Nov

Low-Carbon Policymaking Incorporated into Government Curriculum

ECC Program, Low Carbon Development Toolkit

BEIJING (Nov. 19, 2012) – Ensuring that government officials are instructed on the timely issues and given access to innovative models for better policy making is a key concern for the Chinese Academy of Governance. From November 18-19, TAG and Global Environmental Institute (GEI) held a meeting to update the Low Carbon Economy and Public Policy curriculum and GEI also held a lecture using the revised curriculum, which concluded the first-year cooperation on Promoting Low Carbon Economy between GEI and CAG.

GEI’s Executive Director, JIN Jiaman (center in red coat) with the CAG representatives and other experts – GEI 2012

During the meeting, over ten project trainees, teachers and administrative staff from CAG and local academies of governance, successfully drafted a curriculum that addressed the needs of government officials. The textbook curriculum will be incorporated into the education system of CAG, and will be utilized to increase the awareness of government decision makers, enterprise leaders and civil servants on sustainable development issues and strategy.

The most recent version of the textbook includes updated data, analysis and is considerably more concise. Curriculum content included: concepts of low-carbon economy, industrial restructuring, urban planning, rural development, implementation policies and related domestic and international experience, etc.

The discussion benefited from a wealth of research and exchanges, in which GEI has been a main participant, namely a week-long domestic training and a two-week study tour in the US.

The official curriculum draft – GEI 2012

In addition to GEI, TAG also invited experts from the Development Research Center of the State Council, the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Tsinghua University and the Asian Development Bank. Tianjin Academy of Governance Deputy Director of Education, Wang Chonggao and Professor at the Shenzhen Academy of Governance, Shen Yong delivered lectures on their contributions to the Curriculum, “Low-Carbon Economic Development Implementation Policies” and “Market Mechanisms for Promoting Low-Carbon Development” respectively.

GEI’s Cooperation with CAG on Low-Carbon Development

The GEI-CAG “train the trainers” program for Promoting Low-Carbon Economic Development began in 2011 and this textbook curriculum is a exciting first year accomplishment. The capacity building program with CAG is expected to continue for four more years. The proposed topic for next year’s capacity building project will surround the Environmental and Social Impacts of China’s Investment Abroad. The hope is to improve the sustainability of China’s “Going Out” strategy.

During the meeting, Qin Shicai, Deputy Director of the Department of Education Administration of CAG reflected on the cooperation with GEI and expressed excitement for future work. Chen Lingyan of the US-based Energy Foundation (also a project sponsor) affirmed project results and success.

Project partner Zach Friedman from the US-based Center for Climate Strategy participated in the meeting via teleconference, and congratulated all participants on completion of the first phase of the project.

Authors of the curriculum expressed the desire to develop a case study-based curriculum to address a variety of capacity needs from officials at all levels of government, based on their future teaching experience using the Low Carbon Economy and Public Policy curriculum.