By CHEN Chunyou

As a faithful advocate of the Paris Agreement, China is making concrete efforts to achieve the targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

To tackle key technological challenges on the low-carbon road, qualified professionals are needed to play a leading role.

This May, the Action Plan for Strengthening the Construction of Higher Education Talent Training System in Carbon Sector was released by the Ministry of Education, which lays out key tasks for training talented individuals in the new era.

According to the plan, China would promote the construction of a high-quality higher education system and improve the quality of training in the carbon field.

The blades of wind turbines turn in the wind, generating green energy. (PHOTO: VCG)

The plan proposed to incorporate the green and low-carbon concepts into the educational system, saying that the construction of courses and related teaching resources in universities requires strengthening in order to improve the quality of professional training.

The building of high-level platforms to generate technological breakthroughs is to be accelerated in China. The universities are encouraged to establish carbon-neutral laboratories and technological innovation centers, reinforcing the research on the causes and impacts of climate change, and the basic theory and methodology of carbon sink in the ecosystem, said the plan.

According to the plan, a number of colleges featuring future technology, modern industry, and demonstration energy in green and low-carbon fields would be established, which are expected to innovate the training modes, and produce experts who can lead the development of the low-carbon technologies in future.

Professionals in hydrogen energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage, carbon finance and trading are in urgent need, said the plan, adding that these will be the focus of talent cultivation.

Furthermore, the plan also noted that talent cultivation in the fields of wind power, photovoltaic power and nuclear power is to be accelerated, while it would be transformed and upgraded as early as possible in key traditional energy fields such as electrical engineering, transportation, and architecture.

In order to promote the integrated development between the industry and education, the establishment of alliances between universities and enterprises is supported, said the plan, noting that transnational alliances with relevant countries are also encouraged if possible, so as to promote the sharing of standards, technology and personnel.

Global talent exchange is also highlighted in this plan. The overseas experts specializing in hydrogen energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage, carbon economy and related policy research, clean utilization of fossil energy, and cutting-edge technologies of renewable energy are welcome to participate in course construction and related academic research in China.

In addition, Chinese universities are encouraged to launch a joint training program with world-renowned universities and institutes, to cultivate professionals who are actively engaged in global climate governance and the operation of the global carbon market. At the same time, the related cooperation projects on sci-tech innovation and think tank consultation in carbon-neutral fields are also encouraged to be carried out, as per the plan.