision Support of Green Silk Road Construction”, and the national key research and development plan “Research on the optimized path for China to achieve the goal of carbon peaking in 2030” and other projects. He is Editor-in-Chief of Area Development and Policy, one of the chief editors of Wiley-AAG International Encyclopedia of Geography, and editorial board member of famous international journals such as Progress in Human Geography.