Climate Watch

As the year comes to a close, we step back to look at what 2025 tells us about where we are on climate change. What climate events mattered most? Where did we see real momentum, and where are the biggest risks? And as we head into 2026, what should we be watching most closely? Zhao Ying speaks with Fei Fei to unpack it all.

For years, critics in Washington and Brussels have warned about China producing "too many" solar panels. But could this so-called "overcapacity" actually be the key to solving Africa's energy crisis? A recent report by global energy think tank Ember shows that Africa’s imports of Chinese solar panels surged by 60% in the year leading up to June, marking the first signs of a solar take-off across t...

Cities are home to over half of the world's population. With rapid urban growth, it becomes increasingly crucial for cities not just to survive, but to build resilience for future generations. The 2025 Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, or Shanghai Award, offers a glimpse of that diversity. The award is jointly organized by UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipality. The winners – A...

CGTN Radio and PKU's C Force Lab bring together Professor Wang Binbin, Doctor Xie Zongxu and Reporter Yu Tianyu to explore how traditional wisdom can offer fresh pathways for global climate governance.

In this special live recording of Climate Watch at Peking University, together with Beyond Climate Dialogue of Peking University’s Institute of Carbon Neutrality, we feature insights from Professor Zhang Haibin, Vice Dean at the School of International Studies and the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at the University, Dr. Wang Binbin, Research Professor and Founder of C Force Lab at the Institute o...

With COP30 in full swing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, in the city of Belém, Brazil, negotiators are once again debating critical issues: who will pay for climate action, especially adaptation, as extreme weather events become more frequent and their links to climate change increasingly clear? What responses should we put in place—and where are we headed as a global community? We’re seein...

Climate change is increasingly shaping our health. According to the latest Lancet Countdown report, it is already contributing to millions of premature deaths each year through extreme heat, air pollution, wildfires, and the spread of infectious diseases. The report offers one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of how climate and public health are deeply intertwined. In this episode, Fe...

China's national carbon market is still young. But experts see a clear path forward. In this episode, we explore the challenges it faces, and the strategies that could help it drive progress toward reducing CO2 emissions and supporting a greener economy.

From national policies to corporate innovation and our daily habits, carbon trading is transforming how China tackles climate change. Let's uncover how industries cut emissions while boosting profits, how universities shape the next generation of green talent, and how individuals earn rewards for eco-friendly choices.

From companies turning pressure into profit, to individuals earning rewards for low-carbon lifestyles, and students preparing for a greener future—this podcast reveals how carbon trading went from an obscure idea to a powerful driver of China's green transition.

China leads the world in NEV development that's vital to cutting transport emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. But the road is far from smooth. From massive spending to hidden supply-chain emissions and data gaps, this program dives into the struggles behind the green transition.

China is undergoing a monumental shift to meet its dual carbon goals, transforming its entire energy and industrial landscape. The country now boasts the world's largest carbon market and leads the globe in renewable capacity, having hit its 2030 NDC targets ahead of schedule. In this episode, Zhou Fang spoke with Wu Changhua, President of the Global Climate Academy and Chair of the Governing Coun...

China is moving fast to make its trade greener. A new guideline from the Ministry of Commerce lays out how the country plans to integrate low-carbon practices into everything from manufacturing and logistics to finance and carbon markets. The policy also signals a shift in how China sees its economy where the green transition is not a burden, but a new driver of growth. In this episode, we unpack...

From bold national targets to street-level change, China is accelerating its shift to green transport. In Guangzhou, we meet car owners, business people, and climate experts who are working hand-in-hand toward the “dual-carbon” goals.

As China strives toward its ambitious climate goals, transportation is taking center stage in its carbon-cutting effort. In Guangzhou, we explore how people are rethinking mobility and embracing a greener future.

China’s renewable energy transition faces significant challenges, including high costs, technological bottlenecks, talent gaps, and environmental concerns. In this program, we examine the obstacles hindering the advancement of wind, hydrogen, and solar energy solutions, and how these challenges may influence the path to carbon neutrality.

From offshore wind farms in Shanghai to hydrogen industrial parks in Changzhou, China is laying the groundwork for a greener future. Here we meet the engineers, scientists, and local workers who are turning wind, solar, and hydrogen into renewable energy solutions.

Energy transition lies at the heart of China’s journey toward its carbon neutrality goal. How much do businesses and individuals know about clean energy? And what attitudes do they hold toward its promotion? In this episode, we head to eastern China to find out people’s thoughts on clean energy.

In this episode, Fei Fei explores the untapped potential of geothermal energy. While Iceland has long been a global leader in harnessing the Earth’s heat, China is now beginning to take a closer look at this often-overlooked renewable resource. Featuring Rósbjörg Jónsdóttir from the Iceland Renewable Energy Cluster and Associate Professor Shu Biao from Central South University, the episode dives i...

As China faces rising temperatures, extreme weather, and shifting rainfall patterns, its agrifood system must adapt — while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode, Fei Fei explores the challenges and opportunities for Chinese agriculture with insights from Professor Zheng Dawei and world-renowned agricultural expert Professor Fan Shenggen. From innovative farming techniques to nati...

China has just hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, marking 30 years since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As the world revisits the goals of gender equality, one question stands out: how can women’s empowerment and climate action work together? In this episode of Climate Watch, Fei Fei speaks with Wang Binbin, Associate Research Professor at Peking University’s I...

On Jingmai Mountain in Yunnan Province, ancient tea forests tell a story of tradition, ecology, and resilience. The local Bulang and Dai people have cultivated tea in harmony with nature for centuries, creating biodiverse forests that yield unique, aromatic Pu’er tea. Today, communities are reviving traditional methods while embracing innovation—using new business models and digital tools help you...

Xinjiang’s Taklamakan Desert, one of the largest sand seas on Earth, is gaining a new identity. Once known only for its shifting dunes, it’s now surrounded by shelterbelts of trees planted through China’s Three-North afforestation program. And alongside this green belt, a new landscape is taking shape — solar farms glinting under the desert sun and wind turbines rising against the horizon. In this...

At the UN Climate Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled new climate targets for 2035, pledging to cut economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 10% from peak levels, expand wind and solar to 3,600 gigawatts, and grow forests and carbon markets. Beyond the numbers, what message is China sending to the world? In this episode, Fei Fei speaks with Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the...

Chinese and Brazilian institutes and universities are intensifying cooperation to jointly address climate change impacts, including on agriculture and food. With agriculture being one of the most solid pillars, the two countries are complementary in advantages and demand in further boosting food security while protecting the environment. In this episode, Zhou Fang spoke with André Guimarães, execu...