Events and Publicity

July 2024

Best Paper Award at the International Conference of Net Zero Carbon Built Environment, 3-5 July 2024, UK

A joint paper authored by Dr. Ruijun Chen, Prof. Chao Ren, Prof. Cuiping Liao, Prof. Ying Huang, and Dr. Zhen Liu, and presented by Dr. Ruijun Chen, has won the Best Paper Award at the 1st International Conference on Net Zero Carbon Built Environment (ZCBE 2024) at the University of Nottingham, UK. This award-winning study, conducted in cooperation with the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC), titled "Spatial Forecasting of Per Capita CO₂ Emissions from Buildings in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, 2020-2060," presents the research on high-resolution predictions of building-related carbon emissions in complex urban areas. The study employs the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) system alongside local climate zones, landscape parameters, and population trends to project decadal emissions under a Business as Usual (BAU) scenario. This innovative approach offers valuable insights into future emission trends and their implications for achieving carbon peak and neutrality goals in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). It shows the contributions of our research project toward carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development.

May 2024

Our Team Hosted a Mid-Term Workshop and Roundtable Discussion with Experts in Guangdong Province

On May 16, 2024, our research team successfully hosted a mid-term workshop and roundtable discussion at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC) in Guangzhou, China. The event brought together esteemed experts, government officials, and academics from Guangdong Province to discuss the progress and future development of our Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) project. The workshop featured insightful keynote speeches from Prof. Wong Kam-Sing, former Secretary for the Environment of Hong Kong, who shared Hong Kong's carbon neutrality actions. Each research teams also presented their latest findings on energy transformation scenarios, carbon emission and air pollution predictions, and the health and economic impacts in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). A significant highlight of the event was the roundtable forum discussion, where experts from the Guangdong Research and Development Center for Technological Economy, Guangdong Climate Center, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, etc. provided valuable feedback and recommendations. The meeting concluded to enhance collaboration among research teams, incorporate expert feedback, and focus on practical applications and policy support. We are grateful for the insightful contributions from all participants and are dedicated to advancing our project's goals. This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward achieving carbon neutrality and improving air quality in the GBA.

Dec 2023

Dr. Ren gave an Invited presentation at the CRF & RIF Symposium 2023

We're excited to share our recent participation in the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) & Research Impact Fund (RIF) Symposium 2023, where Dr. Chao Ren as the project coordinator, was invited to present the ongoing CRF project titled "Turning 2060 Carbon Neutrality Into Reality: A Cross-Disciplinary Study Of Air Pollution And Health Co-Benefits Of Climate Change Mitigation Of The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA)" (C7041-21GF). This year, the Hong Kong Research Ground Council organised and held the event at the City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Ren gave a 15-minute presentation that offered valuable insights into the project's background, methodology, and current outputs while also addressing questions from the panel members. The 3-year project aims to generate a future picture of climate change mitigation and its impact on health and socioeconomics of 2030-2060, ultimately aiding in developing a collaborative management plan on air quality control for the GBA.

Dec 2023

Our team from the Guangzhou Institute of Energy successfully participated in COP28 and hosted a side event at the China Pavilion

On 30 Nov, 2023, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Our team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Guangzhou Institute of Energy attended the conference and co-hosted a side event on the "Carbon Neutrality Vision and Energy Transition in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)" with the Global Institute for Sustainable Environment on 5 Dec at the China Pavilion. During the event, our project's Co-PI, researcher Cuiping Liao from the Guangzhou Institute of Energy, presented the energy transition scenarios and pathways of the GBA, while Co-PI and associate researcher Ying Huang shared her insights on the carbon neutrality actions, strategies, and energy transition pathways for Guangzhou. Subsequently, in a roundtable discussion, guests explored the technical and policy needs for the GBA's energy transition, as well as the development of market mechanisms. This conference provided valuable experiences and policy suggestions for the energy transition and the realization of dual carbon goals in the GBA.

Aug 2022

Dr. Chao REN has been invited to join the working group at the World Meteorological Organization

Dr. Chao REN has been invited by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), to join the working group on Greenhouse Emission Monitoring to develop relevant guidelines and development strategy for the WMO.