At the end of September, China's top leadership announced
the goal for the industrial and economic giant to become carbon
neutral by 2060. As governments, corporations and individual
consumers increasingly raise alarms about the climate change
crisis, such an announcement is welcome, if surprising. Climate and
environment experts are inspired, though skepticism is an obvious
component of the response. To achieve such a lofty goal, the entire
economy would have to be transformed – how 1.4 billion people
eat, live, consume and contribute to the second largest economy in
the world will be turned on its head. How can this be achieved?
Last time China transformed its economy to reach unprecedented
highs in the 1980s was the reform and opening up scheme, relying
heavily on technology to drive progress. If an economy is to be
transformed again, why not turn to tech again? Intellectual
property is a known driver of advancements in technology, and
as China continues to build its
