On September 6, AmCham China President Michael Hart delivered keynote remarks at the US-China Circular Economy Cooperation Forum, an event that brought together key leaders from both the US and China to discuss climate collaboration. Notable speakers in the opening session included John Podesta, US Climate Envoy; Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change; US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, and pre-recorded video remarks from Xie Feng, China’s Ambassador to the United States.
The Forum highlighted critical areas for US-China climate cooperation. In his remarks, John Podesta, while acknowledging “some differences,” with his Chinese counterparts, he noted that he had held “excellent” talks with Chinese Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He also confirmed that the two sides “made plans to hold a summit on non-CO2 gases—methane, N2O, and HFCs.”
In his remarks, Hart emphasized AmCham China’s commitment to promoting sustainable business practices through its Social Impact Initiative (SII) and other programs. He shared examples from the Chamber’s recent 2024 SII Reports, which showcased how AmCham China member companies are adopting circular economy principles, reducing energy use, and integrating recycling processes into their business models. Hart also highlighted the role multinational corporations are playing in advancing sustainability efforts which are implementing innovative solutions such as closed-loop recycling programs and product take-back schemes to reduce waste and extend product life cycles.
Hart also touched on AmCham China’s efforts to facilitate direct engagement between its members and key stakeholders in both the US and Chinese governments, think tanks, and other organizations. He highlighted workshops organized in cooperation with the Paulson Institute and other Chinese organizations, such as the China Association for Circular Economy (CACE), that brought together corporate and governmental stakeholders to discuss green development and low-carbon practices.
Hart further reinforced AmCham China’s support for US-China climate cooperation through initiatives like carbon management dialogues and symposiums on low-carbon practices. He pointed to the Chamber’s role in hosting a Carbon Management Dialogue last year with the US Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Noah Deich, and a subsequent information session led by DOE China Director Stephanie Duran, which focused on advancing large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. Both countries have committed to advancing at least five such projects by 2030.
In closing, Hart stressed the importance of continued collaboration between US and Chinese companies to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, applauding the forum’s emphasis on sharing best practices and developing innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.