Themed: 2025 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference & First Green Industries and Sustainable Consumption Expo The 2025 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference took place from October 16 to 18 in the Expo Park of Huangpu District, Shanghai. Laszlo Miklosh, former Dean of the Budapest Business School’s Entrepreneurial and Business Doctorate Program, attended and delivered a speech.
Miklosh mentioned that the United States recently announced its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which is expected to take effect in January 2026. He believes that, from the perspective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's initiative of "reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting solutions through negotiation," this move by the U.S. may aim to influence the negotiation process rather than completely exit relevant discussions. However, it will still have three key impacts and controversies. Firstly, the difficulty of achieving global emission reduction targets will increase. The U.S. withdrawal may weaken the motivation for countries to adopt proactive emission reduction measures, thereby slowing the global reduction process. Secondly, investments related to green transitions may decline or even disappear, impacting the development of the global green economy. Thirdly, the emission reduction gap left by the U.S. may need to be filled by major economies such as the European Union and China.
He further points out that there are significant differences in energy development directions between the U.S. and the EU/China: the U.S. is more inclined towards fossil fuels, while the EU and China show higher enthusiasm for the development of green energy and green economy.
In response to this situation, Miklosh proposed several suggestions: the EU should further strengthen its role and status within the Paris Agreement, adhering to commitments regarding green transitions and carbon neutrality goals; it also needs to promote the enhancement of the Paris Climate Agreement's framework, such as by deepening discussions and building a more robust implementation framework through next month's related meetings in Brazil.
Additionally, there should be efforts to create successful models of green transition to promote the green economy and technology, support underdeveloped and developing countries in achieving green transitions, and strengthen international cooperation, particularly suggesting that the EU and China deepen consultations to foster common development.
Miklosh specifically noted that the EU's green transition framework agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, and there is significant cooperation potential in the green sector between China and the EU. Observations indicate that China has recently invested $2.3 billion in green projects within developing countries, aiding local green economic development; this practice provides a replicable investment model for the EU and lays a foundation for further cooperation between both parties.
He emphasized that such positive factors will guide global green transitions and foster a greater collective effort within the international community to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development.