The New Energy Frontier: Subnational Drivers and Corporate Strategy in China’s Decarbonization

While national targets often dominate the headlines, the real momentum of China’s energy transition is increasingly fueled by ambitious subnational policies and aggressive corporate expansion in the clean-tech sector.

In this China Energy Dialogue, Fan Dai, Senior Fellow with the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program, will share how these localized and private-sector dynamics have secured China’s dominance in the global battery and renewable supply chains. She will also discuss the strategic implications for the United States and what policy levers are needed to bolster domestic competitiveness and supply chain resilience. Chris Nielsen, Executive Director of the Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment, will moderate.

This seminar is part of the China Energy Dialogues (中国能源对话), a new monthly seminar series sponsored by the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program that brings together experts and Harvard community members to discuss energy, climate, and environmental issues in China.

RSVP required. A Harvard University ID is required to attend. Please note that this seminar is in-person only and will not be recorded.

Co-Sponsor: Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment

About the Speaker

Fan Dai is a Senior Fellow with the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program. Dr. Dai has played a significant role leading California’s collaboration with China on climate, energy and environment. She was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. as Special Advisor on China. Under Brown, Dr. Dai chaired the state’s China Interagency Working Group, and acted as the state’s liaison on its critical economic and environmental initiatives on China. Previously, Dr. Dai served as senior advisor at California Environmental Protection Agency and California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, advising on the state’s international policy and global climate partnership. In 2017, she organized Governor Brown’s trip, which resulted in a successful meeting with President Xi Jinping and the commitment to establish the California-China Climate Institute. Dr. Dai is a graduate of Berkeley Law, University of California, and holds a doctoral degree on Environmental Policy and Economics from State University of New York. Her research has been focused on market mechanisms for climate change mitigation, energy efficiency and innovations.