As two of the largest global economies and energy consumers, China and the U.S. are also the top and third largest methane emitters, respectively. Both nations have significant opportunities to reduce their methane emissions over the next decade, with some methods of reduction having low or no costs associated. In the U.S., it's estimated that a total reduction potential of 224 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (Mt CO₂e) can be achieved through abatement measures costing $100/t CO₂e or less by 2030. Meanwhile, in China, the potential for methane reduction is predicted to reach 469 Mt CO₂e in 2030, which is equivalent to a 35% decrease from 2015 levels. Join us to hear from issue-experts, sharing insights from a new report, Reducing Methane Emissions in the U.S. and China.
Past Events
For a schedule of all our events, seminars, and lectures visit our calendar.
[Webinar] Opportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: Industrial Decarbonization
Industrial emissions are responsible for approximately 60% of China’s greenhouse gas emissions, and 30% of U.S. emissions. Taking action to reduce emissions from industrial sectors like iron & steel, cement, and the chemical industry will be critical to helping the U.S. and China meet their mid-century carbon neutrality goals. What technological innovations and policy tools are available to the U.S. and China, particularly within this current decade? During this event, we hear from issue-experts on opportunities in energy and materials efficiency, electrification, and the circular economy, including new insights from a recent report, Decarbonizing Industry in the U.S. and China.
[Webinar] Renewable Energy Deployment in China: Accelerating the Path to Carbon Neutrality
A collaborative research study between the California-China Climate Institute, UC San Diego and Tsinghua University is culminating in the launch of a new research report, Renewable Energy Pathways to Carbon Neutrality in China. For China to decarbonize the power sector and reach carbon neutrality requires a large increase in low-carbon renewable energy and complementary infrastructure including storage and transmission. While these long-term objectives are clear, the deployment structure, pace, and distributional impacts are uncertain. To address this gap, we developed a novel modeling approach with a high special and temporal resolution to identify the plausible pathways for deploying renewables, storage systems, and transmission lines, by decade, from 2020 to 2060. During this event, we heard about the new report from our joint California-China climate research team.
[Webinar] Opportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: Zero Emissions Vehicles
The global vehicle market in 2021 was heavily influenced by the United States and China, who together accounted for over 50% of the market. Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales saw significant growth, with 4% of total light-duty vehicle sales in the U.S. being ZEVs, doubling the previous year's market share and reaching a penetration rate of 12.4% in California. Meanwhile, China leads the world in ZEV adoption, particularly in the commercial sector, with its New Energy Vehicles accounting for 50% of global sales. We heard from issue-experts from the U.S. and China, sharing the latest insights from a new report, Accelerating the ZEV Market in the U.S. and China.
[Webinar] Methane Webinar Series: Reducing Methane Emissions from the Solid Waste Sector
As two large economies, China and California are now taking actions to reduce methane emissions from the solid waste sector. Since different policies and technologies are adopted in the two jurisdictions, both sides can share lessons-learned and experiences with one another. Join us to hear from issue-experts on these topics, including about the launch of a new California-China Climate Institute report which focuses on lessons-learned from California.
[Webinar] Opportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: The Food System
The food system contributes about 34% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with China and the United States as the first and third largest emitters, respectively. Among the greatest opportunities for emissions reductions in the food system are reducing and repurposing food loss and waste, along with improvements in fertilizer use efficiency. Join us to hear from issue-experts on how the U.S. and China can tackle emissions, while concurrently improving soil and human health, meeting global food demand and achieving sustainable development goals.
[Webinar] Opportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: Decarbonizing the Buildings Sector
Buildings contribute to 40% of the globe’s greenhouse gas emissions, consuming three-quarters of electricity in the United States alone. Meanwhile, China has the largest building stock in the world, amounting to nearly half of the globe’s new building area. Buildings also contribute significantly to industrial emissions from the production of construction materials like concrete and steel. How can we ensure zero carbon emissions in new building development? How can we reduce emissions from existing building stocks to contribute to climate objectives? Join us to learn from issue-experts on building decarbonization opportunities for the U.S. and China, including examples from the State of California.
[Webinar]: Methane Webinar Series: Reducing Methane Emissions from Agricultural Rice Cultivation and Livestock in California and China
Methane is responsible for approximately 20 percent of current global warming, and methane emissions continue to increase worldwide. For both California and China, one potential shared avenue for reducing methane is through more sustainable agricultural practices, as agriculture is a major source of methane emissions in these two regions. What opportunities exist for reducing methane emissions from the agricultural sector, particularly from rice cultivation and livestock? We heard from issue experts from California and China, offering their insights.
[In-person event]: COP27 Side Event: Strategic Opportunities in China's Decarbonization: Meeting Climate Goals and the SDGs in the Critical Decade
How can China sustainably decarbonize? China has set a goal to peak emissions by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 through shifting to a more sustainable development path. Through applying an integrated approach to address climate and development objectives, China can leverage various opportunities for coordinated action over this critical next decade. This panel will feature a range of perspectives to share lessons learned from their work, opportunities for near-term progress, and the powerful roles that civil society can play in spurring action.
[In-person event]: COP27 Side Event: Accelerating Nature-based Climate Solutions across China and California: What will it Take?
California and China are influential global climate leaders with a history of working together on climate initiatives. Last April, California and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment signed a memorandum of understanding reconfirming their commitment to climate action and collaboration. The MOU explicitly mentions nature-based climate solutions as one of the priority areas of interest. While both jurisdictions are taking steps to integrate nature-based solutions in their climate goals and strategies, the pace and scale of action needs to be substantially increased to meet the climate commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This panel will share the many NbS happening in California and China, the ways policy and incentives can accelerate action, and how California-China collaboration on NbS can catalyze even greater global action.