12th Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference begins
Energy experts from around the Asia-Pacific region will convene in Xi’an today for the two-day 12th Annual Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference.
The main focus of the conference is energy infrastructure, including advanced power generation technologies, smart grids, intelligent energy systems, electric power transmission and distribution. All of this will feed China’s international Belt and Road Initiative projects. Other energy and climate-centric events include Beijing’s 2021 Clean Energy Expo on Tuesday and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry’s trip to China.
Last September, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a national carbon neutrality plan for 2060. Smart and green technology are key to achieving this goal. China is the world’s leading producer of wind and solar energy and, until the US rejoined on January 20, was leading the Paris Climate Agreement. China is also the world’s largest air polluter, producing around 28% of global carbon emissions despite being home to 18% of the world’s population.
With today’s conference and next week’s expo, China is sending a message that it is determined to develop the ideas and technologies that will drive global climate politics. These moves will put Beijing on equal footing with Washington as US President Jo Biden seeks to re-establish the role of the US as a leader in the climate change movement.
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