Shanghai Climate Week Launches “Climate Beacon”: SDA Co-hosts AI & Sustainability Forum
Global Insights Converge to Explore a Green, Digital, and Intelligent Future
(April 23, 2025, Shanghai, China) – The “New Trends in Sustainable Development in the Age of AI” forum, jointly hosted by the Shanghai International Climate Week Steering Committee, Merck China, and AUO Digital, successfully concluded. As one of the co-organizers, Sustainable Development Asia (SDA) was honored to participate in this Climate Lighthouse initiative, joining partners like Digital Transformation Network to explore innovative approaches where AI technology drives green transformation.
Mr. An Shi, President, Rockwell Automation (China) Co., Ltd.
Ms. Jie Guan, Executive Secretary-General, Shanghai International Climate Week Steering Committee
Technology Ascending: AI’s Ecological Awakening
Professor Li Yi (Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences) proposed that AI is undergoing a transformation from an “efficiency tool” to an “ecological partner.” In fields like industry, healthcare, and transportation, generative AI is no longer limited to point optimization but is deeply involved in complex systems – from shortening drug R&D cycles to balancing energy networks. The boundaries of technology are gradually merging with ecological value.
Corporate Practices: From Lab to Production Site
Dr. Tan Feng, Senior AI Scientist, Merck China:
Generative AI Drug Design Platform: Accelerates small molecule compound screening, shortening early drug discovery cycles.
Global R&D Knowledge Base: Integrates data from labs in multiple countries, enhancing cross-team collaboration efficiency.
Intelligent Quality Inspection Optimization: AI-assisted drug production quality detection reduces manual review costs.
Ms. Zhao Lina,
Industrial Metaverse Practice: Builds full lifecycle management models for factories using digital twin technology, enabling dynamic monitoring and optimization of production energy consumption.
Intelligent Predictive Maintenance: Predicts equipment status based on AI algorithms, reducing unplanned downtime and optimizing maintenance resource allocation.
Organization-wide AI Capability Building: Systematically trains engineers in intelligent tool methodologies, accelerating technological innovation and patent conversion efficiency.
Roundtable 1: Best Practices in AI-Enabled Sustainable Industry Development
(Moderator: Ms. Qu Yi, Merck China Electronics Strategy Head, SDA Electronics Technology Council Chair)
Mr. Zhang Yu, Jiushi Intelligent Technology (Autonomous Driving): Focused on logistics scenarios, optimizing cold chain transport efficiency via AI path planning algorithms to reduce energy waste.
Ms. Pan Jianzhuo, Jiran Think Tank Vice Chairperson, Jiran Sustainable Brand Research Institute CEO (Sustainable Finance): Highlighted challenges in ESG data collection for SMEs, exploring AI-enabled low-cost carbon footprint assessment tools.
Mr. Zhu Taiping, NIO Digital Experience Product Head (Smart Cockpit): Shared how in-car AI guides user energy-saving driving behavior through emotional interaction.
Ms. Tian Cong, Philips China Research Institute Principal Researcher (Medical Tech): Discussed AI applications in medical device energy management, helping hospitals achieve green operations.
Mr. Zheng Jiawei, AISpeech Meeting & Office AI Ecosystem Head (Smart Meetings): Analyzed the potential of speech recognition and multimodal data integration for reducing carbon emissions from remote work.
Roundtable 2: AI + Sustainable Supply Chain
(Moderator: Mr. Xu Zaiqi, Chair, Sustainable Development Asia)
Mr. Xing Ge, Envision Smart Zero-Carbon Business Development General Manager (Zero-Carbon Solutions): Introduced an AIoT platform for real-time monitoring and dynamic optimization of supplier carbon data.
Mr. Hu Jin, AWS Power, Energy & Utilities Industry Director (Energy Sector): Shared the data-driven model behind “Climate Pledge Friendly” labeled products, promoting collaborative carbon reduction between consumers and suppliers.
Mr. Jiang Zhixuan, IDC China Central Region Business Head (Industry Research): Proposed a supply chain digital maturity assessment framework, emphasizing the need for deep coupling between AI and business processes.
Mr. Dong Peng, Rockwell Automation China ESG & Sustainable Business Head (Smart Manufacturing): Showcased practical pathways where digital twin technology shortens delivery cycles and reduces resource consumption.
Mr. Peng Dong, Head of ESG and Sustainable Business, Rockwell Automation China
Gratitude and Outlook
Whether from the macro industry perspective or micro supply chain practices, the integration of AI and sustainable development is an unstoppable trend. Grateful for the trust and collaboration of partners like Merck China, Rockwell Automation, AUO Digital, and NIO, SDA was able to deeply participate in this Climate Week event, jointly advancing the practical implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Moving forward, we will continue to adopt a learner’s mindset, working with global partners to translate the forum’s consensus into replicable industry actions, contributing Asian wisdom to sustainable development.
Join us. Let every conversation mark the beginning of change!