On November 19, 2024, the ERC team welcomed a delegation from the Information Center of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment for a thought-provoking exchange on digital transformation in environmental governance. The event was hosted by Professor Genia Kostka, with participation from postdoctoral researchers, doctoral students, and members of the ERC project "Digital Governance in China."

 

The Chinese delegation, led by Dr. Zhang Bo, Deputy Chief Engineer, and Senior Engineer Mr. Yu Qin, shared valuable insights into China's advancements in integrating digital technologies into environmental protection efforts. Dr. Zhang expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to engage with scholars at one of Germany's leading centers for Chinese studies. He highlighted Freie Universität Berlin's reputation for excellence in research on China's environmental and digital governance, emphasizing the significance of this dialogue for fostering mutual understanding.

 

In his presentation, Dr. Zhang provided an overview of China's strategic framework for digital transformation and outlined key developments in the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain in environmental monitoring. He noted that China's central government has made significant progress in building a comprehensive environmental big data system, which has greatly enhanced regulatory efficiency.

 

Professor Kostka warmly welcomed the delegation and thanked Dr. Zhang for his insightful presentation. She shared updates on Germany's digital initiatives in environmental regulation, fostering a dynamic discussion on the challenges of digital transformation and its integration with environmental governance reform. The participants explored opportunities for academic collaboration and exchanged ideas on advancing innovations in environmental monitoring and management.

 

This event marked an important step in strengthening academic dialogue and mutual learning between Germany and China on digital governance in the environmental sector, paving the way for potential future collaborations.