“Winning this competition is incredibly rewarding. It’s a topic we feel strongly about, and we’re thrilled to contribute to the discussion on how Europe and China can work together for a sustainable future,” says Patricio Cordova Tommasi and Christof Schwaerzler.
The students are the winners of the Autumn 2024 semester BI Opinion Essay Competition, which is organized by BI Centre for Sustainability and Energy as part of the master’s course Ethics and Sustainability in Organizations each semester. 
MSc student in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Christof Schwaerzler, and MSc student in Business with Major in Strategy Patricio Cordova Tommasi are both international students, from Austria and Mexico.
Record-breaking submissions
BI’s master’s students were challenged to explore the question: Can Europe or Norway be sustainable without China? This semester, a record-breaking number of participants submitted entries for the competition on this pressing global challenge.
Professor Caroline Dale Ditlev-Simonsen, the organizer of the semiannual competition views the essay competition as a practical way to deepen students’ understanding of sustainability.
“The competition challenges students to apply theory, critically assess corporate sustainability, and take a personal stance. It encourages them to explore what sustainability means in practice and its impact on society, while also being a vital step in preparing the students to become responsible business leaders in the future,” says Ditlev-Simonsen.
No green dream without China
The winning essay argues that Europe's ambitions for a green future are unrealistic without cooperating with China. It challenges Western narratives of competition with China, emphasizing the country's role as a leader in green innovation, renewable energy, and critical material supply chains.
"The idea of achieving sustainability without China is not just unrealistic—it’s absurd. China's dominance in producing essential green technologies, such as solar panels and batteries, makes it a vital partner for Europe's energy transition. Pragmatic collaboration with China is essential if Europe is to meet its climate goals and work toward a sustainable, greener future," the authors argue.
The jury of the Opinion Essay Competition includes Karen Spens (President of BI), Camilla Gramstad (Head of Sustainability, Elkjøp Nordic), Oda Bjerkan (Executive Director, UN Global Compact Norway), Linn Dybdahl (Senior Adviser, NMBU), Caroline D. Ditlev-Simonsen (Professor, BI) and Pål Nygaard (Associate Professor, BI).
Read the essay here: Willful Blindness: The Delusion of Sustainability Without China