The Second Dialogue of the China-Europe-America Net-Zero Transition Platform
Date：2022-11-09
The second dialogue of the China-Europe-America Net-Zero Transition Platform was successfully held on November 8 and 9. David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, introduced the event by saying that the date had be chosen to coincide with the COP27. Having for main theme green finance, the 2022 China-Europe-America Net-Zero Transition Platform gathered more than 40 speakers from 15 nationalities.
In the opening ceremony, Yu Tao, vice president of the China International Communications Group, reiterated the importance of sustainability in general, and of the China-Europe-America Net-Zero Transition Platform which brings together policymakers, business leaders, academics, and influencers. His address was followed by the analysis of Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister, and chairman of COP 21, of Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO, Patron of the International Science Council (ISC), and of Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo. While the speakers insisted on the necessity to act rapidly in order to fight climate change and biodiversity loss, they indicated concrete solutions and agreed on the necessity to develop green finance.
Chaired by Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the first session of the event was specifically on green finance, its instruments and its challenges. Deborah Lehr, vice chairman of the Paulson Institute, Leslie Maasdorp, vice president of the New Development Bank, Zong Liang, chief researcher at the Bank of China, Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis, G. Bin Zhao, senior economist at PwC China, Susan Park, professor of Global Governance at the University of Sydney, and Nicolas Poirot, president of Air Liquide Greater China, represented a wide range of expertise and presented the various dimensions of green finance. Despite the issue of greenwashing, progress is being made as far as green finance is concerned. However, a lot more has to be done, and that would require a mindset transformation.
In order to shape mindsets more conducive to a global green economy, non-profits and philanthropy have a significant role to play. Chaired by Jean-Philippe Raynaud, a French corporate strategist and analyst, the second session of the international forum explored this role. Despite the diversity of background, a high level of convergence was reached among the panelists, Xu Hao, vice president, Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, Martin Rune Hoxer, executive director at the Innovation Centre Denmark in Shanghai, Augusto Soto, director of Dialogue with China Project and president of the China-Europe Association for the Promotion of Mutual and Sustainable Trust, Xuan Zihan, Climate Advocate from YOUNGO, Juan Gabarron, CEO of the Gabarron Foundation, Chen Suping, founder of the Handle Climate Change Film Festival, Christopher Dunn, deputy director for the UK Department for International Trade in China, British Consulate-General in Shanghai, and Emilio Quinte, cultural consultant for Made in Heritage.
On the second day of the forum, Louis Godart, former cultural advisor of three Italian Presidents, chaired a session on eco-fashion. Green economy depends both on green brands but also on consumers that demand sustainable products and services. Zhou Wei, vice president at Jinjiang Hotels Group, Bernardo Cabot, senior vice president for Asia Pacific Sol Meliá, Joan McEntee, former under secretary of the US Department of Commerce, Pavlos Kontomichalos, founder of Hellas Group, Margaret Kan, founder of 6PM Candle & Fragrance and a former Miss Hong Kong, Yann Klein, Chef de cuisine for Maison Lameloise Shanghai, Shen Zhu, Secretary General of Reignwood Cultural Foundation, and Filip Westerlund, founder of Our Choice Fashion, represented different organizations in nature but all highlighted the growing importance of eco-fashion.
Youth constitutes a key force for the transformation towards net-zero. William Wang, associate dean of emlyon business school in Asia chaired the fourth and last session of the international gathering. Wang Jianhua, vice president of the Xiamen-based Huaqiao University, Luo Jingshan, vice director of the Institute of Photoelectronic Thin Film Devices and Technology at Nankai University in Tianjin, Tao Simin, Assistant Professor in Shanghai’s Tongji University, Darren O Connell, CEO of ReLabs Green Gym, Zhu Yunjie, expert on water and climate change at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), Ryan Casey, ambassador of the China-Europe-America Youth Program, and Cedric Devroye, vice president at United Trademarks Group and president of the CEIBS Alumni International Chapter, illustrated the role of youth on the path to a more sustainable economy.
In the closing ceremony, David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, was joined by Yang Ping, vice president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), and Giamberto Giraldo, chairman of Yi Tsai. They reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in the fight against climate change, and recognized the importance of the China-Europe-America Net-Zero Transition Platform which is also a call for greater synergies between China, Europe and North America.
