Ms. Yang Baozhen

Expert for International Projects of China Women's Development Foundation

Former Chinese Consul to France

Member of the Advisory Committee of ICCSD 

It is urgently needed to achieve equitable recovery under carbon neutrality goal

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the largest global economic crisis in more than a century. A fair recovery means that all adults, including vulnerable groups such as the poor, women and small businesses, can recover from losses in employment, income, human capital and assets. For example, it is difficult for the elderly to do shopping because they do not use phones. The crisis had a dramatic impact on global poverty and inequality within and across countries. It is severe China with a population of 1.4 billion and thousands of SMEs.

The achievement of equitable recovery should be based on the carbon neutrality goal. Climate change is a common challenge facing human society, fighting climate change requires the efforts of countries around the world. The appropriate policy and action are the key items. The Chinese government clearly proposes carbon peaks in 2030, carbon neutrality in 2060. There is a huge impact on the existing economic development model. On the one hand, it is a big challenge. On the other hand, it is also the greatest opportunity to achieve green industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural rural modernization.

Technological innovation helps achieve the carbon neutrality goal

How to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality in this century? I believe that the main direction is "technical innovation". It is the fundamental way to balance the environment and development. For China, it is necessary to coordinate actions and spend more energy to help enterprises use technological innovation to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction rather than simple restrictions.  To achieve recovery under China's carbon peak target, strong policies should be pursued. The government should clearly set targets for total energy consumption and growth rates, advocate for wind, solar and biomass to become major energy sources, and encourage relevant institutions to reduce the amount of coal burning through equipment retrofits.

I would like to share with you a China-Canada Energy efficiency in building's project that I participated in, I was senior program officer of CIDA. Through the renovation of building exterior walls and windows, coal consumption is reduced, thereby reducing carbon emissions. This project provides reliable data for the Ministry of Construction to set up the energy efficiency code for new building. As results, the project improved building energy efficiency standards and gradually realize low-carbon buildings. In addition, the China-Canada Cleaner Production Project and the Clean Coal Project are also fruitful attempts to reduce carbon emissions.

China needs all industries to promote energy technology innovation. And to encourage income tax reduction on green energy companies to make a reasonable compensation and excitation of their green contribution. Encouragingly, China's carbon trading market began to run online last year. Another example: The Winter Olympics Games just held in Beijing are the Olympics used advanced technology practice of carbon neutrality in the whole process. This sports event is a fusion of advanced environmental protection concepts and practical actions of "carbon neutrality".

During the Labor Day holiday, the Beijing municipal government issued green shopping vouchers to encourage consumption, for instance to buy green household appliances with subsidies. Last one, I think it is very important to improve citizens' awareness of environmental protection, change their behaviors. In recent years, in the big city like Beijing, Shanghai etc. citizens have developed a good habit of sorting garbage and green travel (go to work by bike) and green consumption. Anyway, equitable recovery requires everyone's efforts and contribution.

Cultural industry enhances intercultural communication and cultural diversity

The cultural industry should be a purer creative industry, which, in a narrow sense, includes literary and artistic creation, music creation, photography, dance, industrial design and architectural design. The core of the cultural industry is creativity, with the rapid development of Internet technology and new media and the acceleration of economic globalization, transnational and cross-cultural communication. Cultural industry is a pillar industry and future industry with rapid growth.

Cultural industries play an important role in promoting intercultural communication and cultural diversity and in inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture. Some traditional handicrafts in China are also intangible cultural heritage. When it adapts to the needs of consumers, achieves artistic, life-oriented and market-oriented, and it can play a bridge role in international cultural exchanges. In 2018, I led a Chinese women's delegation to Tunisia to provide training of trainers in Su embroidery for Tunisian women. Tunisian silk embroidery is very popular. Most of the designs are geometric patterns, while Chinese Su embroidery is mostly flowers and birds. Through training, Tunisian women learn Su embroidery stitches and designs, local product is selling well, as results, it increases women's income. As a cultural industry, Su embroidery has promoted cultural exchanges between China and Tunisia through training and enhanced the friendship between the women of the two countries.

The popularity of the cultural industry is also closely related to the country's economic level and the level of cultural promotion. When I was working in Africa, I found that African children have been influenced by French education since childhood, they speak French and learn French culture. France has established the Culture Institute to show movies and organize cultural activities. But Some Africans only know Chinese martial arts. The cultural industry can transform Chinese culture into films, TV dramas, etc. In 2014, when I was working in Africa, I introduced the first Chinese TV series "Doudou and his mother-in-law" to Gabon. Through this TV series, the African audience learned about Chinese urban life and culture.

Generally, the role of cultural industry in cross-cultural communication and cultural diversity is reflected in the following aspects: first, promoting the progress of human civilization, including promoting the evolution and dissemination of advanced cultures through honest, open, positive and healthy communication; second, promoting the popularization of modern scientific and technological knowledge, and third, promoting the progress of backward cultures; fourth, promoting economic and trade development; fifth, facilitating the building of understanding, trust and friendship. Cultural diversity is a prerequisite for cultural exchange. The world culture is composed of the cultures of different nationalities and countries. Only by communicating, learning and learning from the excellent cultural achievements of other nationalities can the development and prosperity of the national culture be promoted.