Tencent's CarbonX Program 2.0 Reveals 50 Finalists Aiming to Combat Climate Change

Tencent's CarbonX Program 2.0: A Global Initiative for Climate Solutions

On October 28, 2025, Tencent, the renowned technology conglomerate, highlighted its commitment to climate action by announcing its top 50 finalists in the CarbonX Program 2.0. This initiative is crucial in accelerating the development of innovative climate technologies with the overarching goal of achieving a net-zero world by 2050.

The Path to Selection

The CarbonX Program received an impressive number of applications, with over 660 entries from 54 different countries and regions. This competitive selection process culminated in the identification of these 50 innovative teams, which represent a diverse range of backgrounds, including universities, research institutions, and startups. They now have the chance to win a share of RMB200 million (approximately US$28 million) in funding, in addition to valuable technical resources and expert mentorship.

Bridging the Valley of Death

A significant challenge that many climate technologies face is known as the 'Valley of Death.' This term refers to the critical gap that exists between the initial stages of innovation and their real-world implementation. Inadequate funding, lack of partnerships, and limited testing environments often freeze the progress of many promising technologies. The CarbonX Program is designed to bridge this gap by fostering a global ecosystem where scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and investors can collaborate effectively.

Davis Lin, Senior Vice President of Tencent, stated, "The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time, and tackling it demands bold innovation and collective action. With CarbonX, we are investing in groundbreaking ideas while creating pathways to turn them into real-world solutions." This initiative aims to facilitate innovations that can efficiently capture and reduce CO₂ emissions significantly.

Areas of Focus

The CarbonX 2.0 program focuses on four key areas of climate innovation:

1. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) - The program supports pilot projects in Kenya that aim to develop scalable and cost-effective methods to permanently eliminate historic CO₂ emissions.

2. Industrial Decarbonization (CCUS for Steel) - Innovations that target lifecycle emissions in steel production are being piloted in Serbia, focusing on cost-effective carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solutions for industries that are hard to decarbonize.

3. Carbon Capture and Utilization - This initiative transforms captured carbon into chemicals and consumer products, promoting a circular economy that repurposes waste into valuable goods, especially in Chinese markets where brand premiums are anticipated.

4. Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) - The Maldives will host initiatives to refine emerging technologies for renewable energy expansion and long-duration energy storage applications. Flow batteries are being studied for their potential viability in this context.

In early 2026, an esteemed global panel of experts will evaluate the finalists and determine which teams will receive grants and support to pilot their technologies, with a focus on creating measurable impacts across climates vulnerable regions.

CarbonX Summit 2025

This announcement was made during the CarbonX Summit 2025 in Shenzhen, where team leaders gathered to discuss how innovation ecosystems can drive global climate action. The summit emphasized the importance of catalytic finance, collaborative deployment, and multilateral partnerships in meeting the targets set by the Paris Agreement.

"Sustainability can only be achieved through innovation," said Hao Xu, Head of Climate Innovation at Tencent. The initiative aims to harness technology as a positive force, addressing urgent climate challenges while promoting shared value for future generations.

For those interested in following the developments of the CarbonX 2.0 program, more information is available on Tencent's official program website.

This initiative represents a significant step in the global fight against climate change, as Tencent continues to position itself as a leader in fostering sustainable technology and innovation.