On December 12, 2024, the Dialogue of BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network and Briefing Meeting for BRIGC Partners was held in Beijing.
From BRIGC
On December 12, 2024, the Dialogue of BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network and Briefing Meeting for BRIGC Partners was held in Beijing. A series of study reports were published during the event, including: BRI Green Development Outlook, China's Actions for South-South Cooperation on Climate Change, Low-Carbon Energy Transition Cooperation between China and Key BRI Partners, Evaluating China's Contribution on Emission Reduction from Energy Transition Projects, Green Development Guidance for BRI Projects Phase IV – Onshore Wind Projects, China-Africa Renewable Energy Investment Cooperation under the Framework of the BRI: Opportunities and Challenges, Critical Role of China on Accelerating Indonesia's Energy Transition and Handbook on BRI Stakeholder Engagement for Financial Institutions. These reports share the progress and effectiveness of green BRI, identify the opportunities and potentials of green BRI, and provide useful references for promoting cooperation in key sectors, such as climate change response, green energy, and green finance.
The BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) jointly released the report BRI Green and Low-carbon Transition of ASEAN Member States – Potentials and Opportunities in 2023. Built on such research basis, BRIGC and NRDC worked with partners and further completed the report Low-Carbon Energy Transition Cooperation between China and Key BRI Partners. The newly released report chooses Indonesia and the Philippines as the focal nations, reviews the status of green and low-carbon energy transition and China’s energy investments in the two countries, analyzes the two focal nations’ energy transition demands and major challenges, and puts forward policy recommendations for China, Indonesia, and the Philippines to carry out energy transition related cooperation under the BRI framework.
Key Takeaways:
I. Indonesia
Green and Low-Carbon Energy Transition Status. Indonesia is a major player in fossil fuel. In recent years, with a rapid increase in its total energy consumption, Indonesia has been intensifying its efforts to address climate change and accelerate energy transition. Such commitments included increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy production structure to 23% by 2025, establishing a roadmap for accelerating the closure of coal-fired power plants, and announcing a halt to the construction of new grid-connected coal-fired power plants.
China's Energy Cooperation with Indonesia. For a long period of time, China-Indonesia energy cooperation has been dominated by traditional energies. Currently, wind, nuclear, tidal, and geothermal energy is becoming a highlight of the energy cooperation between China and Indonesia. Chinese companies in the energy industry are actively participating in the construction of hydropower and photovoltaic power plants in Indonesia, supporting Indonesia's industrial upgrading and transformation in terms of technology transfer and human resources training.
II. The Philippines
Green and Low-Carbon Energy Transition Status. The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country to extensively utilize renewable energy resources, including geothermal, solar, and wind power. However, the country still heavily relies on imported fossil fuels for power generation. The Philippine government views driving energy transition as the path towards the future economic growth. It has enacted various laws, plans, projects, and initiatives to promote the development of renewable energy and to support its energy transition.
China's Energy Cooperation with the Philippines. In the field of clean energy, China and the Philippines have extensive cooperation, including hydropower, wind power, biomass energy, and photovoltaic. The hydropower projects that China participated in play an important role in alleviating the shortage of electricity in the capital region, promoting the improvement of people's livelihood and environment and economic development.
III. Policy Recommendation for Energy Transition Cooperation between China and Key BRI Participating Countries
China's strategies and policy framework for energy transition hold valuable lessons for developing countries. BRI green energy cooperation has become a focus of China's overseas investment and development. Given its strength and advantages in technical, financial, policy and talent areas, China can strengthen cooperation with BRI partner countries in areas such as green technology, green investment and financing, low-carbon policies, and capacity building under the BRI framework.
The following actions are recommended: First, carry out green and low-carbon top-level design. Second, strengthen collaboration in clean and low-carbon technologies and industry. Third, establish mutually recognized trade standards. Fourth, innovate financial policies and create new models for green transition financing. Fifth, strengthen cooperation on capacity building in key BRI partner countries. Sixth, promote energy transition cooperation between China and local governments of BRI partner countries.
Research Team:
·BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC)
·Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
·Technical Committee on Renewable Energy, China Energy Research Society (CERS)