Synergies and co-benefits of a clean energy transition in China

This talk will summarize some of Prof. Denise Mauzerall's groups research that identifies synergies between reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality and public health In China. Her work spans the residential, industrial, power, and transport sectors.  She uses technical modeling to evaluate the co-benefits of various supply-side and demand-side mitigation strategies. Her research aims to inform decarbonization policy that maximizes climate, air quality, and public health co-benefits. China is currently the largest global emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), having surpassed the EU in 2000 and the US in 2006, while continuing to face serious public health challenges due to air pollution.  At the same time, China is a global leader in renewable energy, boasting the highest installed solar and wind capacities as of 2023. However, it continues to build coal power plants, revealing the complexity of its energy transition.  Mauzerall's research emphasizes that decarbonization must consider both supply and demand strategies.  Sectoral synergies - particularly in decarbonization of the power sector, transport, residential heating and industry - offer substantial potential to simultaneously address climate change, air pollution and public health cost-effectively. --- Event Details: https://my.princeton.edu/rsvp?id=1960978