Officials and entrepreneurs from China and the Canadian province of Alberta explored cooperation in green and low-carbon development during a visit this month by Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack to Tianjin and Wuhan, Hubei province, focusing on sustainable industries, logistics and carbon governance.

Knack led the Canadian delegation, including representatives from Edmonton International Airport and clean energy company Weka Energy. During the April 7-9 visit to Tianjin, the group met local authorities and institutions, including the Tianjin Cement Industry Design &Research Institute, to discuss carbon capture, green fuels and low-carbon industrial transformation.

"One of the main reasons for being here is to take the work that's already happening in Tianjin and in Edmonton and use that as a multiplier," Knack said, highlighting shared efforts in sustainable industrial development.

He pointed to strong complementarity, with Edmonton's expertise in clean energy aligning with Tianjin's industrial base and push for green manufacturing.

Tianjin has, in recent years, accelerated its transition toward low-carbon growth. Its 2026 government work report has called for "accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development".

Nationally, China's green transition is also advancing, with nonfossil energy accounting for 21.7 percent of total consumption last year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

A key outcome of the visit was renewed discussion on restoring cargo flights between Tianjin and Edmonton, which have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Restoring the cargo flights is one of the concrete areas we are discussing," Knack said, adding that once resumed, the route would improve access between North America and China, reducing delivery times and logistics costs.

Both sides are also exploring the possibility of launching passenger services.

In Tianjin's Hongqiao district, Weka Energy (Tianjin) Co operates a renewable oil feedstock processing facility with an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons and has participated in projects in Edmonton, providing a basis for further collaboration.

In Wuhan, discussions centered on carbon trading, carbon capture and hydrogen development.

Hubei is China's only provincial-level carbon trading pilot region, and the Hubei Emissions Exchange ranks among the country's leading regional markets in terms of trading volume and market continuity. Companies in the system have cumulatively generated 350 million yuan ($51.2 million) in carbon-reduction revenue.

At the national level, China's emissions trading market had reached a cumulative trading volume of 865 million tons by the end of 2025, making it the world's largest by emissions covered, according to official data.

Knack said Edmonton's strengths in clean energy and carbon capture could align with Wuhan's experience in carbon market mechanisms.

"Bringing these strengths together could offer the most immediate opportunities for the two cities," the mayor said.

China and Canada have continued to expand cooperation in trade and energy. During his January visit to China, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to deepen economic and trade ties and advance energy cooperation. The two sides also committed to holding a meeting of the Economic Partnership Working Group in Canada later this year. Local-level exchanges have likewise gained momentum.

"Since October, local-level industrial exchanges and practical cooperation between China and Canada have been steadily advancing," said Mu Peng from Tianjin's Foreign Affairs Office. "More cooperation, especially in sustainable development, is expected."

Knack responded by saying, "We have found new opportunities and developed new partnerships that could expand into something more significant in the near future."

Ma Yucong and Hu Yang contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn