Peggy Liu is an internationally recognized expert on China's energy landscape, speaking around the world on the lessons she has learnt in tackling China's toughest environmental challenges: pollution, urbanization, epidemics, drought, obesity and diabetes.
Peggy is a leading environmentalist at the heart of the greening of China since 2007. Named the "Green Goddess of China" by the Chinese press, she travels the world to consult companies and governments on how to catalyze societal-scale change, scale sustainable innovation, and collaborate with China.
Peggy's superpower is bringing people together to bring in a better future faster. Peggy's "Tornado Leadership" methodology draws from her work across policy, economic, technical, and spiritual realms to lead these China-wide changes:
- Organized the MIT Forum on the Future of Energy in China from which JUCCCE was formed. This forum was the first public dialogue between US and Chinese government officials on clean energy in China, just as China was just starting to look seriously at greening itself. China quickly became the world leader in renewable energy investments.
- Introduced Smart Grid to China and catalyzed the revolution of electricity distribution to allow for renewable energies and energy efficiency at scale. Now China is the world leader in implementing Smart Grid innovations.
- Educated 1000 Chinese government leaders (mayors and central government) on how to build sustainable cities with the earliest training on "ecocity development". This curriculum helped shape eco-city trends in China. Now China is leading the world in building sustainable cities.
- Catalysed China’s change from incandescent lighting to energy-efficient lighting, the largest leverage point in saving energy. Now China is the world leader in LEDs.
- Created the China Dream initiative in 2010 to reimagine prosperity for sustainable consumerism. "China Dream" is now the national slogan. A healthy environment is now embedded into the national priority and identity of China.
- Launched Food Heroes in 2013, teaching young kids and parents to eat in a way that is good for themselves and the planet. Now China's diets are incorporating more planetary friendly foods and food waste policies are strictly implemented.
Peggy is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. She was awarded the "Nobel" of climate change, the "Hillary Step". The Economist called her "one of the most innovative thinkers in Asia." Previously, she was a venture capitalist and founded one of the earliest ecommerce companies in Silicon Valley. A "Red Herring" cover story dubbed her an "Internet Pioneer". She started her career as an MIT-trained engineer and McKinsey consultant.
Peggy dedicates her life to personal and planetary health. She believes that the most helpful skill is heart-based storytelling, and that cultural translators will have the most important roles of the next generation.
Speaking topics
The China Dream.
The path to sustainable consumption in China, and the world. Moving from a high-excess American Dream to a more sustainable China Dream.
The Urbanization of China.
The largest urban migration is happening in China, now. Unprecedented changes in consumption, resources, economy, infrastructure will change the face of China over the next 18 years. What opportunities and challenges does this bring?
Why You and Your Kids Need to Engage with China Now
The rise of China is not just a short-term phenomenon. It’s in the middle of a 40-year growth spurt. Learn how you can take advantage of this growth, rather than be taken advantage of.
China is Changing From the Factory of the World to the Cleantech Laboratory of the World
How collaboration with, rather than competition against, China will bring affordable sustainable solutions to the world.
Is China really going green?
Beyond solar and wind manufacturing, what’s happening in China’s energy and environment scene? Does China really want to go green? Can it go green fast enough?
Marketing High Technology
How marketing savvy helped me get from “Internet Pioneer” to China’s “Green Goddess”. Make complex ideas understandable and attractive to the masses.
Stone Soup Global Leadership
A new model for training collaborative leaders and organizations to help society and institutions address today’s larger, more complex challenges.
What it Takes to Be a Global Citizen
How can we help our students become global citizens and stewards of the world? What traits and skills do they need?
Calling Women Leaders
Why capable women’s choices NOT to lead are a surprising barrier to gender equality in the workforce.
How Women Can Change the World For the Better.
Today’s global challenges need collaborative leaders to convene, facilitate, and catalyze change. How can we identify and nurture these women? What organizations do we need to surround them with to succeed?
People vs. The Earth
How rising populations are creating an unliveable world.
Testimonials
Thank you for your enthusiastic, focused and impressively disciplined contribution to the high-level roundtable on Prosperity for the billions in Asia and the Pacific: Green Growth and Poverty Reduction at the UNIDO General Conference.
UNIDO Director-General Kandeh Yumkella.
Peggy is an inspirational role model to many in the industry. Peggy stands out for her compelling presentation of thought-provoking ideas and knowledge of the industry. Her showmanship and positive energy make any event memorable.
Director, McKinsey & Co., Co-Chair Urban China Initiative, Jonathan Woetzel
We had the pleasure of working with Peggy Liu at the B4E Global Summit 2011 in Jakarta. Peggy is a dynamic speaker and can address a wide range of topics relating to the environment and climate change. She has extensive knowledge of developments in China, both on the ground and at the policy level, and links this to the broader global agenda in a lively and engaging way.
Kisha Krishna, Manager, Speaker Outreach & Content, B4E Summit
Thank you for your enthusiastic, focused and impressively disciplined contribution to the high-level roundtable on Prosperity for the billions in Asia and the Pacific: Green Growth and Poverty Reduction at the UNIDO General Conference.
Director-General Kandeh Yumkella
Peggy is an inspirational role model to many in the industry. Peggy stands out for her compelling presentation of thought-provoking ideas and knowledge of the industry. Her showmanship and positive energy make any event memorable.
Director, McKinsey & Co., Co-Chair Urban China Initiative, Jonathan Woetzel
