On November 27, the "TianGong Forum - Life Cycle Thinking and Carbon Neutrality", hosted by Tsinghua University's School of Environment and the Institute for Carbon Neutrality (ICON), was successfully held at the Liaoning International Hotel. The forum brought together several distinguished guests, including Huang Jing, Director of the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21, Wang Jingbo, Head of the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Policy Promotion Office at the National Development and Reform Commission's Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, and Yang Jing, Director of Division III of Engineering Science in the Department of Engineering and Materials Science of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Head of the Environmental Engineering Discipline Project. They attended the forum and delivered speeches. The forum was presided over by Professor Yue Dongbei, Associate Dean of the School of Environment, Tsinghua University.

Forum venue

He Kebin delivers the keynote speech

Academician He Kebin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Dean of the Tsinghua Institute for Carbon Neutrality, and Professor at Tsinghua School of Environment, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech titled "Exponential Development of Renewable Energy under the Background of Carbon Neutrality: Opportunities and Challenges". In his presentation, He Kebin conducted an in-depth analysis of the rapid development of renewable energy globally, with a particular focus on China, as well as the challenges faced. He then proposed corresponding strategies to address these challenges. When discussing the global carbon trading system, he points out that reliable, accessible, and acceptable data is the key foundation for the development of the global carbon trading system.

Xu Ming introduces the "TianGong Initiative"

At the forum, Xu Ming, Chair Professor of Carbon Neutrality and Associate Dean of School of Environment, Tsinghua University, introduced the "TianGong Initiative" and presented the first phase of its outcomes -- the "TianGong LCA Database".

The "TianGong Initiative" is an international scientific initiative co-led by Professor Xu Ming from the School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Researcher Chen Weiqiang from the Institute of Urban Environment in Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Wang Yutao from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Fudan University, and Professor Shi Lei from the School of Resources and Environment at Nanchang University. This initiative, which involves over 30 universities and research institutions from around the world, aims to utilize advanced AI technology to build an intelligent, standardized, and open Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) system. This system is designed to innovate traditional tools, methods, and models, so as to provide new methods, technologies, tools, and data for product carbon footprint management, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development goals in China and globally. The "TianGong LCA Database" was jointly constructed by more than 150 industry experts from 30 top universities and research institutions in China and overseas. Adhering to the basic principles of openness, sharing, transparency, and traceability, and using internationally recognized techniques and methods, the database has compiled over 4,000 unit processes in China, covering 55 industries with over 70,000 public data entries. It will continue to be updated, refined, and expanded to support the construction of China's product carbon footprint management system and promote international cooperation and mutual recognition.

Mu Qijian, Liu Wei, Zhu Bin, Zhang Wenquan deliver invited reports (from left to right, top to bottom)

At the forum, invited reports on relevant topics were delivered by several experts, including Mu Qijian, Director of the Climate Response Office of the Resources and Environmental Business Department at China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, Liu Wei, Deputy General Manager and Head of ESG Strategy at Alibaba Group, Zhu Bin, Director of the Corporate - Technology Management Group (C-TMG) at Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., and Zhang Wenquan, Researcher at the Sustainable Transformation Center of the World Resources Institute (WRI), among others.

Roundtable discussion session

During the roundtable discussion session, the attending experts engaged in an in-depth exchange of ideas and insights. These experts are from universities, research institutions, corporations, carbon footprint accounting and certification bodies, and industry associations. They shared practical experiences in carbon footprint accounting, management, and certification from their professional perspectives and explored the opportunities and challenges in these fields. The experts highly praised the principles, objectives, vision, and significance of the "TianGong LCA Database". They also discussed and anticipated the methods, data, cooperation models, and future application prospects of LCA and carbon footprint accounting that are based on the principles of openness, sharing, transparency, and traceability.

The forum attracted over 200 professionals from various fields. Participants included representatives from more than 50 research institutions, industry associations, domestic and international corporations, think tanks, non-profit organizations, and media outlets. The list of attendees spanned notable names such as Huawei, Alibaba, China Water Environment Group, China Construction Bank, China Resources, China Southern Power Grid, CRRC, Sinochem, CIECC, China Automotive Technology & Research Center, Gree, Lenovo, CATL, Yili, Geely, Weiqiao Pioneering, Zoomlion, Trina Solar, Tetra Pak, Longi Green Energy, Schneider Electric (China), L'Oréal (China), SinoCarbon, SGS China, China (Wuhan) Carbon Emissions Exchange Registration and Clearing Co., Ltd., WRI, Energy Foundation, Ningxia Yanbao Charitable Foundation, China Battery Industry Association, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, CCCMC, and Beijing Resources Compulsory Recycling Environmental Protection Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, among others.

The forum and the TianGong LCA Database have gained widespread attention. National-level media such as Xinhua Net, People's Daily Online, and Guangming Net, as well as specialized media including the China Environment News and the China Energy News, have reported on the forum. The coverage highlighted that the "TianGong Initiative" is regarded as a significant initiative to support the implementation of the "Opinions of the National Development and Reform Commission and Other Ministries and Commissions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Product Carbon Footprint Management System", which was recently jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and four other departments.

Web links

Xinhua Net Report:

http://www.news.cn/video/20231128/ac4354cc22934f9eb0fce2cc13d19996/c.html

People's Daily Online Report:

http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2023/1128/c1004-40127440.html

People's Daily Interview with Xu Ming:

http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2023/1128/c1004-40127441.html

Guangming Net Report:

https://share.gmw.cn/digital/2023-11/28/content_36993662.htm