China's Energy & Environmental Challenges: Fact vs. Fiction, Moving Forward

Julio Friedmann, senior adviser for energy innovation at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will share his extensive experience in collaborations and engagement in China, especially carbon capture and storage, followed by a conversation with David Victor, GPS professor and co-director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation, on the future of U.S.-China collaboration on climate change mitigation and clean energy innovation.

 

China remains the world’s largest energy user, largest emitter, largest market and largest cleantech enterprise. Following ratification of Paris, they have undertaken an ambitious set of commitments to dramatically change their energy supply, infrastructure, use and efficiency. These large efforts and commitments are backed by substantial actions and investments. At the same time, they are undercut by retractions, shifting targets, a government reform agenda and complex geopolitical forces — converting these investments into both deep decarbonization and economic growth is contingent on technological, financial and human forces. Deep reduction of pollution and GHG emissions will only be achieved through innovation, sustained government action and triumph of this agenda in a complex national context. The chance of success is hard to assess, but required for the global climate accords to have any chance of success.

 

Schedule:

4:00 p.m. Presentation by Julio Friedmann

4:45 p.m. Conversation with David Victor

5:30 p.m. Reception

 

This event is sponsored by GPS's 21st Century China Center. It is co-sponsored by GPS's Laboratory on International Law and Regulation and the Fudan-UC Center on Contemporary China.

The event will take place in GPS classroom 3201 (directions). Closest parking will be at the Pangea Parking Structure. There will be signage to direct you from Pangea to GPS.

 

Questions? Contact Samuel Tsoi.