On January 9, 2024, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) held a meeting in Beijing to advance research into the science and path for transitioning to carbon neutrality in China's coal industry.

Li Xiaohong, President of the CAE, and several CAE members joined the meeting, presided over by the project’s head Yuan Liang, also a CAE member.

The project has achieved seven major results across five aspects – the foundation, ideas, goals, pathways, and policy recommendations. The research suggests that steps toward carbon neutrality in the coal industry should adhere to the new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and concentrate on major challenges in constructing a scientific system.

With high expectations for the project, Li pointed out that the coal industry should seek its own development and enhance utilization of clean energy and efficiency. The strategic scientific system for the coal industry must highlight the technological system, sort out the key technologies for development, and identify the technological challenges to be addressed urgently.