Climate Watch

China has taken a major step toward improving corporate climate transparency with the release of its new "Corporate Sustainable Disclosure Standard No. 1 – Climate (Trial)." What does the standard require, and how should businesses and investors prepare? Zhao Ying speaks with Allan Xie, Deloitte China's Climate and Sustainability Leader. This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the 2026 Inter...

Since January 1st, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has fully entered into force. It places a carbon price on imports including iron, steel, and aluminum. For manufacturers in China and across global supply chains, it's no longer just about the quality or price of a product; it's now fundamentally about the carbon embedded within it. How can companies track, report, and verify em...

The European Union has reached an agreement with Beijing on general guidelines regarding the pricing of Chinese electric vehicles. Shortly thereafter, Canada announced it would allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs to enter the country at a most-favored-nation rate of 6.1 percent. Are countries finally prioritizing affordable decarbonization over a global trade war? Zhao Ying speaks with Arvea Marieni, E...

China and the UK have forged a robust foundation in advancing green energy and climate action. In recent years, cooperation between China and the UK in the offshore wind sector has grown increasingly close, transitioning from project investments by Chinese companies to deeper industrial integration. At the same time, the technological frontier of cooperation has extended to emerging fields, such a...

A UN report declares that the world has entered an era of global "water bankruptcy," with irreversible consequences. The report warns that many societies have been using water faster than nature can replenish it, and that the situation is so severe that old terms like "water crisis" or "water stressed" simply don't capture the full magnitude anymore. What does a global water bankruptcy really mean...

The Trump administration has announced its intention to withdraw from 66 international bodies, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Later this month, on January 27, the US will also officially depart the Paris Agreement for the second time. What does all this mean for global climate action? Zhao Ying...

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement, will enter into force on 17 January, marking a major step in global ocean governance. What does it do, who benefits, and will it truly change how the high seas are managed? Zhao Ying speaks with Zhang Yimo, Priority Project Coordinator of WWF China's Sustainable Blue Economy Program.

As global temperatures continue to rise due to greenhouse gas emissions, can we dim the sunlight to cool the Earth? The idea may sound extreme, but solar radiation management, or solar geo-engineering, has already become a serious subject of scientific research. And it's not just scientists—billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Gates have also shown interest. How viable is this concept in practice?...

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.