British Consulate-General in Guangzhou hosted the UK-Southern China Climate Change Conference with the theme of “Pathway to COP26 and Beyond”. This Conference coincides with COP26 to be held in Glasgow, to further UK-China dialogue in climate change.

The event gathers over 150 representatives from government, business and academia in Beijing, Shanghai, Hunan Province, Hainan Province and Fujian Province, to tackle climate change and explore the roles of innovative businesses in achieving net zero for both countries. The Conference co-organised with China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Design Institute, is conducted both online and offline.

“I’m very pleased that this conference is certified as a carbon neural event,” said Jo Hawley, British Consul-General in Guangzhou. “As event organiser, we have the responsibility for carbon emissions and should work to address them.  As individuals, we all have a part to play to tackle climate change.”

At the press conference seven major UK-Southern China collaboration projects are launched, encompassing areas of science and innovation, cultural exchange, green finance, energy transition, carbon neutrality technology; project formats including exhibition, seminar and business MOU signing. The UK Climate Change Committee (UK CCC) and the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences (GIEC) will establish 2022 exchange and collaboration programme, to jointly focus on projects on traditional high emitting sector transition, electrification of the transport, net zero buildings, and the associated policy modelling, sectoral decarbonisation strategies, and technology road mapping.

Press conference also sees the MOU signing ceremony between SFC Capital (a London based Venture Capital) and North Summit Capital, launching a Net Zero Tech Fund to support net zero focused companies from Europe to utilise big data and AI technology and access the China market. Nishi Dholakia, Minister-Counsellor of British Embassy Beijing and Jo Hawley, British Consul-General witnessed the signing.

Nishi Dholakia, Minister-Counsellor of British Embassy Beijing said that The UK stands ready to work with China to reach carbon reduction targets, through long-standing collaboration and partnerships, on green finance, climate risk and clean energy.

This year also sees new partnership in science and innovation between the UK and Southern China. Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Guangzhou Lichuan Environmental Technology Development Co., Ltd.  have launched an all-round cooperative relationship to jointly build the Cambridge Zero Carbon Smart Industrial Parks in both Cambridge and Guangdong, conducting zero-carbon research to develop a zero-carbon economy and to serve China and benefit the world.  The first phase of the industrial park development area is about 33 acres, with an investment of RMB1 billion yuan, and will create 500 job opportunities.