Xue Qikun, president of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and Nobel laureate in economics Robert F. Engle exchange views during the 10th International Conference on Data Science held at the university Saturday.Courtesy of SUSTech
Xue Qikun, president of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and Nobel laureate in economics Robert F. Engle engaged in a discussion on climate change and technology cooperation during the opening ceremony of the 10th International Conference on Data Science on Saturday.
The opening ceremony at the university's conference center attracted over 500 industrial experts, faculty, and students.
Xue discussed SUSTech's efforts in addressing climate change, saying the university has highlighted climate change as one of its key directions since its establishment.
"The university's research covers battery technology, carbon capture, smart manufacturing, marine science, and ecological restoration. We have established several research platforms for carbon neutral energy and gathered researchers from various fields to form a unique talent cultivation system," said Xue.
Engle, a renowned U.S. econometrician, emphasized the economic aspects of climate change, stating that the essence of the issue lies in the externalities caused by carbon emissions from energy use.
He proposed four solutions to address climate change that focus on market mechanisms and policy tools, including carbon taxes to encourage investments in renewable energy, government subsidies for the new energy industry, regulatory systems to limit emissions from businesses, and policies designed to align stakeholders with the concept of green development.
Regarding tech cooperation, Xue and Engle agreed that countries should strengthen efforts to collectively address climate change. Engle noted that China has accumulated rich experience in clean energy. If China and the U.S. can enhance exchanges and share experiences, it will set an example for global efforts to combat climate change. In addition to intergovernmental cooperation, Xue stressed that communication and collaboration among universities, research institutions, and industries should be strengthened, and a more inclusive and pragmatic international cooperation mechanism should be fostered for global technological innovation.