Climate change is a major challenge facing mankind. In order to meet the challenges, in December 2015, the Paris Climate Conference adopted the Paris Agreement to make arrangements for global climate governance after 2020. "Keep the increase in global average temperature within 2 degrees Celsius compared with the pre-industrial period, and strive to limit the increase in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius." This is the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement. However, some analyses point out that based on the current Independent Contribution Commitments (NDCs) submitted by various countries, global temperatures may still rise by 3.2 degrees Celsius, so governments of various countries have set new targets in addition to their Independent Contribution Commitments. In November 2018, the European Commission proposed in its "Vision Goals" that the EU will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As one of the countries with the largest carbon emitters in the world, China is responsible for ensuring climate security.
The Cambridge Lecture Hall of the Cambridge China Federation of Students was honored to invite Professor Zhang Ning, a senior researcher at the Department of Land Economics at Cambridge University, to give an offline lecture on the topic of "Climate Change and Double Carbon Goals." We sincerely invite students and scholars to join us to discuss in depth the global challenge of climate change and the strategies and impacts of achieving the dual carbon goals.
The lecture will unfold from four key dimensions:
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Construction of carbon emissions database: This part will introduce the carbon emission databases in the micro, macro and meso dimensions jointly built by Professor Zhang. These databases are crucial for accurately understanding and predicting carbon emission trends.
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A new model for estimating the cost of carbon reduction: Professor Zhang will share his latest research results in developing new models to estimate the cost of reducing carbon emissions that can help design and implement emission reduction measures more effectively.
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Assessment of the effectiveness of climate policy: This section will explore how to use microeconometric methods to assess the effectiveness of different climate policies, especially their effectiveness in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development.
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Impact of climate change on economy and society: In this section, Professor Zhang will discuss the wide-ranging impacts of climate change on the global economy and society, including potential impacts on agriculture, industry, and human well-being.
Finally, Professor Zhang will combine his academic research to provide a unique perspective to interpret climate change issues and explore the moral and spiritual dimensions of mankind's response to this global challenge. This is not only a lecture on scientific research, but also a profound reflection on human responsibilities and future.