LONGi and IUCN Partner to Advance Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation with Solar Power
At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11th to 22nd, 2024, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a leading global solar technology company, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) unveiled a significant joint initiative: “Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation with Photovoltaic.” This collaboration marks a crucial step towards integrating climate change mitigation with the urgent need for biodiversity protection.
The event was attended by key figures, including LONGi’s Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zhang Haimeng, IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis, and Ant Group Director of Sustainable Development Wang Xiaoying. Their presence underscored the importance of this collaborative effort in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report identifying these as three major global environmental issues (climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution).
LONGi’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond greenhouse gas emission reductions. The company recognizes that renewable energy innovation is vital for safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity. Building upon three years of releasing Climate Action White Papers at COP conferences (starting in 2021), LONGi has elevated its corporate climate action by integrating it directly with biodiversity conservation efforts through this new initiative with the IUCN.
This groundbreaking initiative calls for companies to actively adopt and implement climate and biodiversity protection measures aligned with international standards and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). These include the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The initiative encourages best practices in renewable energy project development, emphasizing environmentally friendly design, construction, and operation. It promotes improved energy efficiency, increased clean energy use, and the establishment of a strong corporate culture focused on biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the initiative advocates for enhanced international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of successful global best practices through strategic partnerships.
IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis praised LONGi’s proactive response to IUCN guidelines on the biodiversity impact of solar energy projects. He expressed confidence that this initiative would inspire broader industry and societal action, encouraging greater participation in renewable energy development while minimizing environmental impact. He emphasized the initiative’s potential to motivate more companies and organizations to join this critical effort.
LONGi’s dedication to biodiversity conservation is evident in their actions since COP15 (2021). At COP28, LONGi launched its “Zero-Carbon Life Plan for Pandas,” donating a distributed photovoltaic power station to the Qinling Giant Panda Conservation and Breeding Research Base in Foping, symbolically adopting a Qinling giant panda, and providing photovoltaic products and off-grid technology for wildlife monitoring in the protected area. Previous initiatives include a 2022 donation of photovoltaic modules to the Acquila Wildlife Conservation Base in South Africa, providing both electricity and clean water sources. In China, LONGi has implemented a successful “Solar + Tea Complementary Project” model in Duyun City, Guizhou Province, and Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, integrating solar power into traditional tea gardens. Furthermore, two photovoltaic power stations (336kW and 338kW) were built in the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia, showcasing how solar power can support green ecological development in arid regions through innovative “generating electricity on the panels, planting under the panels, and breeding between the panels” approach.
Zhang Haimeng highlighted the invaluable expertise, international network, and global experience of the IUCN, stating that this partnership refines and accelerates LONGi’s biodiversity practices. The collaboration aims to raise global awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation, drawing inspiration from successful projects like Ant Group’s “Ant Forest.” LONGi’s green energy solutions will provide effective support for IUCN’s conservation efforts. Zhang Haimeng concluded with a powerful call to action: “All things grow, and life is continuous. We call on humanity to join hands in protecting the Earth’s biodiversity and achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This is not just an initiative, but a call to action, looking forward to everyone contributing to the protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of ecological balance.”
About LONGi
Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being a world-leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full-scenario energy transformation. Under its mission of ‘making the best of solar energy to build a green world’, LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers, cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions, and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has recently embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero-carbon development. Learn more at www.longi.com
