The 2025 Global Green Development Summit successfully held at Stanford University.
On August 2, 2025, the 2025 Global Green Development Summit (GGDS), hosted by the Global Green Development Alliance (GLOGDA), was successfully held at the Faculty Club of Stanford University, USA. Leaders in artificial intelligence, electric power, and sustainable development gathered to jointly advance the vision of a carbon-neutral future.
With the theme “Energy Transition and Innovation for Carbon Neutrality: Energy Innovation and AI for Green Future,” the summit brought together experts and representatives from academia, government, the energy industry, technology investment, and young leaders to engage in in-depth discussions on the low-carbon economy and smart energy.
The 2025 GGDS featured a rich agenda, including the opening ceremony, keynote speeches, two super sessions, seven roundtable forums, and the student competition awards ceremony, providing participants with a high-level platform for exchanging cutting-edge ideas and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Opening Ceremony
Representatives from government, industry, and academia worked together to make the event a resounding success.
The summit was co-hosted by Xiaofeng Zhang, President of the Global Green Development Alliance, along with April Zheng and Edward Chen, Vice Presidents of the GLOGDA.
Xiaofeng Zhang, President of the GLOGDA and Chair of 2025 GGDS, opened the summit with a brief introduction to the development of the Global Green Development Alliance (GLOGDA) and the Global Green Development Summit. She highlighted that this year’s event would focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy transition, aiming to further integrate technology with sustainability.
Dr. Peng Fang, chair of the Global Green Development Alliance, delivered an Open Remark on the theme of “Energy Transition and Innovation for Carbon Neutrality.” He emphasized the Alliance’s commitment to uniting global intelligence and resources to promote the sharing and practical application of green technology achievements. He noted that the integration of AI and green energy will profoundly shape humanity’s development trajectory over the next decade.
As a special guest of the summit, Lengyang Zhang, a representee of Jianmin Zhang, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco, extended the warmest congratulations on the 2025 GGDS and delivered a letter of congratulations. She emphasized China’s firm commitment to achieving its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, as well as its active engagement in global green energy cooperation to help address climate change.
Dr. Jianqing Zhang, President of Chinese Hospital in San Francisco, delivered her open remark. On behalf of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, she presented honorary certificates from the Stage of California to Dr. Peng Fang, Chair of the Global Green Development Alliance, and Xiaofeng Zhang, President of the Alliance, in recognition of the outstanding contributions made by the organization and individuals in the fields of green energy, technological innovation, and sustainable social development.
Several local government leaders from the San Francisco Bay Area also attended the summit to express their support and congratulations. Liang Chao, Mayor Cupertino city, stated that the city will continue to advance the local implementation of clean energy policies. Yan Zhao, former Mayor of Saratoga, emphasized that city leaders bear an unshrinkable responsibility in promoting green transitions and expressed hope for greater international cooperation to build a better planet together. Haiwang Zhong, Associate Professor from Tsinghua University delivered remarks on behalf of Professor Chongqing Kang, Dean of the Electrical Engineering Department.
Keynote Speeches and Super Sessions
From Carbon Neutrality to AI-Enabled Innovation
In the morning, the two Super Sessions focused on “Energy Transition and Carbon Neutrality Pathways” and “AI-Driven Green Energy and Investment”, highlighting how artificial intelligence can facilitate energy transition and advance green finance practices.
In the first Super Sesion, “Energy Transition and Innovation for Carbon Neutrality,” Yi Cui, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Professor at Stanford University, and Alex Papalexopoulos, Chairman and CEO of ZOME Energy, shared insights on how the electricity market can addrss the challenges posed by renewable energy, the transformative trends in clean energy technologies, and the role of policy guidance mechanisms.
In the super session one, our distinguished speakers included Nan Zhou, Senior Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley; Qing Tian, Special Advisor of the California Energy Commission; Haiwang Zhong, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University; and Zhen Dong, Senior Research Scientist at NVIDIA and Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They engaged in a multi-faceted discussion on the electricity market, renewable energy, energy storage, and how the growing power demand from data centers impacts the development of smart grids.
The Super Session two, “AI for Green Energy and Investments,” focused on the significant energy demands brought by artificial intelligence, which are driving a surge in green finance and sustainable investment. Richard Dasher, Director of the Asia America Technology Management Center, Stanford University, and Hing Wong, Managing Director at Walden International, delivered keynote speeches highlighting AI’s potential and emerging trends in bringing innovative projects to fruition. They emphasized that in the AI + energy boom, electricity markets and community energy systems will play an increasingly important role, while sustainable investment will serve as a powerful catalyst.
The subsequent roundtable discussion was moderated by Edward Chen, Vice President of GLOGDA and Co-Chair of the Youth Division. Patrick Burt, Council Member / Former Mayor, City of Palo Alto; Maggie Pei, CEO of Golden Phoenix Management Consulting, and Sue Xu, Partner at Amino Capital, shared in-depth insights on policy alignment, the global new energy market, and AI venture capital trends.
Celebrating Youth Excellence:
Student Poster Competition Award Ceremony
First Prize Winner of the Student Poster Competition: Tao Sun, Postdoctoral at Stanford University
Mid-morning, the organizers held the Green Technology Student Poster Competition award ceremony. Dr. Peng Fang, Chair of the Global Green Development Alliance, and Xiaofeng Zhang, President of the Alliance, joined distinguished guests in presenting certificates and prizes to six outstanding student winners in attendance. The awards recognized their innovative thinking and research potential in the fields of clean energy, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. Attendees praised the winning posters for their forward-looking vision and practical value, as well as the vibrant spirit and talent of these young scholars.
The judging panel for the Student Poster Competition included:
Yu Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Guangyi Liu, Chief Scientist of Univers Inc.
Minyou Chen, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University，Senior Member of IEEE
Chunhua Wang, Vice President of the Global Green Development Alliance, ex-Meta Camera and Depth System Hardware Engineer/Technical Lead
The Student Poster Competition winners were as follows:
Outstanding Award (1): Jiahao Ma, The University of Hong Kong
First Prize (2): Tao Sun, Stanford University; Zekuan Yu, Tsinghua University
Second Prize (4): Yiwen Zhang, Johns Hopkins University; Ziyue Li, Tsinghua University; Lujie Zou, Tsinghua University; Yehui Li, The University of Hong Kong
The High School Student Poster Competition winners were as follows:
First Prize (2): Ellie Shen, Stanford Online High School; Jessie Tian, Mira Loma High School
Second Prize (1): Kristin Anh, Willcox High School
Encouragement Award (1): Veronica Wang, Dover Sherborn High School
Afternoon Forums:
Diverse Topics Converge, Cross-Sector Collaboration in the Spotlight
Afternoon Roundtable Forums: Diverse Topics Converge, Cross-Sector Collaboration in the Spotlight
The afternoon sessions centered on the deep integration of energy transition and artificial intelligence, featuring seven roundtable forums. These discussions brought together experts and scholars from Stanford University, the University of California, Davis; UC Santa Cruz, the University of Hong Kong, IBM, PG&E, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and other leading companies and institutions. Representatives from the renewable energy, AI, and green finance sectors, as well as industry associations, engaged in high-quality dialogues and dynamic exchanges of ideas.
In the “Community Energy Systems and Electricity Markets” forum, chaired by Prof. Qin Wang, Associate Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Senior Vice President of GLOGDA, distinguished speakers included Prof. Haoyong Chen from South China University of Technology; Zhijun Xie, Senior Advisor at the California Independent System Operator (CAISO); Assoc. Prof. Haiwang Zhong from Tsinghua University; Prof. Yu Zhang from the University of California, Santa Cruz; Asst. Prof. Yi Wang from the University of Hong Kong; and Maxine Fu, Founder and CEO of Shanghai Yoi Energy. The discussion delved into community energy mechanisms, the integration of renewable energy in electricity markets, local market reforms, and strategies to enhance user participation.
The “Renewable Energy and Energy Storage” forum, moderated by Dr. Guozhong Zhou, Senior Vice President of GLOGDA, focused on the critical role of energy storage in the clean energy system. The panelists included Guangyi Liu, Chief Scientist of Univers Inc.; Gang Xiong, Director of California Technology Center, First Solar, Inc.; Xiao Yan, Founder of Maxson Energy & Voda Research Institute; Cong Chen, Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University and Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College; and Qing Tian, Special Advisor of the California Energy Commission. They discussed feasible solutions from multiple perspectives, including technology, business models, and policy support.
At the “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Energy Systems” forum, the session was moderated by Maiyue Cheng, Managing Partner of CT Green Capital and Founding Member of the Wuzhen Think Tank. The speakers included Lei Chen, CEO of Beijing Boya Smart Technology Co. Ltd; Charlie Zha, Principal Program Manager, Digital innovation Lab, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Zong Lin, Sr. Scientist, IBM Almaden Center; Maggie Xiao, Founder of Realpolitik in Tech; Xinwei Shen, Associate Prof. & Principle Investigator, Institute for Ocean Engineering (IOE), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS); and Tyler Suard, Senior AI Researcher and Development Expert at Parker Hannifin.
The panel explored how AI can play a transformative role in power dispatch, energy forecasting, and system operation and maintenance.
The “AI Empowering Education and Innovation” forum was co-chaired by Lily Yi, Chief Reporter at World Journal, San Francisco, and April Zheng, Vice President of GLOGDA, focusing on how AI technology can reshape the education system and enhance research efficiency. The keynote speech was delivered by Shanglong Li, AI blogger, best-selling author and founder of Hangzhou Origin Technology, which sparked enthusiastic responses.
The panel discussion featured Yule Zhang, Founder and CEO of Star Group; Jing Zhu, Engineering Leader at Rippling, ex-Amazon; John Li, Senior Staff of Stanford University and Adjunct Professor at California Institute of Technology; and David Topolewski, Chief Experience Officer of Hyera Inc. They shared innovative perspectives ranging from AI talent cultivation to entrepreneurship incubation models.
The “Smart Transportation and Quality Management” forum was chaired by Yunshi Wang, Director of China Center for Energy and Transportation, UC Davis, focusing on emission reduction pathways for traditional industries and transportation systems under the carbon neutrality framework.The panelists included Zhenhua Ding, Former Chairman of Dongfang Electronics Co., Ltd; Guanghui Wang, President of the China Association for Water and Electricity Quality Management; Chuangxin Guo, Professor at Zhejiang University and Standing Director of CSEE; Wei Wang, CEO of ROBOStreet; Zuyi Li, Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology; Shen Wang, CEO of SAFPAC Ltd; and Jianqi Zhou, Deputy Chief Engineer at State Grid Jiaxing Power Supply Company and expert at Jiaxing Development and Reform Commission. They engaged in pragmatic discussions on smart transportation, quality management, standardization systems, and industrial collaborative decarbonization. Notably, participants affectionately described their experience at this forum as “Grateful to meet at Stanford, and setting sail to ride the waves forward.”
The “Women in Green Sustainable Development” forum, moderated by Eva Lu, Vice President of GLOGDA, aimed to showcase the unique value of women in green technology, public affairs, and corporate transformation.
Panelists included Ruomei Li, former Secretary General of the CSEE and former Chair of IEEE PES Women in Power; Zhenfeng Zhang, CEO of Estable Power and Vice President of the Jiangsu Women Entrepreneurs Association; Chunyan Zang, Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Minna Xu, Cupertino Library Commissioner, Former Chair of Cupertino Park and Recreation Commission; Kimberly Wiefling, Silicon Valley business consultant; and Tianli Feng, Associate Professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and visiting scholar at the Stanford Center on China’s Economic and Institutions.
From a female perspective, they examined how women’s leadership can empower green and sustainable development.
The final session, the “Young Professional Annual Forum for Entrepreneur and Leadership” was moderated by Edward Chen, Vice President of GLOGDA and Chair of its Youth Division. The forum highlighted the growth and breakthroughs of young people in driving green innovation and shaping social impact.
Speakers included Ye Zheng, Associate Consultant, Energy & Environmental Economics; Zoey Zheng, Founder of Life Artist, Conscious Leadership Coach (ICF PCC); Liwei Yang, Master’s student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and Project Dev. & Financing at MOL Switch; Tao Sun, Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University; Eve Zhang, MS Candidate in Geography and Env. Engineering at Johns Hopkins University; and Ellie Shen, Chair of the GLOGDA Junior Division and first-prize winner of the high school poster competition.
They shared unique insights drawn from hands-on experience in youth-led technology startups, green project implementation, and leadership development.
It is worth highlighting that the remarkable performances of women leaders and young innovators in their dedicated forums drew rounds of applause, fully demonstrating the indispensable role of emerging forces and intergenerational wisdom in the process of green transition.
Fashion Shows for Green Environment
Style Now’s Innovations in AI and Fashion
The grand finale of the conference featured a fashion show led by China-US Fashion Week founder Kerry Yu, blending green and eco-friendly concepts. Tina Tsou, Board Director of StyleNow.Ai, presented innovations in AI-driven fashion selection, infusing the summit with a unique charm of art and sustainable fashion.
Thought Shapes the Course, Action Shapes the Future
The 2025 Global Green Development Summit, marked by a high level of intellectual depth and a spirit of pragmatic cooperation, offered a profound response to the pressing global imperatives of energy transition and climate governance. The conference highlighted the pivotal roles of technological innovation, educational empowerment, and cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable future, reaffirming the ample space for dialogue and the potential for cooperation between China, the United States, and the broader international community on green development issues.
With all guests gathering for a solemn group photo at Stanford University, the summit concluded successfully. We look forward to reuniting at the 2026 Global Green Development Summit to jointly open a new chapter in building a green future.
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About Global Green Development Alliance (GLOGDA, www.glogda.org):
Global Green Development Alliance (GLOGDA) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Focused on global clean energy, climate change and public health, we endeavor to reshape the world with cleaner energy, better healthcare, and a healthier environment. We organize international dialogues, conferences, webinars, etc. We have also established a Young Professional Division for leadership development to train rising stars and entrepreneurs. We engage in projects to address sustainable development agendas and promote collaborations among NGOs, governments, industries, and academia globally. We operate exclusively for Community Services and Educational purposes.
Typesetting: Zonghan Li
Review: Xiaofeng Zhang
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