WRI expert praises SZ's leadership in low-carbon innovation

At the International Bay Area Green and Low-Carbon Development Forum, held as part of the Shenzhen Low-Carbon Forum, Laura Van Wie McGrory, Global Engagement Lead for Clean Energy at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition, expressed deep admiration for Shenzhen’s achievements in sustainable urban transformation and its role as a global model for green innovation.

Laura Van Wie McGrory delivers a speech at  the International Bay Area Green and Low-Carbon Development Forum. Liu Xudong

“It’s always very inspiring to see the achievements of cities like Shenzhen, which is really far ahead of most cities in the world on a lot of things,” McGrory said. “This forum is a perfect example of how people at the local, state, and think tank levels are coming together, eager to help each other achieve what the world needs in terms of sustainability and low carbon development.”

She said the Shenzhen forum provided a valuable platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among international cities facing similar challenges in transitioning to clean energy. “Everyone here seems very eager to collaborate and share lessons learned,” she added. “It’s that spirit of cooperation that will accelerate the global energy transition.”

McGrory highlighted Shenzhen’s pioneering role in integrating renewable energy into urban systems, particularly through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

“Shenzhen is a great example,” she said. “Electric vehicles don’t just increase the load—they also offer a new way to make city grids more resilient.”

For McGrory, the Shenzhen forum reaffirmed the power of global collaboration in addressing shared challenges. “Even in complicated times, it’s encouraging to see experts, governments, and innovators all pulling in the same direction,” she said. “The spirit of cooperation here in Shenzhen gives me real hope that cities around the world can learn from one another and accelerate the path toward a sustainable future.”