In this episode, hosts Alexandra Bolton and Matthew Moss are joined by sustainability expert Changhua Wu. She is a non-executive director at Tianqui Lithium, an energy materials company with operations in China, Australia and Chile. Changhua is a leading figure of sustainability in China, she is part of the Community of Climate Governance Experts of the World Economic Forum and the Chair of the Asia Pacific Water Forum.
The conversation covers an overview of climate governance in China; its challenges as a high greenhouse gas emitter country, but also its proactive approach to a green transformation. Changhua also reflects on a wide range of sustainability issues: from water challenges in the region to cultural sensitivity.
Key messages
- Balancing sustainability and corporate decision making is complex. A major driver for climate action in China is compliance with sustainability regulations, such as disclosure. However, some organisations are moving beyond disclosure and embedding carbon neutrality in their investment decisions. Others are also looking at technological solutions, such as Tianqi Lithium’s green mining.
- Chinese leadership has embraced the concept of ‘ecological civilization’, which focuses on ecological red lines, pricing nature, and ecological compensation. These pillars aim to balance economic development with environmental protection. Due to its dominance in industrial value chains, China is uniquely positioned to lead a supply chain transformation and reduce scope 3 emissions. This will support China’s and a global green transformation.
- Cultural sensitivity, active listening, and collaboration are key to addressing the complexities of corporate sustainability and promoting effective climate governance. Additionally, it is important to tackle different sustainability issues as a unified agenda, such as climate, water and nature.
Directors’ Dialogues is hosted by the Climate Governance Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Climate Engagement as its content partner. Each episode takes a deep dive into the stewardship journey of board directors and climate experts. Whether you are new to the climate governance space or an accomplished steward, this podcast will bring you closer to true voices sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes in navigating climate action and integrating it into the boardroom conversation.