We are currently facing two concurrent ecological crises: the urgent threat of climate change and rapidly accelerating biodiversity loss. Nature-based solutions - such as agroforestry, regenerative farming, and green infrastructure - are powerful tools which can confer both mitigation and adaptation co-benefits have largely been missing. We heard about the latest research calling for an integration of nature-based strategies into climate policies.
Past Events
For a schedule of all our events, seminars, and lectures visit our calendar.
[Webinar]: Shenzhen's Decarbonization Story
Join the California-China Climate Institute and Shenzhen Research Institute of High-Quality Development and New Structure for insights into Shenzhen’s decarbonization story. Learn about Shenzhen’s carbon neutrality goals and efforts to advance transportation decarbonization. The session discussed incentives and institutional policies used to advance the municipality’s decarbonization pathway.
[Webinar]: China's Latest Climate Policy Updates
In recent years, China has made a number of announcements about its climate goals: emissions peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 among them. It has now issued policies to implement these goals in practice including a Mid-Century Long-Term Strategy and policy guidance and action plans on carbon peaking.
[Webinar]: An Inside Look at China and California’s Carbon Markets
China and California’s carbon emissions trading systems (ETS) are two of the world’s largest. China’s national market started in mid-2021 while California has operated its market since 2013. We heard from research teams from China and California who have analyzed the markets in both jurisdictions, highlighting both strengths and vulnerabilities, and have identified potential lessons-learned.
[Webinar]: Inside the IPCC Working Group II Report: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability was released earlier this spring with alarming findings about the progression of climate impacts around the globe. It finds that an estimated 3.3 to 3.6 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change. During this webinar, we heard from IPCC report authors about the latest science.
[Webinar]: China's Electric Vehicle Growth Boon
2021 witnessed sizable growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales in China, with sales more than doubling from 8.4% at the year’s onset to 20.6% by year’s end. The growth was driven by growing consumer demand and policy incentives like subsidies and tax credits, making EVs more cost-competitive. We heard from issue-experts on China’s transportation sector and the factors driving rapid electric vehicle growth in the nation.
[Webinar]: Charting China’s Power Sector Coal Decarbonization
The California-China Climate Institute and the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, School of Public Policy hosted a discussion of new research analyzing strategies China can use to phase out coal consumption and achieve it's carbon neutrality goal for 2060.
[Webinar]: Tackling Methane Emissions for Climate
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, many times more potent than carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, it remains under-addressed in efforts to tackle global climate change from oil and gas production and agriculture sources. In this webinar, we heard from experts on the latest science and technology updates related to methane, as well as policy opportunities for moving forward.
[Webinar] Walking the Walk After the New U.S.-China Climate Declaration
At the 11th hour of the Glasgow Climate COP, the United States and China unveiled a new climate declaration that highlights common ground on controlling methane emissions, integrating renewables, increasing energy efficiency, and decarbonizing the Global South. With ongoing tensions over trade, human rights, and cyber security, this agreement may seem surprising, but climate and environmental diplomacy between the two countries has been a steady channel of communication for nearly 40 years.
To talk about how the two countries could move forward on this new declaration, China Environment Forum director Jennifer Turner sat down over virtual tea with Dr. Fan Dai, Director of the California-China Climate Institute. Since 2019, she has led the California-China Climate Institute, a leader in promoting climate action through joint research, training and dialogue between the two carbon superpowers.
This “Green Tea Chat” explored not only the new agreement, but also the need for expanding sub-national partnerships on combating climate change.
[Webinar]: 2021 In Review: California’s Latest Climate Policy Updates
This is a pivotal time for California’s climate policy. Governor Newsom recently signed the largest climate budget in history, with $15 billion in climate priorities. The new scoping plan - which sets forward how California will reach its climate targets - will be released early next year. California is also continuing to engage internationally, and recently sent more than twenty state representatives to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. All of this action is occurring against the backdrop of the historic droughts and wildfires facing the state this fall.