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UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks at the 2025 International Hydrogen Energy Conference and Exhibition in Beijing, China.
Dear Mr. BIAN Guangqi, Deputy Director-General, Department of Energy Conservation, Science, Technology, and Equipment, National Energy Administration
Dear Mr. POON Kwok Ying, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Dear Mr. YAN Guochun, Deputy General Manager of CHN Energy
Distinguished international delegates, academicians and experts,
Good morning!
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), I extend my warmest congratulations to the China Hydrogen Alliance on the successful opening of the "2025 International Hydrogen Energy Conference and Exhibition".
Green hydrogen stands at the heart of sustainable development.
As we are aware, the shift away from fossil fuel to renewables is more critical than ever before, as the climate emergency threatens life on earth.
Global CO2 levels are at record highs, along with global temperatures.
2024 was the hottest year yet and with every half a degree Celsius rise globally, heatwaves, floods, and droughts are becoming more frequent and more dangerous.
With five years to go, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the global roadmap for people and is hanging by a thread.
Based on current progress, the Asia-Pacific region will take until 2062 to achieve the SDGs – three decades too late.
This underscores the urgency of our efforts and the need to accelerate action on all fronts.
We are all here in this together with a stake in the agenda and to ensure that we keep the SDGs and global climate agendas within our reach.
Green hydrogen provides us an opportunity to take a new path to change our collision course with the ever-worsening climate crisis.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let us see where we stand.
Significant progress has been made in the last decade on green hydrogen globally.
Yet, despite 41 governments having adopted hydrogen strategies, green hydrogen still accounts for less than 1% of global hydrogen production—a challenge that also signals untapped potential and an immense opportunity. [1]
Here in China, ambitious trajectories have been set under the hydrogen energy development plan for 2021-2035 as the country works towards its carbon peaking and neutrality goals. [2]
A strong hydrogen economy has the potential to revolutionize energy systems, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate the green transition.
The national hydrogen strategy launched in 2021 has been key in adopting hydrogen and fuel cell technology, demonstrating the government's commitment to low-carbon development and clean energy.
We also take note on the following ambitions:
- By 2025, the goal plans to establish a comprehensive hydrogen energy industry system. This includes significantly enhancing innovation capabilities, mastering core technologies, and improving manufacturing processes.
- By 2030, China aims to achieve a well-structured, orderly industrial layout. Renewable hydrogen production will be scaled up, contributing significantly to the country’s carbon-peaking efforts.
- By 2035, it is the aim that hydrogen derived from renewable energy will make up a larger share of the nation’s total energy consumption.
These efforts will play a key role in supporting China’s green energy transformation and achieving its dual carbon goals of 2030/ 2060 and its Nationally Determined Contributions.
We are seeing positive signs that needs to be continued and scaled.
The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, for example, has undergone rapid expansion in installed renewable hydrogen production capacity — driven largely by major state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
It’s now set to host the world’s largest renewable hydrogen coal-to-chemical project, which is currently under construction.
"To seize the opportunities of a hydrogen-powered future, we must invest in upskilling technicians and engineers specializing in hydrogen technologies."
UNDP has long recognized hydrogen as a catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since 2003, we have collaborated with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the China Hydrogen Alliance to advance fuel cell vehicle demonstrations, vocational training, and technological innovation.
Today, China owns the world’s largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen refueling infrastructure—achievements made possible by the collective efforts of all stakeholders present here.
At last year’s International Hydrogen Innovation Cooperation Forum, UNDP, alongside the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and the Government of Ejin Horo Banner of Ordos City, Inner Mongolia signed a Statement of Intent for the Integrated Green Hydrogen Application Demonstration Project.
Through large-scale renewable hydrogen production demonstrations, blockchain-enabled traceability systems, and capacity-building programs, this joint initiative aims not only to advance China’s dual-carbon goals but provide insights, lessons learned for a wider sharing with countries worldwide.
We are pleased to be able to partner with the China Hydrogen Alliance on this effort and we welcome your interest to join us in this collaboration.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Despite this progress, challenges remain.
The true potential of green hydrogen can only be realized if it is developed with a people-centered approach and by ensuring it aligns with the broader goals of sustainable development, as set out in the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Globally, fragmented standards are creating an absence of harmonized international regulations and certification systems for hydrogen trade and safety.
This continues to be critical to ensure that the industry’s growth is accompanied with clear line of sight of ensuring social and environmental safeguards are in place as we unlock the full potential of hydrogen as a clean energy solution.
Workforce readiness is equally critical.
To seize the opportunities of a hydrogen-powered future, we must invest in upskilling technicians and engineers specializing in hydrogen technologies.
This includes retraining workers from coal-dependent regions — ensuring they aren’t left behind — and promoting gender-responsive, equitable access to emerging green jobs, fostering an inclusive energy transition.
At UNDP alongside with our sister UN agencies in key technical areas, we stand ready to promote the full-chain development of the green hydrogen energy industry and the implementation of large-scale demonstration projects, fostering an energy ecosystem that aligns with international standards.
We are committed to advancing the SDGs, supporting China’ development growth, accelerating green energy and low-carbon transition, and contributing to China's long-term energy targets.
In closing, I look forward to the upcoming 2025 Hydrogen Specialized and Innovative Entrepreneurship Competition.
This initiative, guided by the principle of “Innovation-Driven Growth,” will strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration and empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to lead in green technology innovation.
Let me also thank the experts who will be sharing global trends and insights for our collective efforts moving forward.
Together, let’s build a hydrogen ecosystem and accelerating momentum for a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition in China and globally.
May this conference inspire collaboration, innovation, and action for a greener future.
I wish this conference a great success! Thank you.
[1] Hydrogen Production – Global Hydrogen Review 2024 – Analysis – IEA https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2024/hydrogen-production
[2] China maps 2021-2035 Plan on Hydrogen Energy Development https://english.www.gov.cn/statecouncil/ministries/202203/23/content_WS623ac568c6d02e53353282a4.html
