The 2024 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2024MIECF) continues to discuss green and low-carbon development paths through the Green Forum. During Green Forum Session 4 held this afternoon (29 March), experts, scholars and industry veterans from home and abroad were invited to share their insights in urban transformation applied to various related fields, such as green building, transport, energy, and waste management under the theme “Implementing Green Development Solutions to Promote Urban Transformation”, thus exploring the path of innovative green development.

Sustainable and green low-carbon development gathers great concern of the international community. Session 4 was attended by Xu Wei, Director of the Institute of Building Environment and Energy, China Academy of Building Research; Ai Yi, Deputy Director of the Air Quality Division, Beijing Ecology and Environment Bureau; Danny Mak, Environmental Protection Officer (Territory North) of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department; José Amaral, Director of Operations, Valorcar; Hermann Koller, Executive Board Member of WKU; and Iwan Prijanto, Chair of the Green Building Council Indonesia. Wong Seng Fat, Alfred, Interim Master of the Cheng Yu Tung College, University of Macau, moderated this session.

Xu Wei delivered a speech on “Developing Zero-carbon Buildings and Move Toward Zero-carbon Cities”, stating that the building sector plays a key role in tackling climate change, and that a zero-carbon city with a high proportion of renewable energy is the future. He suggested accelerating the promotion of zero-carbon buildings and constructing exemplary zero-carbon cities.

In his speech on “Structural Adjustment Supports the Air Pollution Prevention and Control in Beijing”, Ai Yi took Beijing as an example to share his experience in effectively optimising the energy structure by reducing the use of coal, optimising the transport structure by controlling vehicles and cutting fuel use, and optimising the industrial structure by driving down pollution and emissions. He also suggested improving the mechanism of joint prevention and control of air pollution to facilitate synergetic development of the region.

Other speakers delivered speeches on topics such as “Use of Smart Technologies for a Low-carbon EIA Process”, “Electric Vehicles and Batteries Recycling”, “Efficient Resource and Waste Management as an Important Contribution for Close Loop Cycle and CO2 Reduction - Example Vienna”, and “Nature Based Solutions, a Modest Way Towards Net-zero in Tropical & Subtropical Regions”. 

Simultaneous interpretation services are available on-site. In addition, this year, the Green Forum continues to seek accreditation and certificates of attendance will be issued to the participants, with the aim of effectively leveraging the MIECF’s role as a professional knowledge exchange platform.