The 4th ISETS International Conference (ISETS 2026) will be held in Beijing, China, from August 21 to 24, 2026, at the Sinopec International Conference Center in Changping District, Beijing.

Centering on the global trends of energy transition amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the conference focuses on the structural transformation of the future energy system, energy security, critical minerals, carbon neutrality pathways and other key topics, and builds a high-level international academic exchange platform.

Organisers

  • International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS)
  • China University of Petroleum–Beijing (CUPB)

Hosts

  • School of Economics and Management, CUPB
  • UNESCO Chair on Carbon Neutrality

Co-organizer (Updated Continuously)

  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Honorary Chairs

  • Prof. Jin Yan, President of China University of Petroleum (Beijing)
  • Dr. Sun Xiansheng President of ISETS, Former Secretary-General of International Energy Forum
  • Prof. Nobuo Tanaka Co-President of ISETS, Honorary Executive Director of International Energy Agency(IEA)

Conference Chairs

  • Prof. Shi Xunpeng Chairman of ISETS Council, University of Technology Sydney
  • Prof. Wang Jianliang Dean of School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB)

Chairman of Academic Committee

  • Prof. Yang Xiaoguang Distinguished Scholar of China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB), President of Systems Engineering Society of China
  • Prof. Wang Can Tenured Professor, Secretary of Party Committee, School of Environment,Tsinghua University
  • Prof. Zhang Dayong Dean, Academy of Climate Finance, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

Chairman of Orgnizing Committee

  • Prof. Ji Qiang Executive Director of Division and Discipline Research Support Center, Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
  • Prof. Zhao Xiaoli Vice Dean of School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB)

Vice Chairman of Orgnizing Committee

  • Prof. Yang Xian , School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (Beijing);
  • Ma Xiaohong, Director of the Director of the Administrative Office, School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (Beijing).

Important Time Nodes

  • Paper (Abstract) Submission Deadline (English-version only): June 6, 2026
  • Abstract Acceptance Date: June 15, 2026
  • Early Bird Registration Deadline: June 30, 2026
  • Registration Deadline for Inclusion in the Conference Agenda: July 25, 2026
  • Conference Check-in Dates: August 20-21, 2026
  • Pre-conference Workshops and ISETS Council Extended Meeting: August 21, 2026
  • Official Conference Dates: August 22-23, 2026
  • Study Tour: August 24, 2026
        Conference Theme: The 2030 Energy System: Energy Transition in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
       
        Focusing on the structural transformation of the energy system around 2030, this conference will conduct in-depth discussions on AI-driven growth in electricity demand, deep decarbonization and system restructuring. Papers are solicited from scholars worldwide.The conference only accepts English manuscripts.
       
        The paper topics include but are not limited to the following areas:
  • Economics, Policy and Finance of Energy Transition
  • Carbon Neutrality Pathways, Scenario Modeling and AI-aided Decision Making
  • Low-carbon Transition of Fossil Energy and Integrated Development of New Energy
  • Correlation Mechanisms of Energy, Carbon, Power and Stock Markets
  • AI-driven Power Demand Growth and Load Forecasting
  • Energy Security, System Risks and Digital Resilience
  • Green Finance, Energy Investment and Technological Innovation
  • Energy Pricing, Market Mechanisms and Intelligent Dispatching
  • Environmental Impact, Governance and ESG
  • Social Impact and Management of Energy Transition
  • Technological Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Demonstration Applications
  • Critical Minerals, Digital Supply Chains and Energy Transition
  • Built Environment, Terminal Electrification and Intelligent Energy Systems
  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Low-carbon Transportation
  • Power Market Reform, Digital Power Grids and Power System Transformation
  • Transformation of Fossil Energy Power Generation and Asset-level Orderly Exit Mechanisms
        The conference encourages the integration of interdisciplinary research, model-driven analysis, artificial intelligence methodologies with policy-oriented research, and promotes the integrated development of theoretical innovation and practical application.
       
        We encourage applications for organizing thematic forums. Each forum shall be organized by a forum convener to host discussions on relevant topics with 5–6 scholars.
       
        Applications to become a co-organizer are also welcome. Eligibility for co-organizers: an institution that arranges 15 or more participants (including at least 5 fully registered participants) to attend the conference.

Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker

  • Professor Ross Garnaut AC
        Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne and The Australian National University; Co-founder and Director, The Superpower Institute
  • Dr Zhang Jianhua
        Former Administrator, China’s National Energy Administration (NEA)

Keynote Speakers

  • Academician He Kebin Dean, Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University
  • Academician Tang Lixin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Vice President of Northeastern University
  • Academician Prof. Wang Shouyang, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician of the International Academy of Systems and Cybernetics Sciences & The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
  • Prof. Pan Jiahua, Vice Chair, National Expert Panel on Climate Change, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
  • Prof. Shi Dan, Member of the Academic Divisions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
  • Prof. Fan Ying, Beihang University, President-Elect of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) 2026
  • Dr. Wu Yin, Former Deputy Administrator, National Energy Administration of China
  • Prof. Qi Ye, Dean, Society Hub, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
  • Prof. Sun Xiansheng, President of ISETS Council; Former Secretary-General of International Energy Forum (IEF)
  • Prof. Nobuo Tanaka, Co-President of ISETS, Honorary Executive Director of International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • Prof. Llewelyn Hughes, Director, Institute for Climate, Energy, and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS), The Australian National University (ANU)
  • Prof. Igor Skryabin Honorary, The Australian National University (ANU)

Parallel Session Speakers (sorted by Pinyin)

  • Prof. Jiang Kejun, Acting Director, Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change Thrust, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)
  • Prof. Liu Gang, Tenured Professor, Changjiang Chair Professor, Peking University
  • Prof. Lu Xi, Tenured Professor, Assistant Dean of Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University
  • Prof. Wen Fushuan, Director, Institute of Power Economics and Information, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University, IEEE Fellow
  • Prof. Phouphet Kyophilavong, Vice President of National University of Laos
  • Prof. Hisashi Yoshikawa, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, Japan
  • Dr. Weerawat Chantanakome, Doctor, Senior Advisor for International Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Thailand

Invited Session Convenors (in no particular order, list to be updated)

  • Prof. Ji Qiang, Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
<Session 1: Energy Finance Alliance>: Climate Governance and Financial Innovation
  • Prof. Wang Qunwei, Dean of College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
<Session 2: China Chapter>: “Energy Transition 3MT Speech” Competition
  • Dr. Kaveh Khalilpour, University of Technology Sydney
<Session 3: Oceania Chapter>: Energy Transition Technologies and Innovation
  • Prof. Wang Peng, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
<Session 4: Critical Mineral Security and Strategy>
  • Dr. Yu Yang, China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB)
<Session 5: AI and Energy Transition>
  • Dr. Yang Muyi, Senior Electricity Analyst, Ember
<Session 6: Coal and Coal Power Transition>
  • Prof. Sun Yongping, Vice President of National Institute of Governance, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
<Session 7: Global Carbon Pricing and Green Competitiveness>
  • Dr. Peng Xiujian, Senior Research Fellow, Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS), Victoria University
<Session 8: Recent Advances in CGE Modeling and Applications in Energy Transition>
(In no particular order, list to be updated)

Please indicate your target journal for intended publication at the time of submission if you have the willingness to publish your paper in these potential journals.

(I) Confirmed Special Issues

  • Economic Analysis and Policy (SSCI Q1, A/ABDC)
    Geopolitics and Global Collaboration for Decarbonization: Perspectives on Climate Governance, Green Finance, and Green Development
  • Economic Systems (SSCI Q1, B/ABDC)
    Governing the Green Transition as System Change: State Capacity, Policy Credibility, and Institutional Complementarities in Emerging and Transition Economies
  • Frontiers in Environmental Science (SCIE Q2)
    Navigating Socioeconomic Complexities in the Global Energy Transition
  • Energy Engineering (EI)
    Science, Engineering, and Policy Innovations Driving the Global Energy Transition
  • Carbon Footprints
    Carbon Finance for Climate Resilience: Market Design, Revenue Recycling, and Footprint-Informed Adaptation Pathways
  • Energy and Climate Management
        Pathways for Power Transition towards China’s 2035 NDCs
       
        Excellent conference papers will be preferentially recommended to the special issues and officially published after peer review. Other special issues are under solicitation.

(II) Strategic Partner Journals (Ranked in no particular order) (Special sections to be launched)

  • Journal of Global Information Management (ABDC-A)
  • Journal of Organizational and End User Computing (ABDC-B)
  • Petroleum Science (CAS Category 1 TOP)
Note: Editors of the above journals will participate in the special sessions of the conference, and excellent conference papers can enter the fast review channel of the journals.

Submission Requirements

The conference solicitsunpublishedfull papers or abstracts (English-version only) from scholars at home and abroad. All submissions will be reviewed uniformly, and excellent papers will be selected from the full paper submissions.
Submission Portal:https://isets.org/isets2026/
Submission Deadline:June 6, 2026

Participants are required to pay the registration fee. Accommodation and transportation expenses are at the participants’ own cost. An early bird discount of 50 Australian dollars is available. The specific fee standards are as follows:

Participant Type Regular Registration Fee (AUD) Early Bird Registration Fee (AUD)
Faculty/Other Staff 600 550
Postdoctoral Researchers 500 450
Students 400 350

Note: The early bird registration deadline is June 30, 2026, after which the regular registration fee will be charged.

Conference Email:jgxy@cup.edu.cn;events@isets.org;

International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS)
China University of Petroleum (Beijing)
May 2026