How to Green Economy?

The need for an integrated Green Industrial Development policy.

Some great announcements this week from ARENA on support for the transition of Australia's heavy vehicle fleets to non-fossil fuel options (BEV).

Electric Trucks

Industry leader TOLL Group got some much-needed help to offset the upfront costs for fleet purchases and recharging infrastructure, and the associated techno-economic modelling learnings from their business decarbonisation agenda .

Collaboration with key clients in their high-impact sectors to deliver on this is great to see.

Hydrogen Trucks

This follows up TOLL and ARENA's earlier leadership in Hydrogen with Viva Energy.

All of these innovative projects highlight the procurement, safety, regulatory, engineering and capacity-building requirements of a green economy transition.

Advanced Manufacturing

It also highlights the knock-on effect of pilot projects on associated fields like education and manufacturing with the new Queensland-based Volvo production line getting a leg up with some forward orders on their Australian electric vehicle assembly.

Other local manufacturers like Foton Mobility Australia have been banging on about the capacity-building needs of the industry for years now.

Maybe a need for some gender diversity programs in this space too!

Australia's Economic Complexity Dilemma

For a few year's now I've been sharing chart in my talks with industry and Government from Harvard Growth Lab's Country Rankings about the downward trend of Australia's productive knowledge through their Economic Complexity Index (ECI).

So how does Australia, a country without an easily-identifiable major National manufacturing sector (resource extraction aside) move up the ladder of Economic Complexity?

Maybe we can learn from our No.1 trading partner?

They're in COP at the moment sharing this information with the hundreds of Countries engaging with China.

Green Industrial Transformation Leadership

A few years back I had the pleasure of meeting the Green Partnership of Industrial Parks (GPIPC) people in China as part of my role leading the Green Economy Working Group with the Australia China Business Council.

Our MOU was built on the positive interest in international collaboration from the GPIPC, and our ambition to share their learnings back in Australia what it takes to turn a whole Countries industrial green. Energy, Water, Waste, Emissions/ GDP.

As GPIPC is under MOFCOM, much of this research is what has been driving the recent flurry of policy announcements coming out of the NDRC and related State Departments. (MEE, MOST, Transport) etc.) which have driven China's Green transformation.

China's new Energy Policy Announced

While we were watching a horse race or having a minutes silence over US election news, China quietly released its new Energy Policy for 2025 that removes previous restrictions on China's Hydrogen sector & accelerates further their economic decoupling from fossil-fuels.

From my recent discussions with many of the hydrogen supply chain participants on my Beijing, Shandong, Hebei, Jiangsu trip in October, this announcement will have the immediate effect of accelerating the 'downstream' (ie: City-level/ Provincial-level) focus for funding the Hydrogen and related (ie: chemicals, transport, green hydrogen metallurgy) sectors.

Look for huge changes in China's emissions next year with EV growth, industrial efficiencies and renewables penetration.

Australian Engagement with China

Despite sharing our recommendations with DFAT's Ministers and their team in May 2023, I have seen little "evidence of industry" of pro-active engagement with China from Australia to learn about these developments in their green, high-quality industrial transformation.

If anything I've seen a doubling-down on the "anywhere but (mainland) China" diversification strategy from Australia.

Meanwhile...

Japan Engagement

The 17th China-Japan Comprehensive Forum on Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection was held in Tokyo, Japan attended by representatives of Chinese and Japanese governments and enterprises, focusing on energy conservation, environmental protection and green low-carbon technologies, conducted in-depth exchanges. As China's platform for promoting green transformation of Industrial parks and international cooperation, GPIPC's purpose is to:

• deepen cooperation with global partners
• actively promote the promotion and application of green innovative technologies
• help industrial upgrading and low-carbon transformation of plants, and
• jointly address the global climate change challenge.

Green Alliance at COP29 Baku

The China Alliance of Green Industrial Parks are presenting at COP29 this week in Baku, sharing learnings from their most recent industry report.

Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ) Annual Conference

In September GPIPC hosted members of the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones Annual Conference. GASEZ members represent 7,000 special economic zones in 145 economies employing over 100 million people.

World Green Economy Summit - Dubai

In October GPIPC were invited to attend the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) in Dubai, sharing learnings at the Clean Technology Finance Sub-Forum. A number of Green Alliance's initiatives in promoting clean technology development and measuring demand trends for clean technology have been supporting green finance in the Chinese market.

Green Alliance/ Energy Foundation China - ASEAN Sustainable Development Seminar

GPIPC and the Energy Foundation organised a research seminar on sustainable development of industrial parks in ASEAN countries (Indonesia). The meeting focused on the sustainable development status and challenges of Indonesia's special economic zones, as well as the current investment situation of Chinese enterprises. Twenty-five representatives from eight ASEAN industrial parks and well-known research institutions participated in the seminar.

International Sustainable Water Alliance Forum - Shanghai

GPIPC shared learnings from their Water Management Reports at the International Alliance for Sustainable Water Management Sustainable Water Management Forum in Shanghai inviting collective action on sustainable water management in China.

Double Carbon Green Innovation Competition - Tianjin Economic Development Zone

Tianjin Binhai New Area and the Tianjin Economic and Commercial Zone (hosts of ACBC's China delegation in April 2023) held a competition at the new Tianjin Double Carbon Building on carbon-related policies, carbon standards, carbon verification and accounting, and carbon trading. The competition attracted more than 40 "double carbon"/“双碳” related innovators.

China-Finland Innovative Enterprise Cooperation Forum

Green Development Alliance of National Economic and Technological Development Zones was invited to participate in the Green Development Alliance Forum hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. This is the 5th China-Finland Innovation Forum hosted by the Federation of Finnish Industry and the National Business Promotion Bureau of Finland.

GPIPC shared experiences on green development in the circular economy.

Carbon Footprint Training - Hebei Qinghuangdao Econoic Development Zone

GPIPC ran carbon accounting training with members of Hebei's Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone on product carbon footprint accounting. GPIPC experts presented on the concept of product carbon footprint, the development of global trends, how enterprises can calculate and manage carbon footprint of products.

Tibet (Lhasa) Economic Development Zone - Green High-Quality Development Training

GPIPC ran training on green, high-quality development with member, Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone. GPIPC shared information on national green development policies, carbon peak practices in parks, coordinated development of digitisation and green development, strategies for industrial agglomeration and information of national policy funds. Attendees from Lhasa municipal, district & county Government and representatives from the city's business community attended the training.

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Park dynamics

Inbound foreign investment into China will be streamlined to be encouraged to participate in these Green Parks so as not to negatively affect China's Green Economy transiton.

Further information on China's Alliance of Green Economic Development Zones in the context of China's National (ie: State-level, Provincial and City-level economic development zones...

• Of 95 National Eco-Industry Demonstration Parks, 53 are National Economic & Technical Development Zones and members of GPIPC - 国家生态工业示范园区：国家级经开区 53 家（全国共95家)
• Of the 129 National Circular Economy Demonstration and Pilot Parks, 59 are NETDZs 国家循环化改造试点园区国家级经开区 ：国家级经开区 59 家（全国共129家)
• Of the 225 National Green Industrial Parks, 81 are members 国家绿色工业园区：国家级经开区 81 家（全国共225家)
• Of the 55 National Low-Carbon Industrial Parks, 17 are members 国家低碳工业园区：国家级经开区 17 家（全国共55家）
• Of the National Green Industry Demonstration Bases, 7 are members 国家绿色产业示范基地：国家级经开区 7 家（全国共31家）
• Of the 76 National Pilot Zones for Third-party Treatment of Environmental Pollution, 8 are members 国家园区环境污染第三方治理试点：国家级经开区 8 家（全国共76家）
• Of the 676 Pilot Zones for Roof Distributed PV, 10 are NETDZs 整县(市.区)屋顶分布式光伏开发试点：国家级经开区 10 家（全国共676家）

In recent Park news...

Hunan (Changsha) approved 8 new provincial green manufacturing enterprises

Recently the Hunan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology issued a "Notice on Announcing the Green Manufacturing List of Hunan Province in 2024" and a total of nine enterprises in Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone were rated as green factories. Changsha EDZ now has 13 national & 28 Provincial green factories.

Shandong (Weifang) BinHai Economic Development Zone

As previously mentioned, Weifang Port, part of GPIPC Member Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone has built the country's first "zero carbon port". Weifang Port is carbon neutral through a series of emission reduction measures such as the construction of decentralised wind power system, the introduction of hydrogen vehicles and the promotion of EV replacement vehicles and automation. Qualified carbon credits were used to offset the remaining greenhouse gas emissions.

Inner-Mongolia (Hulunbuir) Economic Development Zone - Zero Carbon Park

Way up in the North-east of China (even further North than Harbin!) the Hulunbuir Economic-Technological Development Zone in Inner-Mongolia (est 2012) held a forum on the establishment of new Zero-Carbon Park. With input from GPIPC, Hulun Buir analysed the development of new energy resources in the region and discussed the regional advantages and necessity of Zero-Carbon Park in Hulun Buir.

Jiangsu (ZhangJiaGang) Economic Development Zone Hydrogen-smart Microgrid

Zhangjiagang Economic and Technological Development Zone successfully hosted the launch of a hydrogen smart microgrid integrating hydrogen power generation, photovoltaic power generation, energy storage, charging and discharging equipment and energy management system.

It's the first "hydrogen+" smart microgrid in Jiangsu Province.

In recent National/ Provincial Green policy news (October 2024)

1. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued Technical Guidelines for Green and Low-carbon Development of Printing and Dyeing Industry (2024 Edition)
2. The People's Bank of China and other four departments issued the "Opinions on Giving Play to the Role of Green Finance in Serving the Construction of a Beautiful China"
3. The Ministry of Ecology & Environment issued a Notice on the National Power Generation Industry Carbon Trading Quota Allocation and Payment Related Work in 2023 and 2024
4. The National Development & Reform Commission released Guiding Opinions on implementing alternative Renewable energy sources.
5. Eight departments, led by NDRC, MEE and the National Bureau of Statistics jointly issued the "Work Plan for Improving the Carbon Emissions Statistical Accounting System"
6. Shanghai Municipal People's Government issued a Three-Year Action Plan for Building a Beautiful Shanghai (2024-2026)
7. Anhui Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the Implementation plan for Accelerating Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in the Building Sector
8. Harbin Municipal People's Government issued an Implementation Plan for the National Carbon Peak Pilot (Harbin Economic and Technological Development Zone)
9. Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee issued Emergency Response Plan for Environmental Emergencies in Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone (2024)
10. Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone also issued new measures for the Administration of Financial Incentive Funds for Prefabricated Construction Projects in Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone.

This information is shared with the author for the purposes of improving international understanding of China's green industrial development policies and advance international collaboration.

Should any Local and State Governments, or Park owners seek to meet with GPIPC, please refer to 2025 StudyTour program below.

Why the noise about China's Green Development and International collaboration?

ARENA funding announcements in the lead-up to COP29 with an eye on Australia's COP31 bid do not make a national green economy strategy.

Spot funding 'green energy superpower' projects in marginal electorates according to State and National election cycles does not build any strategic competitive advantage in an advancing "economically-complex" global market.

ARENA (and CEFC) have fought well to survive over the tumultuous decade prior.

The reports on these funded projects (many like this utilising Chinese product inputs), are still being produced in isolation with the actual manufacture, industrial park and local government behind the industry development in China.

We're just repeating the wheel of learning curve, albeit in project isolation from economic development policy.

However in that time our No. 1 trading partner has been forging ahead with the development of a Nation-wide green industrial transformation built on science and research.

With the growing gaps in global renewable energy generation and decarbonisation goals there is still huge room for development of Australia's on-shore manufacturing capacity.

Opportunities right along the whole value-chain.

New customers in new markets needing Australian ingenuity (with Chinese know-how).

Opportunities we could convert if we accelerate our industrial capacity development WITH China, as other economies are.

Green, high-quality economic growth.

Cheaper solar panels (and now batteries) (and soon hydrogen) don't come from subsidies -they come a tried and tested model of industrial transformation and scaling.

Australia should be at the table with other Countries learning about this.

Primary materials sourcing, secondary industrial processing, advanced manufacturing all work in concert with talent development, IP creation and commercialisation and industry integration. As trials are tested, policy is influenced to drive markets on the DEMAND-side and the SUPPLY-side.

New reforms, (like Carbon Markets and Green Finance) are worked on with International collaboration.

Once the edges are knocked off the key pain points and a strategic direction is visible within global trends, the flag is dropped and jobs are created in new green industries of the future.

This is a Green Economy.

Where is Australia's GREEN ECONOMY strategy within this global competitive landscape?

What is our differentiating value-add?

Who are we learning from/ working with to do this? (beyond a weapons-led economy)

How are we preparing for an end-of-an-era, post-fossil-fuel export world?

Where are the advanced industries for our Universities and Research Institutes to learn in?

We're three years behind even sitting at the table now to discuss the Why? while others are moving on to the How?

"Agree where we can". "Disagree where we must".

But surely THIS, (now more than ever in the context of the US elections), is now front-and-centre foremost "IN AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL INTEREST".

>end.

Appendix: China Association of Green Industrial Park member parks. (worth a visit)

Beijing - Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone

Tianjin - Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone, Xiqing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Tianjin Ziya Economic and Technological Development Zone

Hebei Province - Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Langfang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Cangzhou Lingang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shijiazhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone

Liaoning Province - Dalian Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone

Jilin Province - Changchun Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jilin Economic and Technological Development Zone

Shanghai - Shanghai Caohejing New Technology Development Zone, Shanghai Jinqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shanghai Chemical Industry Economic and Technological Development Zone

Jiangsu Province - Shanghai Chemical Industry Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone, Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Yangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhenjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone, Rugao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Xiangcheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhongao Sutong Ecological Park

Zhejiang Province - Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, Autonomous Region Shaoxing Keqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hangzhou Bay Shangyu Economic and Technological Development Zone

Anhui Province - Hefei Economic and Technological Development Zone, Lu'an Economic and Technological Development Zone, Huainan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Tongcheng Economic and Technological Development Zone

Jiangxi Province - Nanchang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jinggangshan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Shandong Province - Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Yantai Economic and Technological Development Zone, Dongying Economic and Technological Development Zone, Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Weifang Binhai Economic and Technological Development Zone, Linyi Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhaoyuan Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiaozhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, Qingdao Sino-German Ecological Park

Henan Province - Luoyang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Puyang Economic and Technological Development Zone

Hubei Province - Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Hunan Province - Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, Liuyang Economic and Technological Development Zone

Guangdong Province - Guangzhou Development Zone

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region - Qinzhou Port Economic and Technological Development Zone

Chongqing City - Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone

Sichuan Province - Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone, Guang'an Economic and Technological Development Zone

Guizhou Province - Zunyi Economic and Technological Development Zone

Yunnan Province - Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone, Dali Economic and Technological Development Zone

Shaanxi Province - Xi'an Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hanzhong Economic and Technological Development Zone

Gansu Province - Zhangye Economic and Technological Development Zone

Qinghai Province - Xining Economic and Technological Development Zone

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region - Urumqi Economic and Technological Development Zone

北京市 - 北京经济技术开发区

天津市 - 天津经济技术开发区 西青经济技术开发区 天津子牙经济技术开发区

河 北省 - 秦皇岛经济技术开发区 廊坊经济技术开发区 沧州临港经济技术开发区 石家庄经济技术开发区

辽宁省 - 大连经济技术开发区 沈阳经济技术开发区

吉林省 - 长春经济技术开发区 吉林经济技术开发区

上海 - 上海漕河泾新兴技术开发区 上海金桥经济技术开发 上海化学工业经济技术开发区

江苏省 - 上海化学工业经济技术开发区, 南通经济技术开发区 ,

昆山经济技术开发区, 南京经济技术开发区, 扬州经济技术开发区, 镇江经济技术开发区, 江宁经济技术开发区, 如皋经济技术开发区, 相城经济技术开发区, 中奥苏通生态园

浙江省 - 宁波经济技术开发区, 杭州经济技术开发区, 自治区 绍兴柯桥经济技术开发区, 杭州湾上虞经济技术开发区

安徽省 - 合肥经济技术开发区, 六安经济技术开发区, 淮南经济技术开发区, 桐城经济技术开发区

江西省 - 南昌经济技术开发区, 井冈山经济技术开发区

山东省 - 青岛经济技术开发区, 烟台经济技术开发区, 东营经济技术开发区, 日照经济技术开发区, 潍坊滨海经济技术开发区, 临沂经济技术开发区, 招远经济技术开发区, 胶州经济技术开发区, 青岛中德生态园

河南省 - 洛阳经济技术开发区, 濮阳经济技术开发区

湖北省 - 武汉经济技术开发区

湖南省 - 长沙经济技术开发区, 浏阳经济技术开发区

广东省 - 广州开发区

广西壮族 自治区 - 钦州港经济技术开发区

重庆市 - 长寿经济技术开发区

四川省 - 成都经济技术开发区, 广安经济技术开发区

贵州省 - 遵义经济技术开发区

云南省 - 昆明经济技术开发区, 大理经济技术开发区

陕西省 - 西安经济技术开发区, 汉中经济技术开发区

甘肃省 - 张掖经济技术开发区

青海省 - 西 宁经济技术开发区

新疆维吾尔 自治区 - 乌鲁木齐经济技术开发区

Green Partnership of Industrial Parks China (GPIPC)

Green Parks Association China

For further information on 2025 Green Industrial Park Study Tours in key industry sectors, (Energy, Resources, Transport, Finance, Manufacturing, Built Environment, Agriculture, Innovation) please contact GreenGold Ventures.