Global experts call for using BRI to tackle climate crisis

The critical role of science and technology in peaking carbon emissions and carbon neutrality was re-emphasized by global experts in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Thursday. The experts called for more global cooperation and utilization of the Belt and Road Initiative in addressing the climate crisis.

"With the exacerbation of global climate change and the frequent occurrence of extreme weather events, carbon emission reduction has become a major issue regarding the continuation of humanity and civilization," said Jiang Song, deputy director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, at a sideline event of the Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange.

In response, the Chinese government introduced the concepts of carbon peak and carbon neutrality in 2020, committing to reaching the maximum level of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving a balance between carbon emissions and carbon offsetting by 2060.

Jiang emphasized the importance of science and technology in reaching the ultimate objectives of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This is the fundamental pathway to overcoming resource and environmental limitations and achieving sustainable development.

"Countries participating in the BRI possess their own characteristics and advantages in resources, technology and industrial foundations. In recent years, they have made significant strides in energy transition, energy conservation and emission reduction," he said, highlighting the pressing need to transcend geographical boundaries, form an innovative synergy and combat climate crisis in concerted efforts.

He Kebin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality of Tsinghua University, pointed out that countries involved in the initiative have ample new energy sources, and therefore promoting carbon neutrality is not only beneficial for the environment but also important for social and economic development.

"Fossil fuels currently underpin global economic development, but their geographic distribution is highly uneven. In contrast, wind and solar resources — as heralds of future energy solutions — exhibit a more balanced global distribution," He said. "The utilization of wind and solar energy entails greater technological demands. Therefore, those who establish a technological system to support the large-scale adoption of new energy will seize the initiative for development."

Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations resident coordinator in China, said the BRI is a valuable platform for strengthening international scientific and technological cooperation. Through South-South cooperation, countries can exchange knowledge, share practices and promote common progress. This aligns with the broad development agenda of the UN, showcasing China's leading role in climate action.

Zhang Liehui, Party secretary of Southwest Petroleum University, highlighted the collaborative efforts of Chinese universities with countries involved in the BRI in conducting joint research to tackle energy and environmental challenges, reflecting a shared commitment to knowledge exchange and technological innovation. He mentioned that his university has been engaged in cooperation with Iraq on studies related to oil, gas and clean energy.

Leveraging the academic strength of the university and Iraq's resource characteristics of abundant oil, a key collaborative initiative centers on carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery, a technique entailing injecting carbon dioxide into oil reservoirs to boost crude oil production. Moreover, the joint laboratory has delved into technologies like carbon capture and storage, as well as the development of solid oxide fuel cell, Zhang said.

The university also plans to help Iraq establish its first national-level laboratory on carbon neutrality study, Zhang added.

In another notable example of international technology cooperation, the Yunnan Normal University is leading a project focused on comprehensive biogas recycling and utilization in Vientiane, Laos.

This initiative, featuring low cost and diversified income, centers on utilizing manure as the primary feedstock, with an average daily input of 2.1 metric tons. The project produces 33 cubic meters of biogas daily exclusively for biogas power generation. Moreover, it achieves a daily reduction of 198 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, amounting to an annual reduction of 72.3 tons.

It is expected that this initiative could be extended to areas abundant in agricultural waste or livestock manure across Southeast Asia and South Asia, advancing their renewable energy development.