The intersection of climate policy and international trade is emerging as one of the most significant challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region. This issue was at the heart of the Carbon Economics Salon Series held in Shenzhen on June 16, which brought together almost 100 academics, government officials, and business representatives. The event took place shortly before the APEC Forestry Ministerial Meeting scheduled for July 27–28, where the region’s transition toward greener economic models is expected to receive considerable attention.

Under the theme “Breaking through Green Barriers: Carbon Economy Governance and the Reshaping of International Trade Rules,” the event was jointly organized by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) and the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at Peking University (ICN-PKU). Participants explored three closely related issues: the growing use of unilateral climate-related trade policies, disparities in the development of carbon markets, and the increasing application of artificial intelligence to carbon governance. These discussions also anticipated several issues likely to influence the broader APEC climate agenda later in the year.

During the opening session, Piao Shilong, vice president of Peking University and dean of ICN-PKU, together with Hai Wen, vice chair of the PKU Council and founding dean of PHBS, emphasized the need for a global carbon governance framework that is both coordinated and inclusive. Wang Pengfei, Boya Distinguished Professor at PKU and dean of PHBS, highlighted the importance of strengthening carbon pricing systems and expanding the use of market-oriented approaches to address emissions.

The keynote address was delivered by Thomas J. Sargent, the 2011 Nobel laureate in economics and honorary director of the PHBS Sargent Institute of Quantitative Economics and Finance. He argued that uncertainty surrounding climate and economic conditions should not delay action; instead, it should encourage earlier investment in green research and development, emissions mitigation, and forest preservation.

Jiang Kejun, professor and head of the Thrust of Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change at HKUST (Guangzhou), pointed to the period between 2030 and 2035 as a particularly important phase for China’s energy transformation, supported by the rapid expansion of renewable energy and electric vehicles. Wu Dengsheng, a professor at Shenzhen University, provided an overview of research in carbon economics and noted that China currently ranks second globally in terms of academic publications in the field.

Two roundtable discussions broadened the debate. The first focused on the increasing adoption of unilateral climate-related trade measures and the consequences these policies may have for fairness in international commerce. The second examined opportunities for cooperation on carbon markets, particularly in relation to countries and economies in the Global South. In his closing remarks, Zhang Haibin, Boya Distinguished Professor at PKU and vice dean of ICN-PKU, stressed the value of maintaining sustained dialogue and collaboration across academic and professional disciplines.

Overall, the salon demonstrated that carbon governance can no longer be viewed solely as an environmental issue. Trade policy, technological development, carbon markets, and international cooperation are becoming increasingly interconnected in shaping the global response to climate change. The event also provided a platform for PHBS and ICN-PKU to continue exchanging ideas on international climate governance and China’s “dual carbon” objectives. These issues are likely to gain further prominence as APEC economies expand their efforts toward coordinated climate action and a greener regional economy.

Like other groundbreaking technologies, artificial intelligence holds immense potential to reshape how we address some of the world’s most urgent problems. But to truly unlock its benefits, we must collaborate to ensure AI is applied in ways that are ethical, responsible, and inclusive.

As part of our ongoing mission to help close the data divide, Splunk works across industries to promote AI for social good. A key partner in this effort is Fast Forward, an organization dedicated to helping tech nonprofits grow and scale. Our long-standing collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to supporting mission-driven tech nonprofits, with a growing emphasis on those using AI to power positive change in the AI for Humanity movement.

Through funding and skills-based volunteering, Splunk proudly supports Fast Forward’s Accelerator and other programs, with our employees—“Splunkers”—sharing their expertise and feedback to help participating organizations thrive. Seven of Splunk’s strategic grantees are graduates of the Accelerator program, showing how our partnership helps innovative nonprofits expand their impact. Among these are two remarkable examples: Closegap and Ersilia.

“AI-powered nonprofits are proving that technology can be a force for good—tackling issues in health, climate, and education. With partners like Splunk, we can move this movement forward, creating solutions that keep humanity at the heart of innovation,” said Kevin Barenblat, Co-founder, Fast Forward.

Using AI to Detect Crises and Build Meaningful Connections
The youth mental health crisis has escalated in the last decade, and with school counseling resources stretched thin, too many young people go unnoticed. On average, there’s an 11-year gap between the onset of mental health challenges and intervention.

Closegap is working to bridge that gap by providing schools with free, engaging, and interactive mental health check-ins for K–12 students. Students answer questions about their mood, energy levels, and physical needs, and the results are instantly shared with school staff for timely support. These check-ins have uncovered issues ranging from mild distress to life-threatening situations, preventing suicides and uncovering incidents of self-harm, assault, and bullying. To date, Closegap has reached over 300,000 students across all 50 U.S. states, generating more than nine million check-ins.

AI is enabling Closegap to be even more effective. By applying deep learning techniques, the organization can better classify and prioritize student needs, allowing staff to respond faster. Large language models (LLMs) are used to trigger crisis alerts and draft personalized messages to students seeking help. These tools not only speed up intervention but also allow educators to build trust and address root causes—such as stress and conflict—helping foster healthier, more supportive school environments.

Accelerating Drug Discovery in Africa with AI/ML
Africa bears a heavy burden of communicable diseases, compounded by limited healthcare infrastructure and underfunded drug research. To address this, Splunk social impact partner Ersilia is transforming how infectious diseases are fought by equipping African scientists with cutting-edge AI/ML tools through its Open Source Initiative.

With Splunk’s funding, technology, and expert support, Ersilia has improved drug discovery workflows and empowered local research teams. Our collaboration has helped Ersilia save over 700 hours of manual work each year, achieve a tenfold improvement in identifying antimalarial drug candidates, and train more than 150 scientists—highlighted by its “AI for Drug Discovery” workshop in Ghana.

A centerpiece of this work is the Ersilia Model Hub—an open-source, low-code platform offering pre-trained AI/ML models specifically for neglected and infectious disease research. Splunk has enhanced the Hub’s analytics and monitoring features, enabling better tracking of model use and performance as Ersilia moves from internal testing to full deployment in under-resourced settings across the Global South.

Ersilia’s impact extends beyond Africa, partnering with institutions in South America and globally, such as the H3D Centre in South Africa and the University of Buea in Cameroon. Together, we’re advancing Ersilia’s mission to democratize access to AI technology, strengthen local research capacity, and address global health inequities.

Building a Human-Centered Future, Together
Closegap and Ersilia demonstrate the extraordinary results possible when AI is applied with purpose. Across the nonprofit sector, organizations are racing to harness AI’s potential, but as Fast Forward’s Kevin Barenblat emphasizes, transformative impact rarely happens in isolation:
“We’re witnessing a wave of nonprofits using AI to take on global challenges. But building lasting solutions requires strong partnerships. By supporting AI-powered nonprofits, more companies can help shape a future where innovation serves humanity.”

Click here to know more.