First carbon neutrality expo opens in Shanghai

(ECNS) -- Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Expo in Technologies, Products and Achievements opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on Sunday. An initiative on low carbon was declared at a forum of the expo, which proposed naming the opening day of the Expo, or June 11, as World Low Carbon Day.

“To achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a profound systemic transformation in the economic and social aspects. Ultimately, it relies on technological innovation and requires the concerted efforts of multiple parties to promote innovative breakthroughs,” Shanghai mayor Gong Zheng said during a speech.

Shanghai will fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development concept, focusing on promoting high-quality development and facilitating a comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation in economic and social development, Gong said.

"Shanghai has been always at the forefront of the nation's green and low-carbon development, technological innovation and opening-up. To hold the carbon neutrality expo is of great significance for boosting collaboration by all parties," said Yang Yinkai, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission.

"We hope to create a platform for exchanging green and low-carbon policies, exhibiting products and achievements and facilitating enterprise cooperation to make contributions to the global climate change fight and sustainable development," Yang said.

The world is undergoing an industrial revolution and technological transformation characterized by green and low-carbon features. Cooperation and win-win outcomes are the only way to address the challenges and difficulties in the transition to a green and low-carbon economy, said Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, during a video speech.

“China has consistently taken proactive measures to address climate change. We will continue to implement the '1+N' policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with all parties, and commit ourselves 100 percent to ‘dual-carbon’ goals,” Xie said.

An initiative on low carbon was declared at the science forum of the expo on Sunday afternoon, which proposed saving resources and protecting the environment on the part of all organizations, and all citizens to purchase sustainable products instead of disposable ones. The proposals also included naming the opening day of the Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Expo 2023, or June 11, as World Low Carbon Day.

Titled "The Path Towards Carbon Neutrality," the expo consists of themed exhibitions, forums and trade matchmaking activities.