Shanghai to Host International Carbon Neutrality Expo with First Dedicated Private Sector Zone Next Month

The 2025 Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Technology, Products, and Achievements Expo is set to take place from June 5 to 7 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This expo aims to comprehensively showcase the latest advancements in green low-carbon technologies and future exploration directions, promoting a full green transformation of economic and social development.

Under the theme “Towards the Path of Carbon Neutrality“, the expo will consist of three main components: a themed exhibition, a series of forums, and trade matchmaking. On May 16, the Shanghai Municipal Government’s Information Office held a press conference where Zhu Minglin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, and Gu Chunting, Vice President of the Shanghai Council for the Promotion of International Trade, provided details about the event.

One of the significant highlights of this year’s expo is the introduction of a private economy zone. Gu Chunting announced that the exhibition is expected to cover 40,000 square meters and will feature over 300 leading enterprises from both domestic and international markets. The themed exhibition will cover six major areas: energy transition, low-carbon transportation, energy conservation and efficiency, circular economy, low-carbon services, and practical explorations. Additionally, there will be specialized zones for various districts in Shanghai, an integrated solutions zone, a “New and Renewed” zone, a Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce zone, a biodiesel promotion zone, a Shanghai Financial Industry Federation zone, and a joint exhibition area for provincial and municipal green low-carbon initiatives. Each specialized zone aims for a compact yet impactful presence, achieving breakthroughs through a “small but strong” approach.

The expo will also feature a “New and Renewed” display area to drive industry upgrades and lifestyle innovations. The expanded “New” policies for 2025 inject new vitality into equipment upgrades and the replacement of consumer goods. In this context, the expo will focus on “New”, showcasing innovative solutions from leading companies in various fields related to large-scale equipment updates and consumer goods.

Furthermore, the expo will gather a “green new force” from the private economy, bringing together specialized, innovative, and high-tech enterprises focused on diverse applications for carbon neutrality. These companies, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, not only excel in niche markets but also actively align with the national “dual carbon” strategy, providing practical models for the green transformation of industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and data services.

The event will also establish a global green service empowerment platform, expanding the low-carbon services sector by creating a service hub composed of four core service clusters: green financial institutions, third-party testing and certification, international legal consulting, and full-cycle carbon verification, offering comprehensive low-carbon services for corporate green transformations.

The expo will include an opening ceremony and four parallel forums during its duration. The opening ceremony will take place on the morning of June 5, featuring keynote speeches and the release of case studies focused on global climate change response, green investment and financing, and the application of green technologies. The four parallel forums will cover topics such as:

• Carbon Dual Control System Construction and Local Practice Innovation Forum, which will help local development and reform commissions understand national carbon dual control policy orientations and share practical experiences.
• Circular Economy Parallel Forum, aimed at discussing the future development direction of circular economy and creating a platform for resource recycling industry exchanges.
• Green Going Global Parallel Forum, which will address the urgent needs of enterprises in their internationalization processes, focusing on new opportunities in green trade and international cooperation.
• Energy Transition Parallel Forum, focusing on strategic paths for energy system transformation under carbon neutrality goals.

The expo will also launch a series of “Green Going Global” brand activities to establish a cross-border service hub. By combining parallel forums, service guidelines, navigation maps, and trade matchmaking, the event aims to create a comprehensive international service ecosystem to help businesses navigate challenges in going global with “green solutions”.

In recent years, Shanghai has continuously explored new models for sustainable development in mega-cities, accelerating the full green transition of economic and social development. Zhu Minglin highlighted several initiatives undertaken to achieve the “dual carbon” goals:

• Strengthening Legal and Institutional Guarantees: Shanghai has pioneered the introduction of the Regulations on Promoting Green Transformation of Development Approaches, focusing on green transitions in energy development, industrial structure, and consumer life.
• Promoting Green Low-Carbon Transformation: The municipal government released the Action Plan for Accelerating Green Low-Carbon Transformation (2024-2027), focusing on 15 key application scenarios to drive breakthroughs in green low-carbon technologies and emerging industries.
• Building a Green Low-Carbon Supply Chain: Shanghai has established the Green Low-Carbon Supply Chain Leading Enterprise Alliance to promote product carbon footprint standards and certification.
• Advancing Major Renewable Energy Projects: The city is integrating into national strategies for the development of large-scale renewable energy projects.
• Expanding Green Electricity Trading: Inter-provincial green electricity trading has seen a doubling in volume for three consecutive years, with significant growth expected in 2025.