Why the 2023 Tianfu Carbon Neutrality Forum Matters: Insights from an Expert

The 2023 Tianfu Carbon Neutrality Forum will be held on December 24. On this occasion, Chengdu Daily Jinguan News takes this opportunity to launch a series of interview reports titled “Foster Innovation by Implementing the Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals”. With interviews with experts, academicians, and leading scientists, these reports illustrate a green pathway opened up through pooling wisdom, and showcase potency of this innovative platform, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, in its facilitating innovations, its yielded cutting-edge technology achievements, as well as the contributions from “Chengdu strength” in advancing towards the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. In this episode, Chengdu Daily Jinguan News interviews Luo Bin, Dean of the Sichuan Academy of Environmental Policy Research and Planning and Director of the Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation of Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory. Luo Bin elaborates on advancing the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy with technological innovation to help achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals as soon as possible. Here is the complete transcript of the interview:

Achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals represents an extensive and profound revolution in the socioeconomic system.

The 2023 Tianfu Carbon Neutrality Forum is scheduled to be hosted in Chengdu on December 24. The theme of this forum centers on ‘Promoting Technology and Industrial Conversion Simultaneously, Assisting High-quality Development of Green Industries’, spotlighting the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality initiatives at a national and even global level and from multi-dimensional and varied perspectives. Therefore, this Forum will provide feasible plans in facilitating the green transformation of traditional industries and speeding up carbon peaking and carbon neutrality with technological innovation.

On this occasion, Chengdu Daily Jinguan News takes this opportunity to launch a series of interview reports titled “Foster Innovation by Implementing the Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals”. With interviews with experts, academicians, and leading scientists, these reports illustrate a green pathway opened up through pooling wisdom, and showcase potency of this innovative platform, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, in its facilitating innovations, its yielded cutting-edge technology achievements, as well as the contributions from “Chengdu strength” in advancing towards the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

The enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy acts as an entry point to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. In June 2022, “The Implementation Plan of the Enhancement of the Efficiency of Pollution and Carbon Reduction Synergy” (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”) was issued by seven ministries, such as the Ministry of Ecological Environment. The Plan stipulates main goals, key tasks, and policy measures for the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy during “the 14th Five-Year Plan Period” and beyond, extending up to 2030.

Therefore, how to boost the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy with technological innovation to help attain the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals as soon as possible? Recently, Chengdu Jinguan News interviewed Luo Bin, Dean of the Sichuan Academy of Environmental Policy Research and Planning and Director of the Research Center for Pollution and Carbon Reduction Evaluation of Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory. Let’s explore Luo Bin’s opinion on the driving force, namely the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy, in its advancing toward green transformation.

To Advance Green Transformation in an All-round Manner, Pollution and Carbon Reduction Serves as a Powerful Support to Attain Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals

Chengdu Daily Jinguan News: Last June, “The Implementation Plan of the Enhancement of the Efficiency of Pollution and Carbon Reduction Synergy” (hereinafter referred to as “the Plan”) was issued by the Ministry of Ecological Environment, among seven ministries. How do we comprehend the significance of the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy? Would you like to talk about the changes brought by this initiative in the future?

Luo Bin: To establish pollution reduction and carbon reduction synergy, we generally adopt varied policy technologies and control pollutants and greenhouse gases to attain the common goal of environmental protection and carbon emission reduction. For example, we will strive to develop and utilize clean energies, recycle and reuse major pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, as well as greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. Simultaneously, we will employ energy-conserving devices and technology to heighten energy use efficiency. With the technology of pollution and carbon reduction synergy, modes of production and life across China’s society will undergo transformations. As a result, by reducing both pollution and carbon emissions compared to traditional methods, we support the achievement of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and continuous improvement of environment quality with powerful technology.

While furthering the enhancement of the efficiency of pollution and carbon reduction synergy, we will gradually utilize resources with high efficiency by employing comprehensive governance and circular economy; we will improve environmental quality by cutting off pollution and carbon emission; we will reduce energy consumption by publicizing using energy-conserving technology and clean energies; we will mitigate climate change by bring down emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, a new round of economic growth will be stimulated by the development of green industries and clean technology to further economic sustainable development.

Spot Precisely Key Areas and Links and Improve Quality and Efficiency in Pollution and Carbon Reduction in Sichuan Province

Chengdu Daily Jinguan News: Against the backdrop of vigorously promoting the implementation of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, for Sichuan Province, how to realize an in-depth coupling of pollution and carbon reduction while also improving quality and efficiency in both aspects?

Luo Bin: Anchored in Sichuan’s regional features, we will focus on and research present developments closely related to pollution reduction and carbon reduction, such as population change, urbanization process, key industrial economic development, structure adjustment of transportation, energy exploitation and use. Simultaneously, we will start with investigating and analyzing four major structures, namely “Industry, Energy, Transportation, and Land Use”, and then we will conduct a quantitative analysis of pollution and carbon reduction performance in key industries, areas, and links to systematically assess the progress and achievements of Sichuan Province in pollution and carbon reduction policy implementation and technology.

By researching and analyzing the basis the pollution reduction and carbon reduction synergies, we can spot key areas and links of pollution and carbon reduction in Sichuan Province. Moreover, we can develop an outline of the current situation and development basis in Sichuan Province. Specifically, we can keep improving energy structure, exploit and use more clean energies. Meanwhile, we will publicize recyclable energies, such as wind and solar power. Consequently, we will be less reliant on coal and other high-carbon energy sources, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In terms of industrial production, we will encourage industrial enterprises to transform energy conservation and emission reduction technology so as to heighten their energy use efficiency and resource utilization rate, thus reducing pollutants and carbon emission. Simultaneously, in regard to building and transportation, we will focus on key industries, and advance green construction and low-carbon transportation in urban areas to increase energy use efficiency in construction and transportation, thus cutting off carbon emissions in construction and transportation. In addition, we will strengthen environmental monitoring and law enforcement, set up a complete system for environmental monitoring and assessment, impose stricter monitoring on pollution-causing enterprises, and foster enterprises to cut emissions in accordance with the law.

The Intelligent Brain for Carbon Neutrality “Acts” as a Bright Assistant to Support the Adoption of Precise Polices in Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality with Technology

Chengdu Daily Jinguan News: Given the fact that your team has developed an “Intelligent Brain for Carbon Neutrality Management Platform”, could you please give an approximate introduction to this platform? What do you think of Artificial Intelligence’s role in achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality?

Luo Bin: As a regional comprehensive demonstration platform for energy conserving and emission reduction, “Intelligent Brain for Carbon Neutrality Smart Management Platform” is integrated with big data, energy Internet, and Artificial Intelligence. This platform comprises complete links of perception, communication, analysis, application of pollution reduction and carbon reduction data, covers key industries, such as energy, industry, transportation, and architecture. Meanwhile, with this platform, we can get an overview of regional carbon emission, carbon data of control over energy consumption and intensity. Therefore, this platform provides its technological support for the government to adopt more precise policies and for enterprises to implement efficient carbon management.

This project is currently at the acceptance trial operation stage, while its achievements will lay a foundation for establishing a comprehensive assessment platform for pollution and carbon reduction synergy later. Based on its current functions, it is scheduled to develop key technology integrated with non-linear regulation and control over pollution reduction and carbon reduction. In this way, governance of pollution and carbon reduction synergy will be furthered across society and in local areas and even the whole Sichuan Province.

Acting like a bright “assistant”, artificial intelligence technology can provide intelligent and sustainable solutions for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. On the one hand, with regard to carbon monitoring, we can gain more carbon information with digital innovation technology, such as the Internet of Things, edge computing, blockchain, and digital twin. On this account, carbon data will be more credible and accurate, laying a data foundation for green and low carbon. On the other hand, in terms of carbon forecast, we can establish modeling on the basis of data baseline of carbon emission and technology route to forecast the future growth curve of carbon. Besides, with carbon peaking and carbon neutrality policy tools, we can set carbon neutrality goals and develop a road map for carbon reduction more scientifically.

For the purpose of reducing carbon emissions, we can use intelligent control systems and big data analysis to precisely forecast energy and perfect energy regulation and control. By doing so, energy production and consumption will be more reasonable and efficient. For instance, the building industry bears a greater responsibility for higher carbon emission. Given that situation, intelligent energy management systems can be used to carry out real-time monitoring and analysis of energy use in buildings. Similarly, intelligent devices of energy regulation and control can be utilized to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.

Chengdu Daily Jinguan News: The 2023 Tianfu Carbon Neutrality Forum will be held on December 24. What is the significance of the Forum do you think in advancing the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality?

Luo Bin: From my point of view, as the first provincial-level laboratory focused on carbon neutrality in China, the Tianfu Carbon Neutrality Forum held by Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory presents a platform for academic exchanges. At the same time, such a platform is beneficial to foster cross-disciplinary integration, key technology research and development, and industrial development, so as to contribute “Sichuan strength” to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

As a host of this Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction Sub-Forum, I am looking forward to the emergence of thoughts in exchanges for the purpose of advancing low-carbon transformation smoothly and steadily. Our goal is to achieve lasting progress and work together to realize the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

[ By Huang Xuesong from the Chengdu Daily Jinguan News ]