News I iCET Team Conducts Field Research in Shanghai to Discuss Pathways for Green Fuels and Low-Carbon Transport Development
On July 31, 2025, a delegation from the Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation (iCET) conducted a field research trip to Shanghai, visiting the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange (SEEE) andthe Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission. The team held in-depth discussions with relevant government departments and institutions on carbon market development, green fuel trading, and pathways for low-carbon transportation.
During the morning session, the iCET team visited the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange for thematic discussions on the development of national and local carbon markets, mechanisms for green fuel trading, and the construction of low-carbon transport systems. SEEE representatives provided a comprehensive overview of the national carbon market’s progress, the development of Shanghai’s local “Carbon Inclusive” platform, and the city’s latest innovations in carbon finance and carbon management frameworks.
The two sides held focused discussions on carbon-market mechanism design for the shipping sector, as well as certification and trading pathways for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The iCET team outlined its current research priorities in green fuel policy, international mechanism alignment, and cross-sector cooperation, while SEEE shared its latest practices in advancing green fuel trading and building certification systems. The exchange laid a solid foundation for future collaboration in research and mechanism design.
In the afternoon, the iCET delegation met withthe Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission. Representatives from the Commission’s Shipping Division, Port Supervision Division, Comprehensive Transport Division, and Civil Aviation Division each introduced the key priorities in their respective fields.
The two sides exchanged views on several critical topics, including green fuel trading platforms, fuel-standard alignment, supply-chain assurance pathways, and differences in technological routes. They also discussed the development of green shipping corridors and the future of sustainable aviation fuel, identifying opportunities for deeper cooperation in areas such as pilot projects, pathway validation, and policy research.
Through this field research, the iCET team gained a deeper understanding of the application prospects of carbon-market mechanisms in the transportation sector and systematically reviewed Shanghai’s policy foundation and development trajectory in building an international shipping center and advancing green-fuel trading mechanisms.