Peter Bakker (L), President of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCDS), speaks during a press conference at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, on Sept. 8, 2012. (Xinhua/Park Jin-hee)
Bakker highlighted China's role as a major manufacturing hub, a fast-growing innovation ecosystem, and a leader in scaling clean technologies, noting that "these capabilities are shaping global decarbonization pathways."
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has emerged as an essential actor in the global sustainability transition and is poised to play an important role in the next phase of sustainable development, according to Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
In a written interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Bakker identified three converging global risks: physical climate impacts disrupting productivity and investment, geopolitical fragmentation straining trade and value chains, and rapid technological change like artificial intelligence (AI) outpacing governance and workforce adaptation.
He said that the priority for the global economic community is to align capital, policy, and business action to accelerate low-carbon transitions, integrate nature-positive strategies, and mainstream circular business models.
China is the representative economy currently undergoing a successful transformation, Bakker said. He highlighted its triple role as a major manufacturing hub, a fast-growing innovation ecosystem, and a leader in scaling clean technologies, noting that "these capabilities are shaping global decarbonization pathways."
A drone photo shows staff members of State Grid Bortala Electric Power Supply Company patrolling near Sayram Lake scenic area to ensure power supply in Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 17, 2025. Nestled in the Tianshan Mountains, Sayram Lake -- Xinjiang's highest and largest alpine lake -- has emerged as a trailblazer in sustainable tourism after achieving full renewable-powered operations in July 2022. The pristine lake, a key ecological and cultural asset, has seen visitor numbers climb steadily ever since. (Photo by Yin Tianjie/Xinhua)
The WBCSD was established in 1995 and comprises over 200 multinational companies. Bakker emphasized China's growing engagement in international collaboration, such as through the "Two Lakes Dialogue," where Chinese companies show a strong commitment to sharing best practices, co-developing solutions and connecting innovation with global markets.
Bakker expressed confidence that China will play an important role in the next phase of sustainable development, not only in delivering its own transition, but in enabling global implementation at scale.
Commenting on the World Economic Forum's theme, "A Spirit of Dialogue," Bakker said, "The spirit of dialogue is most lacking where trust has eroded - between geopolitics and markets, between short-term pressures and long-term priorities, and between ambition and implementation."
Bakker called on all countries to strengthen dialogue through clearer policy signals and investing in cooperation, even in a more contested world, stressing that "sustained dialogue is not optional - it is an economic necessity."
This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
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