Social Impact Initiative 2024: Symposium on US-China Corporate Low-Carbon Practices with SASAC
On June 17, AmCham China jointly hosted the 2023-2024 Social Impact Initiative – Symposium on US-China Corporate Low-Carbon Practices with SASAC and to discuss the development status and cooperation prospects in the field of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
The AmCham China delegation first visited the CCUS laboratory and the energy storage laboratory of China Huaneng Group Clean Energy Research Institute where the heads of each laboratory provided in-depth explanations. The head of the CCUS laboratory detailed the critical role of CCUS technology in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrated the entire process of carbon capture, transportation, utilization, and storage. The head of the energy storage laboratory focused on the research of new energy storage technologies, including sodium-ion batteries, flow batteries, etc., and introduced the structure and operation of related devices. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions with laboratory heads on the development trends of CCUS and energy storage technologies.
At a subsequent seminar, Qian Hui, Director of the International Business Department of Huaneng Group, welcomed the participants and introduced the basic situation and research achievements of China Huaneng Group Clean Energy Research Institute. Director Qian stated that Huaneng remains at the forefront of progress in the power generation industry, with significant advancements in three supporting areas: new energy, nuclear power, and hydropower.
Claire Ma, Vice President of AmCham China expressed that in September 2023, SASAC and AmCham member companies had in-depth exchanges on the latest progress in state-owned enterprise reform and cooperation with foreign enterprises, yielding fruitful results. Through exchanges with SASAC and central enterprises, AmCham aims to learn from the advanced technologies of the China Huaneng Group Clean Energy Research Institute in the CCUS field, strengthen member companies’ low-carbon energy transition development, and build a platform for deepening cooperation in this field. AmCham also hopes to explore more future cooperation opportunities to jointly contribute to global climate change mitigation.
Lv Kun, Director of the Bureau of Social Responsibility of SASAC, said at the event that SASAC attaches great importance to the role of green development in the reform of central enterprises and will accelerate the promotion of high-quality green and low-carbon development.
Afterwards, representatives of AmCham China member companies shared their experiences and industry perspectives on the development of multinational companies in the green and low-carbon transition fields such as CCUS. They also discussed their practices and explorations in the development of CCUS technology and green and low-carbon transition.
During the interactive exchange session, representatives from SASAC, Huaneng Group, and the Clean Energy Research Institute had thorough discussions with company representatives, exchanged opinions, shared experiences on green and low-carbon transition issues, reflected on policy advantages and challenges encountered during enterprise development, looked forward to future development directions, and reached a consensus on continued cooperation to contribute to global sustainable development.
Finally, Xu Aibo, Level I Bureau Rank Official of the Bureau of International Cooperation of SASAC, made a concluding speech, stating that this Symposium on US-China Corporate Low-Carbon Practices provided valuable learning and exchange opportunities, enhanced mutual understanding, and consolidated consensus. The goal is that future exchanges will continue to be strong, allowing for the collaborative promotion of CCUS technology upgrades and corporate green and low-carbon transition. Enhanced cooperation between the government and enterprises in the green and low-carbon fields will ensure that responsibility for protecting the ecological environment and addressing climate change is collective.
Social Impact Initiative:
AmCham China launched the Social Impact Initiative in July 2020, aiming to establish a collaborative platform including stakeholders such as government bodies, domestic and foreign enterprises, international organizations, think tanks, and so on. By organizing thematic seminars, summits, and producing reports, the program shares best practices to inspire corporate social responsibility, encouraging multinational enterprises to play a more proactive role in China’s social and economic development. Upholding the principles of sharing, contributing, cooperating, and win-win outcomes, the Social Impact Initiative will continue to focus on three areas in 2024: rural revitalization, the digital economy, and sustainable development. We welcome member companies, government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and industry associations to join us on our journey of social impact.
To learn more about AmCham China’s Social Impact Initiative, please contact Yuning Xu.