Energy and Climate Change

With the deepening of economic reform and opening up, China has made remarkable achievements. But as the economy continues to evolve, China has inevitably become one of the world’s major contributors to green-house gas emissions.

China is facing the need to simultaneously maintain economic stability and protect the environment.

Since it’s inception in 2004, GEI Energy and Climate Change Program has been working closely with the Chinese government and research institutions as well as international experts to provide solutions for China’s low-carbon development path.

Our Work & Impact Areas

We facilitate high-level, bi-lateral and multi-lateral climate dialogues and cooperation.

Our project development and direction began with our work to promote the development of high-level US-Change informal dialogues, called the Track-Two Dialogues.

The information dialogue campaign facilitated the signing of the 2014 US-China Join Declaration on Climate Change and the 2015 Climate Change Agreement (COP21) in Paris.

We help officials make better low-carbon development policies for China.

As of 2017, a total of 15 provinces and municipalities, over 1000 government officials and more than 300 experts and scholars have already received training on how to use our science-based policy making toolkit.

Click here to learn more about our toolkit.

2014 Chongqing Pilot Project

In 2014, we completed the pilot project in Chongqing, and received a certificate of “application results proof” from the National Development and Reform Commission.

Training Officials & Experts

Supporting this work, GEI and the Tianjin Academy of Governance began jointly carrying out science-based courses for low-carbon policy development in 2013.

Tailored for local government officials at all levels and carried out with local research institutions, the courses provided training on the toolkit’s quantitative methods and how to analyze and implement the improved policies.

Our US- Based Partner, Center for Climate Strategies

GEI and US-based Center for Climate Strategies, worked together to develop and disseminate a low-carbon policy and quantitative analysis toolkit throughout China.

We research and advocate for renewable energy development.

Since our inception, GEI has been committed to the practice and promotion of renewable energy.

From promoting rural biogas technology in rural areas of Tibet and Sri Lanka to the biomass energy cookstoves and solar-power lights in rural areas of China’s Shanxi Province and Myanmar, GEI is a leader in combining renewable energy and community development.

We not only were the first non-governmental organization to lead China’s renewable energy going out but also laid the foundation for the “South-South Climate Cooperation” between China and Myanmar.

Since 2018, GEI has also worked in collaboration with Guangzhou Institute for Energy Transition of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Department of Research and Innovation of Myanmar’s Ministry of Education to carry out renewable energy development planning pilot project in Myanmar. The pilot aims to build the capacity among Myanmar officials in charge of energy planning and relevant technical experts to conduct renewable energy planning, and bridge financial and other resources to assist the Myanmar government to implement the plan.

For more information about our renewable energy planning toolkit, please click here.