To discuss solutions for the global challenge on environmental, social and governance (ESG), and promote the IEC Global Impact Fund (GIF), the IEC Global Impact Fund Forum was held in hybrid forms in Nanjing city, Jiangsu province, China on June 24. The event was addressed by Jo Cops, IEC President, Tian Shihong, SAMR Vice Minister, SAC Administrator and President of IEC National Committee of China, and Shu Yinbiao, 36th IEC President and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. It was attended by Vimal Mahendru, IEC Vice President and Chair of Standardization Management Board, Richard Schomberg, IEC Special Envoy on Smart Energy, Matthew Doherty, IEC GIF Senior Advisor, and Jinseok Bae, Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) Liaison Officer to IEC.

The forum, hosted by IEC GIF and jointly organized by IEC Promotion Center (Nanjing), China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., China Southern Power Grid, and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., attracted more than 200 participants on site. Officers, experts and enterprise representatives delivered keynote speeches on themes such as KATS activities for IEC GIF, ESG management model, and how to mobilize private capital through ESG data standardization and disclosure. A discussion panel was held to discuss how IEC international standards and conformity assessment can have a catalytic impact on environment and economy.

Jo Cops said in the address that electricity is the cornerstone supporting technological innovation and social and economic development, whose importance has been increasingly recognized. Reliable electricity supply is crucial for basic services such as education and healthcare. After sharing practical cases in various regions of the world, he said that the IEC GIF, by seeking projects and partners capable of making a difference, helps address the most pressing global issues such as climate change, energy production and supply, and waste disposal, aiming to bring positive changes to people’s daily lives. Currently, the IEC GIF is making an impact in many regions, such as Africa. The IEC hoped that infrastructure will be improved and energy supply will be promoted through deeper and broader exchanges and cooperation, to foster global trade development and knowledge sharing.

Tian Shihong said in the address, international standards are the important technical foundation for the global governance system and the economic and trade cooperation. It has become an international consensus that international standards can address many challenges including global climate change. As an important participant and active contributor to the IEC, China is willing to work with the international community to continue to play a key role in promoting global sustainable development through standardization. China aims to deepen standardization cooperation, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and advance the construction of an international standards system for carbon emissions, contributing wisdom to the global green and low-carbon transition and the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The IEC GIF, through solutions such as technologies, international standards, conformity assessment, and national quality infrastructure, can effectively resolve the current problems and challenges related to ESG. It is essential to leverage the platform and resource advantages of the IEC GIF to provide project funding to developing countries and carry out standardization work related to climate change and environmental protection. This will provide fundamental momentum for the construction of a digital all-electric society.

According to Shu Yinbiao, the IEC has actively engaged in the research, development, and promotion of international ESG standards, aiming to achieve low-carbon energy production and facilitate green certification. This provides effective means to innovate global green and low-carbon technologies and meet the requirements of green trade regulations. Currently, Chinese experts are actively participating in the IEC strategic plan, incorporating carbon neutrality, energy transition and other themes into the plan. They are leading the development of white papers of emerging strategic technologies including zero-carbon power systems, and promoting the development of international standards in areas such as virtual power plants, grid sensing, and smart hydropower.

IEC international standards have significantly driven the upgrading and transformation of Chinese industries towards high-end, intelligent, and green development. He suggested promoting and applying IEC international standards actively to tackle global challenges. Additionally, contributing to the IEC GIF to share global ESG best practices and strengthening technical standards cooperation of regions across the globe will help establish a green, low-carbon, fair, and friendly global technical standards system.

Two new partners

Two new Chinese partners of the IEC GIF announced at the Forum were NARI Group Corporation and China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd. (CET). They will join forces with the IEC GIF to promote the application of IEC standards and conformity assessment in overseas projects.

The IEC GIF and the IEC Promotion Center (Nanjing) will collaborate with NARI and CET on energy projects in emerging markets and developing economies in Africa, Southeast Asia and other regions. They will also seek collaboration with financial institutions including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and African Development Bank to improve electricity consumption, critical infrastructure and institutional governance.

Source: China Standardization Magazine, issue 4, 2024