European Chamber Spoke at the 2023 CIFTIS: Global Green Development and Carbon Neutrality Thematic Conference
2023-09-03 | Beijing
On 3rd September 2023, the European Chamber supported the Global Green Development and Carbon Neutrality Thematic Conference under the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which was co-organised by International Green Economy Association (IGEA) and World Business Council of Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in China National Convention Centre in Beijing. Mr Ruixin Li, National Chair of the Carbon Market Working Group of the European Chamber, delivered a keynote speech in the High-level Thematic Roundtable: EU CBAM and China's Industrial Dual Circulation Strategy.
Mr. Laurent Bardon, Head of Section for Green Transition of Delegation of the European Union to China, delivered the opening remarks, together with Mr. Sha Zukang the Honorary President of the International Green Economy Association, and Mr. Lu Yan, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Mr. Vicente Hurtado, Head of Unit CBAM, the Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) of the EU Commission, shared the latest CBAM trends via video. Association leaders and industry representatives also delivered keynote speeches.
Chaired by Mr. Liu Yanhua, Chief Expert of International Green Economy Association, Honorary Director of the National Climate Change Expert Committee and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the forum focused on the four major industries of "steel, aluminum, cement and chemical", and discussed the domestic and international impact of the EU CBAM, which will officially launch on 1st October 2023, on various fields of Chinese industry, and corresponding tackling measures. Mr. Deng Jihai, Legal Representative and Executive President of the International Green Economy Association was the Secretary-General of the Roundtable forum.
Mr. Ruixin Li, Chair of the Carbon Market Sub-working Group of the European Chamber, analysed the institutional progress of the EU CBAM. He suggested to include key emission industries such as cement/iron/steel in the national carbon market as soon as possible and provide clear roadmap and timetable for the inclusion. In addition, he called for the alignment of Chinese carbon emissions Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) standards with the EU's. Moreover, the EU and China should carry out more exchanges about CBAM and other decarbonisation actions in a transparent manner to further promote global climate governance to a new level.