From November 11 to 22, 2024, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. GEM was invited to attend and deliver multiple keynote speeches.

On the afternoon of November 15, the thematic side event “Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction: China in Action,” hosted by the National Energy Conservation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission of China and co-hosted by the International Cooperation Center, was successfully held at the China Pavilion. GEM Group Deputy General Manager Zhang Wei joint representatives from the China Association of Circular Economy, China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group and others for in-depth discussions on green transformation and sustainable industry cooperation. They called for global multinational recycling cooperation and cross-border carbon exchange and emphasized establishing internationally recognized recycling standards and carbon accounting methodologies. They also proposed building a model for a multinational, full lifecycle value chain model for power battery recycling in partnership with global counterparts.

GEM Group Vice General Manager Zhang Wei (second from right) shares GEM's green industry philosophy at the China Pavilion thematic side event

In her remarks, Zhang Wei highlighted that GEM began its battery recycling business in 2003 and fully launched power battery recycling in 2015. GEM Group currently holds the highest number of white-listed enterprises complying with the "Regulations on the Comprehensive Utilization of Used Power Batteries from New Energy Vehicles" in China (five in total). GEM has also established overseas recycling networks in regions including South Korea, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

In the field of "Tracing Carbon Footprints and Supporting Battery Passport" GEM has fully implemented product carbon footprint certification and battery passport initiatives. The company is a pioneer in developing a full-lifecycle information system for power batteries, ensuring traceable origins, monitorable destinations, and controllable nodes. GEM advocates for mandatory and comprehensive recycling of power batteries as a shared responsibility among automakers, battery manufacturers, consumers, and recyclers. The company sets high carbon emission standards as input requirements at the source, striving to avoid or minimize the use of high-carbon materials. It uses materials that are easy to recycle, designs structures that facilitate recycling, and adopts manufacturing processes that are conducive to recycling.

GEM's new energy full lifecycle value chain

During COP29, GEM Vice General Manager Zhang Wei, invited by the Vanke Foundation, delivered a keynote speech titled “Mining Urban Mines: Circular Economy Driving Indonesia's Low-Carbon Development.” She showcased GEM's three key initiatives in “Industry, Technology, and Culture Integration” in overseas operation in Indonesia:

1.Establishing a world-class “Technology + Intelligence + Green” QMB Lighthouse Factory in Indonesia, achieving 100% utilization of laterite nickel ore. The advanced hydrometallurgical process reduces emissions by 90% compared to traditional methods, contributing to Indonesia’s low-carbon development.

2.Collaborating with Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia and Central South University in China to establish the first China-Indonesia Joint Research Laboratory, creating a model for China-Indonesia technological and cultural exchange.

3.Initiating a China-Indonesia joint master's degree program and upgraded it to an engineering doctoral program. Gem Group launched the "Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand"("100 engineering PhDs, 1,000 engineering masters, and 10,000 engineering technicians") talent training program to promote technological and cultural cooperation and accelerate the development of high-end talent in metallurgy in Indonesia.

GEM Vice General Manager Zhang Wei delivers a keynote speech at the COP29 China Pavilion side event

During the thematic roundtable session “From Vulnerability to Resilience: Innovative Solutions for Climate-Impacted Cities”, Dr. Wang Yaning, Executive Deputy Director of the GEM (Shenzhen) Super Green Technology Research Institute, joined discussions with Chinese youth leaders and representatives from pioneering climate education organizations.

On the morning of November 19, at the “Proactively Managing Climate Risks and Building Low-Carbon Resilient Cities” side event at China Pavilion, Dr. Wang delivered a keynote speech titled “International Collaboration Promoting the Shift of New Energy from ‘Green’ to ‘Green’” discussing the opportunities and challenges in the field of power battery recycling and sharing GEM's advanced experiences in smart flexible disassembly, metal comprehensive recycling, and building recycling networks.

During the side event “Supporting the Fight Against Climate Change: Chines Civil Society Organizations in Action”, Dr. Wang participated in a roundtable discussion, using GEM’s “Open Factory” model as an example to showcase the company’s achievements in promoting green concepts to over 200,000 individuals from more than 30 countries and 4,500 organizations over the past decade.

Dr. Wang Yaning at the COP29 China Pavilion side event, sharing GEM's innovative solutions (third from the right)

By actively participating in the COP29 series of events, GEM showcased its proactive stance and commitment to addressing global climate change governance. The company highlighted its efforts and achievements in energy conserving and carbon reduction, while also opening new opportunities for international collaboration.