NatCap leaders bring nature to the fore at U.S.-China Circular Economy Forum

Recently, U.S. and Chinese government and business leaders came together in Beijing to discuss the need for international cooperation around sustainable economic development. Representatives from the Stanford-based Natural Capital Project (NatCap) spoke at the event on September 6, known as the US-China Circular Economy Cooperation Forum, bringing attention to the importance of nature in achieving these goals. 

The meeting was held to support the U.S.-China Climate Action Working Group's Circular Economy Sub-Working Group, as part of implementing the 2023 U.S.-China Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis. 

John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, ZHAO Chenxin, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), LIU Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to China, and former China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change XIE Zhenhua attended the forum's opening ceremony and delivered remarks, while XIE Feng, China’s Ambassador to the U.S., spoke by videolink. The opening ceremony was chaired by LIU Dechun, Director General of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection at the NDRC.

“Transitioning to sustainable economic practices is essential for addressing the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and advancing sustainable development,” said Stephen Polasky, a co-founder of NatCap and Regents Professor and Fesler-Lampert Professor of Ecological/Environmental Economics at the University of Minnesota, in his keynote speech. He advocated for a shift from linear to circular economic models, which includes the principles of eliminating waste and pollution; circulating products and materials at their highest value; and regenerating nature. 

Other keynote speakers included Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain, California Undersecretary for Environmental Protection Catalina Hayes-Bautista, and leaders from U.S. and Chinese corporations. 

Discussions emphasized the progress each country has made in adopting circular economy policies, and the crucial role of U.S.-China collaboration in combating climate change. The forum also highlighted the role of multinational corporations in facilitating green transitions. Attendees included executives from PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, Honeywell, and Starbucks, reflecting the engagement of major global businesses in these efforts.

In a closed-door session, a member of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Advisory Council, WANG Yi, who is a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and member of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, co-moderated a discussion with NatCap Senior Scientist and Associate Director for the China Program, Tong Wu. In the session, experts and business representatives from both countries explored strategies to mitigate climate impacts across various sectors, discussing topics from agricultural practices and industrial processes to natural resource management. The session also highlighted the importance of nature-based solutions, which conserve or restore ecosystems as part of protecting people and addressing societal challenges, including climate change. In particular, OUYANG Zhiyun, Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor and NatCap Partnership Committee Member, and Polasky underscored the need to incorporate the valuation of ecosystem services into low-carbon development strategies.

“Valuing the carbon sequestration services of ecosystems can provide a win-win opportunity to mitigate climate change and regenerate nature,” said Ouyang.  

The forum’s proceedings reflected a growing recognition of the need for integrated approaches to sustainable development and underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies in addressing global environmental challenges.

The forum was jointly organized by the China Association of Circular Economy and the US-China Business Council, with support from NatCap and the University of Maryland’s Center for Global Sustainability.

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