On 15 November 2025, the International High-End Forum on Energy Transition 2025 and the 18th Energy Transition Forum were grandly held at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST). Themed “Climate Change and Innovative Pathways for a ‘Dual-Carbon’ Economy”, the event brought together experts and scholars from prestigious institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Hunan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Macau City University, and the University of Technology Sydney. Together, they explored effective strategies to address climate change and energy transition.
Guests attending the forum included Professor Shi Xunpeng, President of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies and University of Technology Sydney; Professor Pan Jiahua, Vice Chair of National Expert Panel on Climate Change in China, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Science, and Professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou); Doctor Sun Xiansheng, former Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum and Chairman of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies Council; Professor Qi Ye, Dean of Society Hub at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou); Professor Qi Shaozhou, Director of Climate Change and Energy Economics Study Center at Wuhan University; Professor Sun Yongping, Vice Dean of the Institute of State Governance at Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Mr. Wang Guanghui, Researcher of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS; Professor Wang Yuan, School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Tianjin University; Professor Ma Yibing, Director of Macau Environmental Research Institute at MUST; and Professor Liu Chengkun, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development at MUST.
Group photo of the guests attending the forum
Professor Liu Chengkun pointed out in his speech that, the global climate crisis is becoming increasingly severe, and accelerating the energy transition and building a green, low-carbon economic system has become a core consensus and urgent task for the international community. He emphasized that the School of Business at MUST, Institute for Sustainable Development, and Macau Environmental Research Institute have always actively participated in the interdisciplinary exploration of energy transition and climate change, leveraging Macau’s advantages as an international platform to contribute to global climate governance and regional sustainable development. Professor Shi Xunpeng provided a detailed introduction to the development status and strategic goals of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies. Currently, the institute has successfully held multiple energy transition forums and conducted two annual meetings in Bangkok and Nanjing. It is expected to hold the 2025 annual meeting in Tokyo at the end of November.
Professor Liu Chengkun (upper) and Professor Shi Xunpeng (lower) delivered opening remarks
During the keynote forum, Professor Pan Jiahua, Vice Chair of National Expert Panel on Climate Change in China and Professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), elaborated on China’s experience in boosting ambition for COP30. He pointed out that the key to China’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) target lies in reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels, focusing on achieving zero-carbon emissions from energy production to end-use. In principle, economic and social development requires energy services instead of carbon. Furthermore, achieving zero carbon emissions in end-use energy consumption is particularly evident in the transportation sector, where emissions reduction is most challenging in developed countries: new energy vehicles will become the mainstream of new vehicle sales.
Doctor Sun Xiansheng, Chairman of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies Council analyzed and predicted the pressures and uncertainties facing energy transition from a global perspective of energy transition and climate change. He affirmed the achievements in energy transition in 10 aspects and elaborated on the 4 main challenges while facing future energy transition.
Professor Qi Ye, Dean of Society Hub at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), discussed whether China’s coal consumption has peaked, and proposed a three-step roadmap for the development of a new power system.
Professor Qi Shaozhou, Director of Climate Change and Energy Economics Study Center at Wuhan University, argued that the current energy transition represents a fundamental transformation of the energy system, not merely adding a few new energy sources, but revolutionizing the entire process of energy production, distribution, storage, and consumption.
Professor Sun Yongping, Vice Dean of the Institute of State Governance at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, provided a detailed analysis of the ripple effects of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on global supply chains. EU consumers will be affected by price increases and significant losses in consumer welfare, particularly in Eastern and Southern European member states.
The parallel sessions, chaired by Professor Wang Yuan from Tianjin University, featured scholars from Sun Yat-sen University, Hunan University, Beijing Normal University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Macau City University, who shared cutting-edge insights on environmental risks, policy frameworks, carbon reduction in power generation, corporate digitalization, and green capital. The forum concluded successfully amidst an interactive atmosphere during the Q&A session and with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
(Contributed and reviewed by Assistant Professor Jin Yi, format reviewed by Helen Kam)
