Energy & Climate Diplomacy

The Challenge:

Global cooperation on energy and climate issues continues to fall short of the ambition and direction needed to align development pathways with the 1.5°C goal, especially when it comes to collaboration among Global South countries. Bilateral and multilateral engagements must evolve to reflect the actual needs of these nations. For instance, while China's solar technology has enabled Pakistan's renewable energy boom, these partnerships could unlock far greater potential. Even in the renewable energy space, its partnerships remain trapped in outdated models focused on large infrastructure projects rather than the technology transfer and financing mechanisms that Pakistan actually need for clean energy transitions.

Our Work:

The Energy and Climate Diplomacy Program seeks to redefine international energy partnerships, especially with China, by shifting from hardware exports to strategic collaboration that enables local manufacturing, technology transfer, and green finance flows. The program facilitates high-level dialogues between political leadership, think tanks, and business communities to reframe energy partnerships around shared clean energy goals rather than traditional infrastructure deals. Through business-to-business matchmaking events and policy advocacy, the program connects Chinese green finance institutions with local ecosystems while moving relationships beyond simple import-export toward joint ventures and technology localization. By demonstrating how strategic partnerships can accelerate clean energy transitions while creating economic benefits for all parties, this work establishes a new model for South-South cooperation that other developing economies can replicate.