Tsinghua University

China, currently the largest carbon emitter, is committed to reducing emissions to meet the Paris Agreement. To transition to a low-carbon economy, market interventions are needed. Green finance can help steer private capital into climate-friendly industries and projects. The Research Center for Green Finance Development at Tsinghua University expects to accomplish two goals with this Program: (a) to accelerate the domestic development of green finance and (b) to build the capacity for green finance with international partners.

With these grant funds, the Energy Internet Research Institute of China’s Tsinghua University will develop a policy roadmap and provide technical support to achieve the goal of delivering 100 percent of Sichuan’s electricity through carbon-free sources by 2025. Sichuan is the most populous province in China, with more than 85 million people. It is rapidly developing, has extensive renewable energy resources and is adjacent to the coal-rich Western provinces. Serious progress toward 100 percent carbon-free electricity generation in Sichuan would be an important model for other provinces. This initiative is part of the climate collaboration announced by the presidents Obama and Xi in the summer of 2015. The State of Washington and the University of Washington are supporting Sichuan and Tsinghua with technical support, modeling, and high-level exchanges.