Title: A Global Imperative for Green, Low-Carbon, and Sustainable Development — An Interview with John Loughhead, Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
In September 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy for all. In this context, what can China contribute to the global effort? How can nations collaborate to create a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future? Recently, John Loughhead, a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, shared his thoughts in an interview with China News Service.
**China News Service (CNS) Reporter:** Why is global cooperation essential for achieving green, low-carbon, and sustainable development? What challenges does the world face in this endeavor?
**John Loughhead:** Over the past decade, we’ve recognized that these challenges are more intricate than we initially believed. There’s a growing scientific consensus that humanity must act more decisively than ever to cut greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming.
Our fates are interconnected; when one country emits excessive greenhouse gases, it impacts others. As the old saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.” Tackling carbon emissions necessitates international collaboration to explore broader solutions. This doesn’t mean every country should independently develop the same technologies; rather, we should promote knowledge and technology exchanges to enhance each nation’s efforts.
However, we still face economic competition and political differences on a global scale, complicating coordinated efforts. While many countries have set emissions reduction targets and aspire to win-win cooperation, numerous practical issues remain unaddressed.
One challenge lies in the diversity of innovation and research funding systems, including the various funding structures, approval processes, and timelines. We need to harmonize these systems for coordinated progress. Take the nuclear fusion sector, for example, where several nations have initiated the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project to develop demonstration systems—yet establishing a framework for cooperative construction and operation among different countries is still a challenge. Notably, following successful partnerships on various research initiatives, China and the UK are learning to streamline collaboration through standardized agreements.
Another significant issue is equity and benefit-sharing among partners. Nations must reach consensus on ownership stakes before entering into collaborative agreements. If a country perceives certain information as sensitive, it may hesitate to share, which poses a hurdle for collaboration.
While international partnerships form only a fraction of any nation’s efforts, most countries prioritize their own developmental goals. The real challenge is identifying areas of mutual interest that yield win-win outcomes. The crux of the matter lies in devising actionable and practical plans.
**CNS Reporter:** How can countries create more efficient multilateral mechanisms for international cooperation in the energy sector?
**John Loughhead:** Current energy transition strategies worldwide exhibit commonalities tailored to address specific national needs. While groundbreaking innovations are rare, many have devoted considerable resources to refining existing solutions. For instance, researchers are exploring AI applications to optimize and plan energy systems while integrating user behavior into control frameworks.
Every incremental advancement adds value for humanity, and exchange fosters opportunities to “magnify progress.” Establishing an international multilateral cooperation mechanism is undoubtedly a platform for collective national endeavors.
There are two critical areas that need our attention to build a more effective multilateral cooperation mechanism. First, effective communication and promotion are essential; we need to not only market existing partnership platforms but also maintain transparency regarding ongoing research and accomplishments. Second, we should create reasonable entry mechanisms to enable more stakeholders to participate. The collaboration goals should be specific and focused, avoiding overly broad objectives.
**CNS Reporter:** Twelve years ago, you mentioned that China and the UK could enhance deep cooperation in the energy sector. What accomplishments have both nations achieved in this field, and what are the future directions for collaboration?
**John Loughhead:** In 2012, during my visit to Guizhou at the invitation of the British Consulate in Chongqing, I realized there were numerous commonalities and collaboration opportunities between the UK and China regarding both traditional and renewable energy utilization.
This observation has indeed borne fruit. In 2013, the China-UK (Guangdong) Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Center was established, operating under a collaborative model where the UK provided theoretical guidance while China developed demonstration projects.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic initially hindered face-to-face dialogue, exchanges continued at the government level and among individual researchers, focusing on future energy systems based on renewable sources such as wind and solar. The growing demands of these energy sources on control systems, energy storage, and user integration have led to several joint outcomes.
This year has been especially active for China-UK exchanges. Earlier in the year, both embassies invited UK researchers and businesses to China for a seminar to share valuable energy-related experiences. Shortly after that, I participated in a carbon reduction dialogue in Beijing, assisting three Chinese provinces in formulating decarbonization proposals. Moreover, the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Research is studying industrial decarbonization in the Pearl River Delta, where I’m contributing my expertise in carbon capture and storage along with strategic advice.
As China aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, and the UK targets net-zero emissions by 2050, the urgency for energy collaboration has never been more pressing. As I mentioned 12 years ago, China and the UK have much to gain from each other. For instance, China’s photovoltaic industry has significantly lowered prices, making solar energy applications more accessible worldwide. Furthermore, during the low-carbon transition, China serves as a principal supplier of solar panels to the UK. The UK, in turn, possesses valuable experience in policy-making, management, analysis, and setting targets that can be applied within China’s context. Given China’s vast economy and energy sector, it is well-positioned to implement projects at a substantial scale.
There is so much more potential for our collaboration. Despite still being classified as a developing country, China has excelled in research, especially in fostering innovative and disruptive scientific activities. I believe China can develop new energy technologies that can be shared globally, while the UK’s expertise in technological innovation and low-carbon transition management can further complement these efforts. Academically, we can develop a framework at the national level that enables researchers to seek out like-minded collaborators from other countries to enhance exchanges.
**CNS Reporter:** Historically, the UK adopted an “industrialization first, pollution management later” philosophy, whereas China has pursued the principle that “green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver” over the past two decades. How do you compare these two philosophies?
**John Loughhead:** More than 200 years ago, the UK wasn’t fully aware of the environmental repercussions of industrial development. It wasn’t until about 50 years ago that people began to acknowledge the impacts of unrestrained development on carbon emissions, biodiversity, and public health. Initially, pollution was regarded as an inevitable byproduct of development. However, with advancements in technology and increased environmental awareness, it has become evident that we need different strategies to balance development with environmental preservation. Consequently, the UK is now focused on innovating new energy applications to reduce reliance on coal and other fossil fuels.
This transition is not simply about substituting coal power plants with wind energy. In the UK, public involvement is crucial for any significant transformation. Altering deeply entrenched habits is no small feat. Whether it’s choices around home heating or preferences for gasoline versus electric vehicles, it ultimately hinges on individual willingness to adapt.
In contrast, the people of China have demonstrated remarkable initiative and readiness for change. For example, the rate of electric vehicle adoption and promotion in China differs vastly from that in the UK.
The notion that “green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver” encapsulates the idea that a healthy ecological environment is both natural and economic wealth, emphasizing that sacrificing the environment for short-term economic gain is shortsighted.
Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of this philosophy, which originated in Huzhou, Zhejiang. I felt the city’s strong commitment to green and low-carbon initiatives during the upcoming 2024 Green Low-Carbon Innovation Conference. The local government aims to gather intellectual support from leading experts to develop strategies that are more in line with low-carbon development objectives. I was heartened to witness such a vibrant vision of harmonizing human activities with nature.
**CNS Reporter:** How do you evaluate China’s low-carbon energy development model?
**John Loughhead:** Whether considering a decade ago, when China was more focused on energy demands spurred by economic growth, or its current plans designed with carbon neutrality in mind, the strategies are closely aligned with the country’s unique circumstances.
According to the International Energy Agency’s “World Energy Investment 2024” report, China accounts for one-third of global clean energy investment and boasts the largest hydropower capacity worldwide. In the realm of clean energy development, China ranks among the top globally.
Given its vast territory and varying regional circumstances, China has established a “1+N” policy framework targeting its “dual carbon” goals. This framework integrates national-level policies for climate governance with targeted regional and industrial policies. This holistic approach to multi-field and multi-level collaborative innovation is commendable.
Although China has a solid grasp of the challenges it faces, there is still room for improvement in drafting a detailed “roadmap” for achieving carbon neutrality. Since carbon neutrality entails structural changes in the economy and society, it’s critical to help the public understand its benefits. As such, China should develop more comprehensive plans that focus on specific strategies for reducing carbon emissions over time and across various regions, setting clearer targets for industrial technology development.
