During the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, the 2024 Climate Week NYC, one of the world’s most influential climate events, convened in New York City. Organized in collaboration with the United Nations and the City of New York, the event gathered global business leaders, political figures, and stakeholders to accelerate climate action. Eric Luo, Vice President of LONGi and President of LONGi North America Business Center, was invited to participate in prominent discussions, including The Executive Series 2024 and the CEO Roundtable, where he shared key insights on sustainability and the global energy transition.
Hosted by Climate Group, this year's Climate Week NYC showcases an impressive lineup of more than 600 events, comprising a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online sessions. The event attracts thought leaders from across industries and regions every year to drive transformational change and accelerate global climate initiatives. The dialogues and exchanges fostered during Climate Week will play a pivotal role in shaping the climate agenda for the coming year and setting the tone for future global climate engagements.
Green Hydrogen: A Catalyst for Deep Decarbonization
Amid the ongoing global push for deep decarbonization, green hydrogen has emerged as a critical player. As a zero-emission energy carrier and key industrial raw material, it holds immense potential in reshaping the global energy landscape.
During the forum "Forging the Future: How Public Sector Action Can Support Steel Industry Decarbonization and Create a Net-Zero Steel Market," Eric Luo emphasized that LONGi continues to optimize its solar technology while unlocking vast potential in green hydrogen. Industrial sectors, he noted, can harness green hydrogen by integrating it into existing energy systems, retrofitting infrastructure, and investing in hydrogen production facilities, paving the way for comprehensive renewable energy solutions.
Green hydrogen offers promising potential for decarbonizing non-electric sectors, such as industrial production, oil refining, and transportation. The United Nations' Guiding Principles for Hydrogen Deployment Consistent with Climate Goals has identified renewable energy-based hydrogen as the only pathway aligned with the 1.5°C climate target. As such, green hydrogen is poised to become a critical element in achieving deep decarbonization.
Luo further highlighted the role of policymakers in accelerating hydrogen integration by establishing clear regulatory frameworks, providing financial incentives, and fostering public-private partnerships. He also underscored the importance of international collaboration to drive the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies, supporting industries in their transition to sustainable energy systems.
Leading the Charge in Sustainable Development
As a global leader in solar energy technology, LONGi is committed to advocating for, implementing, and advancing sustainable development in the clean energy sector. LONGi aims to make significant contributions toward a low-carbon, zero-emissions future worldwide.
During the CEO Roundtable on “Turning Climate Risk into Business Opportunity: Collaborating for a Sustainable Future,” hosted by the UN Global Compact, Rockefeller Group, and the Asia Society, attendees explored how international collaboration can help businesses tackle climate change, the impact of global ESG trends on corporate policy, and sustainable business solutions.
According to Eric Luo, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives provide a holistic framework for companies to assess their sustainability efforts and progress toward carbon neutrality. By integrating ESG principles into their core strategies and operations, companies can not only achieve high-quality development but also meet the expectations of stakeholders and contribute to a shared sustainable future.
The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact’s introduction of ESG principles. In its 2004 report, Who Cares Wins, the UN Global Compact called on businesses and investors to incorporate environmental, social, and governance factors into their strategies and operations.
Over the past decade, advances in photovoltaic technology have far exceeded expectations, driving down costs and making solar energy the most economical power source in many countries. Solar energy's sustainability, affordability, and emphasis on equity have positioned it as a key solution for achieving global energy equity.
Luo emphasized that LONGi advocates for global energy equity through international collaboration. By sharing best practices, partnering on R&D projects, and collectively addressing climate challenges, countries can accelerate the global energy transition.
As an early advocate of the UN Global Compact’s Forward Faster initiative, LONGi was among the first companies to join, pledging strong commitments to gender equality and climate action. By 2030, LONGi aims to achieve equal pay for equal work, ensure balanced representation and leadership opportunities at all levels of management, and partner with stakeholders to address the social impacts of climate change. Eric Luo emphasized that in tackling global energy challenges and promoting energy equity, LONGi remains dedicated to international collaboration and innovation, striving to push the boundaries of solar energy commercialization and continually advancing renewable energy solutions.
About LONGi
Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.
Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com