Amit Ronen, Director of the GW Solar Institute and professor at The George Washington University, welcomed attendees to an event on U.S.-China legal exchange. The U.S. and China are the world's two largest economies and energy consumers, highly dependent on fossil fuels and oil imports. Both countries are pursuing a clean energy future through initiatives like the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center and have competing interests in attracting investment in renewable technologies. Cooperation and competition characterize the relationship between the U.S. and China on clean energy issues.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptx
18th Annual US-China Legal Exchange
1. Amit Ronen
Director, GW Solar Institute
Professor, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy
The George Washington University
U.S. Department of Commerce and P.R.C. Ministry of Commerce
18th Annual U.S. – China Legal Exchange
2. Welcome to The George Washington University
• GW was founded in 1821 by
an Act of Congress
• Located in Foggy Bottom in
the heart of Washington DC
• Around 25,000 students
enrolled across 10
professional schools
Sustainability was established
as one of the University’s core
values in 2009
3. GW Has Strong Ties with China
Vice Premier Liu celebrating the opening of the Confucius
Institute with George Washington University President Knapp
4. U.S. and China:
The World’s Two Largest Economies
The United States and China are also the world’s largest
producers and consumers of energy.
7. Source: EIA
U.S. Consumes Much More Energy Per-Capita
United States
313
China 82
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Total Primary Energy Consumption Per Capita (million BTU)
8. Source: EIA
China’s Economy is Much More
Energy-Intensive
United States
7
China 26
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Total primary energy consumption/GDP
(thousand Btu)
10. U.S. and China: Agree We Must Both
Urgently Tackle Climate Change
US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, listens to
Chinese Premier Liu Keqiang during a meeting during
an April 2013 meeting in Beijing
The Joint U.S.-China
Statement on Climate
Change calls for:
“forceful, nationally appropriate
action by the United States and
China - including large-scale
cooperative action”
that could “set the kind of
powerful example that can
inspire the world.”
11. U.S. and China:
Both Pursuing a Clean Energy Future
“Between more clean energy, and less wasted
energy, our emissions of dangerous carbon pollution
are actually falling. And while our carbon emissions
have been dropping, our economy has been growing.
It proves that the old argument that we can’t
strengthen the economy and be good stewards of our
planet at the same time is a false choice. We can do
both. And we have to do both.”
– U.S. President Barack Obama, Weekly
Address, November 16, 2013
“In constructing eco-civilization, it is imperative to
build a sound system and to protect the ecological
environment through the system.”
– Communist Party of China Central Committee
Communiqué, November 12, 2013
13. In November 2009, President Obama and President Hu
announce 7 new joint U.S.-China clean energy initiatives
U.S. and China: Working Together
14. Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter sign the US-China S&T Agreement in 1979
The Most Significant Partnership In 30 Years
15. U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center
First of its kind joint clean energy R&D center, bringing
together teams of U.S. and Chinese scientists and
engineers.
Joint focus areas include:
More than 1,100 CERC researchers are collaborating on
88 projects focused on maximizing U.S. learning and
address China’s growing demand for energy.
• Advanced Coal Technology
• Building Energy Efficiency
• Clean Vehicles
• Intellectual Property Framework
17. U.S. and China: Competing Vigorously
Clean energy is the largest
market opportunity of the 21st
century.
Renewables will account for nearly
half of the increase in global power
generation thru 2035.
18. U.S. and China: Competing Vigorously
China led the world in attracting investment for wind, solar, and
other renewable energy technologies in 2012.
Both countries are doing well
19. U.S. and China: Competing Vigorously
Trade is another key area of clean energy co-opetition
• More that half a trillion dollars
worth of goods and services are
traded between the U.S. and
China.
• But in clean energy, while still
relatively small, the relationship
is more equal.
• $8.5 billion in total bilateral clean energy trade
• $1.63 billion trade surplus for the U.S.
20. U.S. and China: Competing Vigorously
Solar trade dispute (not
co-opetition)
• Solar’s complex global supply
chain makes it difficult to
resolve trade disputes.
• Tariffs and penalties are
slowing solar growth and
investment
• China recently resolved a similar trade dispute
with the European Union.
21. U.S. Department of Commerce and P.R.C. Ministry of Commerce
18th Annual U.S. – China Legal Exchange
Please Contact Us with Questions or Comments:
GW Solar Institute
609 22nd Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
amit_ronen@gwu.edu
202-994-8433
@gwsolar
Editor's Notes
Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today and provide an overview of U.S. and Chinese clean energy efforts.
First, let me start by welcoming you to The George Washington University!George Washington University, or GW as we like to call it, was created in 1821 through an Act of Congress, fulfilling George Washington’s vision of an institution in the nation’s capital dedicated to preparing future leaders.Today, we are one of the premiere universities in the United States, educating around 25,000 students right here in Washington DC.
GW has many long standing ties with ChinaSLIDE:GW’s Elliot School of International Affairs established a China Policy Program back in1998 under their Sigur Center for Asian StudiesSLIDE:In 2011, GW launched a Master of Science in Finance for Chinese Students. This program is offered jointly by the GW Business School and Renmin University in China.Last month, Both these schools hosted the sixth annual "G2 at GWU” conference which focuses on China's economic development and US-China economic relations.SLIDE:SLIDE: In partnership with Najing University, GW also hosts a Confucius Instituteto promote Chinese language and cultural studies on campus.Two weeks ago Vice Premier Liu came to GW to inaugurate the new center.SLIDE:The Chinese American Student Association is also active on campus and works to promote understanding of Chinese and Chinese-American culture.Over the last five years, enrollment of undergraduate Chinese students has quadrupled, to over 1,200Chinese students at GW today.
We all know the U.S. and China are the two world superpowers.And that we are the two largest economies. SLIDE:We are also the largest producers and consumers of energy. Which means our countries share many common challenges, interests, and perspectives related to energy use and production.So what are some of those challenges?
SLIDE:Both the U.S. and China leaders see transitioning to a cleaner and more diverse clean energy economy as the answer to these difficult of economic, environmental, and security challenges. SLIDE:Here is what President Obama said last month: “Between more clean energy, and less wasted energy, our emissions of dangerous carbon pollution are actually falling. And while our carbon emissions have been dropping, our economy has been growing. It proves that the old argument that we can’t strengthen the economy and be good stewards of our planet at the same time is a false choice. We can do both. And we have to do both.” SLIDE:And last month, the Chinese government said ““In constructing eco-civilization, it is imperative to build a sound system and to protect the ecological environment through the system.”
So how do we get there?SLIDE:This is how. SLIDE:Co-opetition. Sometimes the U.S. and China work together, sometimes we compete.But as the world’s two superpowers and largest emitters we must take the lead and responsibility to tackle these urgent energy challenges.
Fortunately, we already have a unprecedented level of cooperation on clean energy. SLIDE:In November 2009, President Obama and President Hu announce 7 new joint U.S.-China clean energy initiatives
The heart of our shared clean energy partnership is the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, or CERC as its called.SLIDE:The CERC provides funding for U.S. and Chinese scientists to solve key technology challenges. SLIDE:Currently more than 1,100 CERC researchers are collaborating on 88 projects focused on maximizing U.S. learning and address China’s growing demand for energy.SLIDE:Joint focus areas include:Advanced Coal TechnologyBuilding Energy EfficiencyClean VehiclesIntellectual Property Framework
On the flip side of co-opetition, the U.S. and China are also vigorously competing against each other.SLIDE: The reason is simple, clean energy is going to be the largest market opportunity of the 21st century. The International Energy Agency says the world need to invest an extra $36 trillion in clean energy investments by 2050 to keep climate change at a moderate level.SLIDE: Renewables will account for nearly half of the increase in global power generation thru 2035. And by 2035, renewables will make up over 30% of the global power mix.
The emphasis on clean energy seems to be working for both the U.S. and China. SLIDE: According to the most recent “Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index”, put out by Ernest and Young,SLIDE: the U.S. and China are the #1 and #2 most attractive countries for clean energy investment.SLIDE: But according to the Pew Research Center, China led the world in attracting investment for wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies in 2012. And Pew predicts that given China’s long-term renewable goals they are likely to be the world leader throughout this next decade.
Trade is another key area of clean energy co-opetitionSLIDE: Overall, more that half a trillion dollars worth of goods and services are traded between the U.S. and China.SLIDE: However, there is a major trade imbalance. China’s exports about four dollars worth of goods for every one dollar of U.S. exports.SLIDE: But in clean energy, while still relatively small part of the pie, the relationship is more equal. SLIDE: Of the $8.5 billion in clean energy goods and services traded, the U.S. had a relatively small $1.63 billion trade surplus.In the solar space that my Institute studies, most people believe think that China has taken over the solar manufacturing market. But the reality is that in 2011 U.S based firms traded more than $3.7 billion worth of solar goods and services with China, while China export $2.8 billion solar related products to the U.S.
As many of you know, the solar trade balance has, unfortunately, become a major area of friction between China and the U.S.SLIDE: Penalties applied to Chinese solar modules imported to the U.S., and countervailing tariffs on U.S. polysilicon exports has chilled the solar market. SLIDE: Solar has a very complex global supply chained, making it difficult to resolve trade disputes using existing systems. SLIDE: It is noteworthy that China recently resolved a similar trade dispute with the European Union. So while we are unlikely to solve this dispute here, it is certainly an area where more bilateral dialogue and exchanges like this one can help facilitate a mutually agreeable resolution.
Thank you for listening and I look forward to hearing from today’s other distinguished speakers. I now turn over the program to ___________________