Environmental expert and founder of People of Asia for Climate Solutions (PACS) Xiaojun Wang joined The Chatroom with Shizza Jasmin to discuss Pakistan's rapid shift toward solar power, the country's clean energy potential and how deeper cooperation with China could support the next stage of the transition.
Wang said Pakistan's growing solar capacity presents an opportunity to move beyond importing renewable energy technology and develop greater expertise in research, development and manufacturing.
"Pakistan could become the next model where China and Pakistan can collaborate in research and development of the renewable energy industry, not just the manufacturing," he said.
The conversation also examined the future of Pakistan's coal infrastructure as solar power expands.
Wang called for what he described as a greener approach to CPEC 2.0, including the early retirement of existing coal plants that could face increasing economic pressure as renewable energy becomes more competitive.
"What I'm talking about is early retirement of existing coal fleets in Pakistan," Wang said, arguing that continued investment in coal could leave some assets at risk of becoming stranded investments.
Wang also highlighted the potential for Pakistan's young population to contribute to emerging clean-energy industries, including battery storage, electric vehicles and other technologies.
He said stronger education, research and technology partnerships with China could help develop the skills needed for these sectors.
Beyond emissions reduction, Wang said the energy transition should also give households and communities greater control over how they produce and consume electricity.
"I think it's energy democracy we're looking for," he said, pointing to the potential of solar power to allow households and countries to generate more of their own electricity and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The discussion further explored battery storage, electric vehicles, green hydrogen and the broader opportunities emerging from the global clean-energy transition, with Wang arguing that the shift toward renewable technologies is already underway rather than a distant prospect.
Watch the full episode of The Chatroom with Shizza for the complete conversation.
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