{"id":2916,"date":"2026-08-13T18:04:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"\/?post_type=event&p=2916"},"modified":"2026-08-14T14:21:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:21:02","slug":"climate-catalyst-after-cop30-how-will-the-climate-narrative-develop-in-the-new-year","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/igdptest.symbol365.com\/en\/events\/climate-catalyst-after-cop30-how-will-the-climate-narrative-develop-in-the-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Catalyst: After COP30, How Will the Climate Narrative Develop in the New Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\tHome<\/a>\n\t\t\/<\/i>\n\t\tEvents<\/a>\n\t\t\/<\/i>\n\t\tClimate Catalyst: After COP30, How Will the Climate Narrative Develop in the New Year?<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Climate Catalyst: After COP30, How Will the Climate Narrative Develop in the New Year?<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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January 8, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Beijing<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The seminar was jointly organized by iGDP, the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, and Zero Carbon Era. Experts with long-term engagement in climate communication research and firsthand experience at COP30 analyzed, from multiple perspectives, the contributions and impacts of diverse climate actions in fulfilling climate commitments.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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On January 8, 2026, the\u00a0Climate Catalyst: After COP30, How Will the Climate Narrative Develop in the New Year?\u00a0seminar, jointly organized by\u00a0iGDP, the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, and\u00a0<\/span>Zero Carbon Era<\/span><\/i>, was successfully held as scheduled. Wang Mou, Researcher at the Institute of Ecological Civilization Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Han Shulin, Executive Editor-in-Chief of\u00a0<\/span>Zero Carbon Era<\/span><\/i>; Zhang Shihui, Assistant Professor at the School of Ecology and Environment, Renmin University of China and Research Director of the Lancet Countdown Asia Centre; and other experts with long-term engagement in climate communication and firsthand experience at COP30 analyzed from different perspectives the contributions and impacts of diverse climate actions on fulfilling climate commitments.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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More than 40 partners in the field of climate communication engaged in group discussions and exchanged their expectations and ideas for COP31. The seminar was moderated by\u00a0L\u00fc\u00a0Yaning, Communications Manager at\u00a0iGDP, and concluded by Zeng Fanxu, Director of the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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01 Analysis of the Key Outcomes of COP30 and the Focus of Subsequent Negotiations<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Wang Mou reviewed the outcomes of COP30 and analyzed the key issues for\u00a0subsequent\u00a0negotiations. As a scholar who has long been involved in the global climate governance process, he shared the following key observations:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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COP30 upheld the core positions of developing countries: the outcome documents reaffirmed the three core principles of \u201ccommon but differentiated responsibilities,\u201d the financial obligations of developed countries, and historical responsibility;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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After difficult negotiations, 59 indicators under the Global\u00a0Goal on\u00a0Adaptation (GGA) framework were adopted. As a \u201cnon-mandatory and non-intrusive\u201d set of indicators, there\u00a0remains\u00a0considerable room for discussion on their future implementation, but the framework provides a basis for future adaptation action;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, concerning financial support from developed countries to developing countries, was incorporated into a two-year work program. For the first time, trade and unilateral measures were included in a document under the Paris Agreement, and a three-year dialogue process was\u00a0established. In addition, the conference\u00a0established\u00a0a goal of tripling adaptation finance by 2035, although the specific baseline and implementation pathways\u00a0remain\u00a0subject to further negotiations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The Technology Implementation\u00a0Programme\u00a0(TIP) was launched to support the implementation of priorities\u00a0identified\u00a0by developing countries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The Just Transition Work\u00a0Programme\u00a0was authorized to move forward. The issue of just transition is broadly linked to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Global\u00a0Stocktake\u00a0and other processes. Trade-related unilateral measures, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), have continued to receive attention under the just transition agenda, with developing countries calling for them to be incorporated into the negotiation process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Wang Mou noted that COP30 made progress on multiple\u00a0issues, but\u00a0also left many challenges unresolved. Future negotiations will need to achieve substantive breakthroughs in areas including the allocation of responsibilities, delivery of climate\u00a0finance\u00a0and the refinement of concrete actions. Turning NDCs from commitments into implementation will remain a long-term challenge for the international community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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02 Climate Change Reporting from an Industrial Perspective<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Drawing on his distinctive experience across the energy and climate sectors, Han Shulin explored the profound transformation from conflict to convergence between industrial logic and climate goals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Han Shulin began his reporting career in the traditional energy sector. In 2015, he\u00a0observed\u00a0tensions\u00a0emerging\u00a0among climate goals, industrial\u00a0logic\u00a0and market logic, with the \u201cenergy trilemma\u201d\u2014affordability, low\u00a0carbon\u00a0and reliability\u2014proving difficult to reconcile. The launch of China\u2019s \u201cdual carbon\u201d goals in 2020 marked a key turning point. His coverage of green transition cases also shifted from focusing primarily on international transitions to covering the practices of Chinese companies, and\u00a0eventually to his current work at\u00a0<\/span>Zero Carbon Era<\/span><\/i>, a platform focused on green transition and development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Han Shulin now pays greater attention to commercially\u00a0viable\u00a0technologies as drivers of the green transition. He shared two typical cases: more than 15 GW of distributed solar PV capacity in Pakistan installed voluntarily by ordinary residents, and the use of solar PV and energy storage in African countries to provide rural populations with access to clean electricity. These cases\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0that the substantial decline in the costs of green technologies such as solar PV and energy storage is making it possible for developing countries to bypass the traditional fossil-fuel stage and achieve initial modernization directly through renewable energy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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This commercially sustainable transition driven by industrial progress is\u00a0emerging\u00a0as a new form of \u201cgreen soft power.\u201d Although political dynamics in international climate negotiations\u00a0remain\u00a0important, China\u2019s experience in driving down the costs of green technologies and exploring pathways toward modernization based on non-fossil energy provides valuable reference for the world, particularly for countries in the Global South.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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03 Climate Is No Longer Just an Issue for Experts: Translating Science and Expanding Climate Action after COP30<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Zhang Shihui noted that global climate governance is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with its defining feature being \u201cbreaking out of the circle\u201d\u2014from closed professional negotiations to open and diverse social action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Based on her observations of COP30, she\u00a0identified\u00a0three major trends:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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First, a quantitative expansion in participation: total participation at the conference rose to hundreds of thousands, with public activity areas outside the formal venue becoming a major source of growth;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Second, a qualitative diversification of participants: people from all\u00a0walks of life, including entrepreneurs, artists and healthcare professionals, are becoming actively involved. For example, doctors are not only concerned about the health impacts of pollution but are also examining the carbon footprint of healthcare systems themselves;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Third, an expansion of the space for action: the focus of climate governance is shifting from negotiation texts toward industrial solutions, while the increasingly lengthy negotiation texts themselves reflect both the\u00a0difficult process\u00a0of building consensus among 198 Parties and the necessity of advancing concrete implementation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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As Research Director of the Lancet Countdown Asia Centre, Zhang Shihui shared key practices in translating scientific research into action:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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First, making research more targeted by refining analyses of the health risks of climate change to 375 cities across China. She found that provincial-level data can obscure differences in risks among cities, providing a basis for more targeted local adaptation;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Second, quantifying the \u201ceconomic costs and benefits.\u201d For example, a meteorological early warning system for stroke in Tianjin saved RMB 28 million in medical expenditure with an investment of RMB 4 million and was included in the World Health Organization\u2019s COP30 case database;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Third, improving public understanding by translating scientific indicators into tangible impacts, such as reductions in outdoor exercise time per capita and declines in labor productivity, making climate risks more tangible and understandable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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She emphasized that future climate action should not focus solely on costs or\u00a0threats, but\u00a0should also seize the opportunities for industrial upgrading that climate change presents. New growth areas can be created in energy transition, resilient\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0and climate-related health, among others. This requires deep engagement by diverse actors, including businesses, to turn climate action into a driver of economic growth and lead the way toward sustainable development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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04 Group Discussions: Communicating the COP31 Story<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Participants at the seminar were divided into six groups. Each group discussed solutions from a communication perspective based on the issues that COP31 should genuinely address, followed by on-site exchanges and presentations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 1<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The first group believed that COP31 should be a COP focused on accelerating implementation,\u00a0solidarity\u00a0and multilateralism. They hoped to accelerate action and the implementation of the conference outcomes, while directly addressing the issue of climate finance and\u00a0determining\u00a0how a new climate governance mechanism should be\u00a0established\u00a0following the US withdrawal. They proposed organizing an environment- and climate-themed concert to encourage deeper participation from people beyond the climate community and the\u00a0general public. They planned to use in-depth articles, impactful\u00a0videos\u00a0or on-site interviews at COP to\u00a0showcase\u00a0how developing countries, emerging industries and traditional energy cities could turn their situations around or gain a competitive advantage through future strategic planning. Although certain developed countries may create uncertainty for global climate governance, those that take the lead in overcoming challenges will be able to reshape the order and gain an advantage amid the broader trend of climate action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 2<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The second group described COP31 as a COP for just\u00a0transition\u00a0and argued that it must address three core issues: climate finance, sea-level rise affecting small island states, and just transition. Their proposed creative activity was an immersive exhibition featuring \u201cbleached coral\u201d from the Great Barrier Reef, using visual impact to help more members of the public and stakeholders experience the urgency of the climate crisis. Under the theme \u201cThose Who Are Disappearing,\u201d they planned to follow and document climate migrants who were forced to move from Tuvalu to Australia due to rising sea levels. Through documentaries, data-based\u00a0investigations\u00a0and photo stories, they would portray changes in their lives and the challenges surrounding their identities. They hoped to move audiences through real stories and call on the international community to accelerate the delivery of climate finance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 3<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The third group proposed that COP31 should become a \u201cCOP in Our Everyday Lives\u201d or a \u201cPeople\u2019s COP,\u201d emphasizing that climate action must rely on people. They\u00a0identified\u00a0three major challenges for the conference: the governance mechanism following the US withdrawal, the implementation of climate commitments by countries, and the need for all solutions to be grounded in localized and pragmatic practices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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To encourage public participation, the group planned to organize a creative activity or create an artwork under the theme \u201cThere Is Not Enough Time.\u201d Through short videos and modern communication approaches, they would interview successful local businesses and communities to\u00a0showcase\u00a0successful localized practices and encourage other sectors to make changes. The group emphasized that COP31 would lose its meaning if it\u00a0failed to\u00a0deliver tangible results. The goal should be to give a broader range of people hope for the future of climate governance, while recognizing that the future also depends on the actions of every individual today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 4<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The fourth group placed \u201cimplementation\u201d at the center and proposed three core issues for COP31: first, the financing gap; second, concrete pathways for just transition; and third, improving early warning systems to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable regions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The group advocated cross-sectoral cooperation and innovative forms of communication.\u00a0It planned to promote interactive formats such as a \u201cCross-Sectoral Climate Action Forum\u201d and a \u201cClimate Action Market\u201d at COP31, using performance art, cross-sectoral\u00a0dialogues\u00a0and film festivals to build bridges among decision-makers, young people and civil society organizations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 5<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The fifth group also\u00a0identified\u00a0\u201cimplementation\u201d as the core theme of COP31, proposing a focus on climate finance and rising temperatures, while specifically calling for the United States to resume contributing to global climate action. To this end, the group proposed a targeted narrative strategy: using online dialogue to bridge differences in positions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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They planned to invite two US influencers with opposing views on climate issues to engage in a public dialogue or debate. By presenting a direct clash of different perspectives, they hoped to attract broader public attention, particularly among groups that are skeptical of or indifferent to climate change. The group believed that completely \u201cchanging\u201d other people\u2019s positions would be extremely\u00a0difficult, and\u00a0therefore adjusted its\u00a0objective\u00a0toward \u201cinfluencing\u201d and \u201cattracting attention.\u201d Low-cost online debates could\u00a0facilitate\u00a0exchanges among different viewpoints, raise public awareness and engagement on climate issues, and thereby help advance US climate action in a complex international political environment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Group 6<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The sixth group likewise emphasized that \u201cimplementation\u201d should be a core issue for COP31, arguing that turning commitments into action is more important than setting new targets. They\u00a0identified\u00a0climate finance, pathways for the transition away from fossil fuels, and just transition as three key topics, with the future direction of the fossil-fuel transition as the primary focus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The group particularly emphasized the power of \u201ccross-sectoral\u201d communication and proposed inviting industry leaders to\u00a0participate\u00a0in dialogues or debates,\u00a0leveraging\u00a0their influence to attract public attention. The communication focus should shift from amplifying climate anxiety toward promoting concrete and\u00a0feasible\u00a0technological solutions. The group hoped to use the COP31 platform to bring mature technologies to the public and make carbon reduction a tangible,\u00a0perceptible\u00a0and participatory part of everyday life. The central narrative would be \u201cTime is running out, but solutions are already in hand,\u201d conveying both urgency and hope for action. At the same time, the group emphasized that climate communication is difficult and often slow to produce\u00a0results, and\u00a0called on practitioners to adjust their expectations and mindset.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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05 Seminar Summary<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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In his concluding remarks, Professor Zeng Fanxu noted that the themes and discussions of the day\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0an important shift from \u201cscience communication\u201d toward \u201cclimate narratives.\u201d Only by building emotional connections with the public through storytelling can climate communication truly \u201cbreak out of the circle.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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He summarized the changes in the narrative approaches presented by the three keynote speakers. From the perspective of global governance, Wang Mou\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0a shift from grand goals toward implementation strategies and from moral narratives toward strategic narratives, focusing on the tensions and contestation involved in implementation. From an industrial perspective, Han Shulin explored how the once-disconnected \u201cindustrial narrative\u201d and \u201cclimate narrative\u201d can be bridged through business innovation,\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0the potential for\u00a0synergy\u00a0between the two. From the perspective of public participation, Zhang Shihui promoted a shift from policy elites toward diverse actors and \u201ctranslated\u201d scientific language into localized narratives connected to cities and individuals, thereby giving climate action a sense of hope.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Professor Zeng further noted that this shift echoes the exploration of \u201chope-oriented\u201d narratives that\u00a0emerged\u00a0in the group discussions. He shared findings from the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at Tsinghua University showing that young people tend to favor narratives centered on benefits and hope rather than appeals based on sacrifice. Going forward, it will be necessary to continue exploring narrative approaches that are rooted in Chinese society and culture and are more innovative and engaging.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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