{"id":9555,"date":"2022-02-24T01:20:14","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T01:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=9555"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T09:44:24","slug":"where-next-for-uk-china-cooperation-on-renewable-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/where-next-for-uk-china-cooperation-on-renewable-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is floating Offshore wind the future of UK-China cooperation on renewable energy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

From \u201cgame-changing\u201d investments to floating offshore wind, Elizabeth Davies-Kumadiro<\/strong>, Head of Renewable Energy and Transmission in China<\/strong> for the UK\u2019s Department for International Trade, puts a spotlight on the present and future of a China-UK partnership in renewable energy<\/h2>\n

When it comes to international relations, many focus solely on the loud noise and high drama of politics. What those commentators may be missing is the quieter, but no less important role of business and commercial relationships. How do British and Chinese people actually work together? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

China is the UK\u2019s third-largest trading partner. The UK and China have a \u00a3118 billion trade relationship, which increased by 11.3% year on year in 2021. In many ways, this is a statistic about trust. It shows that there are large numbers of Chinese and British people who know that each one offers a solution to the other\u2019s problem. Even where two people live totally different lives, win-win collaboration can take place.<\/p>\n

So, forgetting the \u201chot air\u201d of politics for a moment, let\u2019s consider the strong winds which will power both country\u2019s energy grids, from Hainan to the Humber.\u00a0 The China-UK partnership in renewable energy is how I think we can strengthen our cooperation during 2022.<\/p>\n

\"launchpad<\/a><\/p>\n

Why is cooperation on renewable energy important to both China and the UK?\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

When President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke during their phone call in the autumn of 2021, they agreed that working together to achieve the transition to a carbon-neutral energy system is a top priority for the UK-China bilateral relationship. A high domestic capacity for renewable energy has many benefits, including a reduction of harm to the population and economy from the effects of climate change and pollution, enhanced energy security, and greater technical capability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26)<\/a>, hosted by the UK in Glasgow, President Xi wrote to PM Johnson stating that \u201caccelerating the green transition\u201d was a priority for China in tackling climate change. President Xi stated that \u201csuccessful governance relies on solid action\u201d, expressing a hope that all parties \u201cwill take stronger actions to jointly tackle the climate challenge and protect the planet, the shared home for us all.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As shown at COP26, solid action and international collaboration is key to the UK approach as well. The UK was the first major economy to make our commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 legally binding, and energy transition is central to our industrial strategy. In our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), we have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% compared to 1990 levels before 2030. As Boris Johnson said to global leaders at COP26, we must \u201cget to work with all the creativity, imagination and goodwill that we possess.\u201d<\/p>\n