On April 24, the China–Norway Green Transition and Maritime Forum 2026 was held in Shanghai, aiming to deepen cooperation between Norway and China in sustainable development and green transformation, while advancing a shared vision for a greener future.
The forum was one of the officially registered events of Shanghai Climate Week and served as a parallel forum for its flagship initiative, the “Climate Lighthouse Awards.” The event focused specifically on green transformation within the maritime sector. It provided a high-level dialogue platform to strengthen exchanges and cooperation among Chinese and Norwegian enterprises, institutions, and policymakers.
Representatives from government bodies and industry organizations from both countries participated in discussions across three major themes: macro-level green transformation, innovative industry solutions, and maritime-focused sustainability initiatives. The forum highlighted leading achievements in shipping decarbonization and green industrial development, while exploring how technologies, practical solutions, and strategic partnerships can further enhance bilateral industrial collaboration.
During the event, Zhang Yuquan, Associate Professor at the Sino-UK International Low Carbon College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, introduced the development framework of the marine economy under China’s dual-carbon goals. Meanwhile, Wikborg Rein, the century-old Norwegian law firm internationally recognized for its expertise in ESG and sustainability within the offshore engineering sector, delivered a comparative analysis of ESG regulations in the European Union and China through its Shanghai Managing Partner, Zong Le.
Several Norwegian companies also shared practical case studies and sustainability initiatives.
Global energy and risk management organization DNV highlighted its focus in China on green methanol, green ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuel. Norwegian biochemicals company Borregaard, founded in 1889, demonstrated how renewable raw materials can be used to produce advanced environmentally friendly biochemicals as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products.
Maritime company Ulstein presented its patented ship design technologies, widely adopted across different vessel types for their strong energy-saving and emissions-reduction performance. Höegh Autoliners shared how its fleet of environmentally advanced pure car and truck carriers achieves carbon intensity levels more than 20% below the industry fleet average.
“Norway has pioneered many leading policies and technologies in green transition and sustainable development,” said Song Tao, Consul General of Norway in Shanghai, while sharing Norway’s green transition experience with attendees. He emphasized that green transformation has become a core national priority for Norway. Through collaboration among government agencies, industries, and research institutions, Norway continues to accelerate its sustainability goals by jointly developing technologies, contributing to international and regional standards, and improving industrial energy efficiency and utilization.
Norway is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading countries in green transition, having accumulated systematic experience across several key sectors.
In energy, Norway’s electricity system is now nearly fully decarbonized, with approximately 98% of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, providing a strong foundation for industrial electrification and low-carbon transformation.
In transportation, Norway is among the world’s fastest adopters of electric vehicles, with fully electric vehicles accounting for more than 90% of new car sales.
Norway’s maritime leadership is particularly notable. Supported by a comprehensive industrial supply chain and long-term policy backing, the country was among the first to deploy electric ferries at scale while also advancing commercial exploration in hydrogen-powered vessels, ammonia-fueled ships, and shore power systems — providing valuable models for the global decarbonization of shipping.
Eric Wu, a board representative from a Norwegian chamber of commerce, noted that China and Norway can collaborate across nearly every industrial sector. He highlighted that both countries are leading the rapid electrification of global shipping fleets, while Norway has also become a key gateway for Chinese electric vehicle brands entering the European market.
Future cooperation opportunities may further expand into aquaculture, carbon capture and storage technologies, hydrogen energy, and the circular economy. He encouraged both sides to establish stronger cross-border partnerships and pursue cross-border investments to achieve shared economic and green transition goals. Chambers of commerce, he added, can continue to play an important role in strengthening mutual understanding and supporting the development of renewable and low-carbon growth models.
