CCG-Embassy of Iceland Co-host Forum on Women & Renewable Energy
March 13 , 2025
On March 6, 2025, in celebration of International Women’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the Centre for China & Globalization (CCG) in partnership with the Embassy of Iceland jointly organized a seminar entitled Women & Renewable Energy.
The event brought together experts from government, business, international organizations, and academia to discuss the achievements of China and Iceland in the green transition, with a particular focus on the contributions of women in the development of renewable energy. More than 100 guests attended the event, including Mr. Thorir Ibsen, Ambassador of Iceland to China; Dr. SONG Li, Member of the Secretariate of All-China Women’s Federation; Dr. Mabel Lu MIAO, Co-founder and Secretary-General of CCG; and Ms. Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative for China.
In the opening addresses, Mr. Thorir Ibsen, Ambassador of Iceland to China, first reviewed the 30-year history of cooperation since the establishment of the Icelandic Embassy in China, highlighting achievements in gender equality and geothermal energy collaboration. He called for deeper cooperation between China and Iceland in the fields of energy, gender equality, and earth sciences, while expressing his gratitude to CCG and all participants for their support.
In her remarks, Dr. SONG Li, Member of the Secretariate of All-China Women’s Federation, noted that cooperation between China and Iceland in the fields of gender equality and renewable energy has been steadily deepening, creating a favorable environment for women’s development. She expressed her belief that this event would have a positive impact on promoting the full and equal participation of women in the renewable energy industry in both countries and advancing the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Following this, Ambassador María Mjöll Jónsdóttir, Director General, Political Director Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland; Ms. Xin Charlotte ZHAO, CEO Arctic Green Energy China; and Ms. Lotte Rosenberg, CEO Carbon Recycling International, each delivered keynote addresses.
Ambassador María Mjöll Jónsdóttir, Director General, Political Director Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, emphasized in her speech that advancing gender equality and renewable energy development not only fosters economic and social progress in countries but also contributes to global efforts in tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.
Ms. Xin Charlotte ZHAO, CEO Arctic Green Energy China, called for greater efforts in attracting, retaining, and promoting women to bridge the talent gap in the energy sector and ensure that future energy systems can meet the diverse needs of society.
Ms. Lotte Rosenberg, CEO Carbon Recycling International, stated that the clean energy transition must be inclusive. Building an inclusive industry requires not only increasing women’s participation but also creating an environment where all voices are heard and every contribution makes an impact.
During the panel discussion, Chu Q. Wang, Head of Partnerships, UN Women China, served as the moderator, guiding an insightful dialogue. Participants included Dr. Mabel Lu MIAO, Co-founder and Secretary-General of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG); Ms. Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative for China; Dr. SHENGLONG Quzhen, Director of the Teaching & Research Office, China Women’s University; Dr. Xiaodong Wang, World Bank’s Lead Energy Specialist, Program Leader for China, Mongolia and Korea; and Dr. Wang Kun, Tianjin Bureau of of Planning and Natural Resouces (1998 GRÓ GTP Fellow).
The discussion focused on key topics, including the importance of gender equality, the unique role of women in the green energy transition, and the opportunities and challenges in the energy sector. Experts shared their experiences from various fields and proposed innovative solutions, offering valuable insights and recommendations to advance gender equality and the development of green energy.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that CCG has hosted a seminar in celebration of International Women’s Day. On March 8, 2022, CCG and UN Women China hosted “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow: a symposium on biodiversity and climate change from a gender perspective” at CCG’s Beijing headquarters; On March 8, 2023, CCG and UN Women China hosted DigitALL – A Symposium on Gender Responsive Technology and Innovation in the 21st Century. This event brought together a diverse group of government agencies, embassies, UN entities, financial institutions, academics, and leading think tanks to share best practices on policies and programs to bridge the digital gender divide; On March 8, 2024, Global Development Promotion Center (GDPC) of China International Development Cooperation Agency’s (CIDCA), UN Women in China and CCG co-organized a symposium titled “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” at the headquarters of CCG in Beijing.
-Related-
CCG-Embassy of Iceland Co-host Forum on Women & Renewable Energy
Forum on invest in women held at CCG
Video | CCG-UN Women presents | In Celebration of IWD2023
CCG and UN Women hold symposium on International Women’s Day
