The 13th China SIF Annual Conference Successfully Held

On Dec. 2, the 13th China Sustainable Investment Forum (China SIF) Annual Conference was successfully held in Beijing, bringing together senior representatives from regulatory bodies, financial institutions, listed companies, academia, and international organisations. Hosted by SynTao Green Finance and co-hosted by UNEP FI and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSE), this year’s conference explored the theme “Navigating Opportunities in a Reshaping Landscape of Sustainable Finance”. More than 300 representatives from different organisations attended in person, while online viewership surpassed one million for the first time.

Dr. GUO Peiyuan, Chairman of China SIF, Chairman of SynTao Green Finance, and UNEP FI China Representative, opened the conference. He noted that while global ESG progress faces fluctuations, China continues to advance green transition, expand its green finance market, and respond to growing demand for climate-focused sustainability disclosure standards. This year’s agenda was designed to reflect the latest ESG developments and to identify new pathways and opportunities in sustainable finance.

The first round of keynote speeches highlighted global and domestic ESG trends. WANG Zhongmin, former Vice Chairman of National Council for Social Security Fund and Honorary Chairman of China SIF, delivered a keynote titled “AI Ends with ESG,” His speech elaborated on the impact of ESG on the development of AI from four dimensions: energy, materials, optical computing, and social ethics. He noted that from an environmental perspective, as AI technology advances rapidly, the sustainability of energy and resources has become a key challenge. In the future, computing power will no longer rely on traditional electricity but will shift toward green energy sources such as solar power in space to meet growing energy demands. In addition, the development of AI will drive material innovation and reduce reliance on rare resources. From a social perspective, the development of AI must pay attention to social ethics and promote more inclusive progress, ultimately serving sustainable development and shared prosperity for humanity. Wang emphasized that AI development must be deeply integrated with ESG principles in order to shape a greener and smarter society with energy justice.

Maria SOSA TABORDA, Head of Membership & Regional Coordination, UNEP FI pointed out that APAC region and China have delivered outstanding performance in sustainability, with notable achievements from UNEP FI’s Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) signatories. Sixty-one percent of PRB signatories lead their industry in managing financially material sustainability risks and opportunities, compared with 23% of non-signatories, based on their MSCI ESG Rating. Specifically, listed PRB banks in China have outperformed their peers by 5%-10% in ESG ratings and climate-related thematic scores according to STGF, further validating the value of sustainability integration. Maria cordially invites everyone to join the Global Roundtable (GRT 2026) in London during Climate Week in June 2026, where global leaders from finance, policy, and science will gather to discuss resilience, transition, and the future of the real economy.

GAO Weibing, Party Secretary and Chairman of Guangzhou Futures Exchange, pointed out that the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX) actively implements national strategies and takes serving green development as its responsibility. Focusing on innovative fields such as new energy, new materials, and carbon emissions, it has successively listed ten futures and options products including industrial silicon, lithium carbonate, polysilicon, platinum, and palladium, and has initially formed a new-energy metals futures segment. Its global price influence continues to expand, and participation from industrial enterprises keeps increasing. GFEX is also actively promoting high-level opening-up. It has already introduced QFIs to participate in trading industrial silicon, lithium carbonate, polysilicon, and other products, and is currently advancing the inclusion of lithium carbonate futures in the list of products open to specific investors. Mr. GAO stated that the exchange has now been approved to join the UN SSE, which is an important step in practicing the five development principles of “innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing,” and in supporting the green and low-carbon transition. The exchange will actively draw on international best practices, continuously improve its ESG governance capabilities and the effectiveness of its sustainable finance services, and play a more dynamic role as futures market to promot regional green and low-carbon transition, helping build a Beautiful China, and supporting high-quality global economic and social development.

The Founder of Evergreenp, Miyuki ZENIYA, made a keynote speech on the new trends to invest and the role of China. She stated that the COP30 marked a turning point for sustainability finance, shifting global attention toward new investable frontiers such as AI-driven ecosystem monitoring, adaptation, nature finance and health-resilience markets. China’s rapid progress in transition finance and nature-based investment platforms stood out as shaping these emerging markets—positioning the country as a leading driver of the next phase of global climate and nature finance.

The first round of Panel Discussions focused on “Policy Developments in ESG Investing” and was moderated by Dr. GUO Peiyuan. Jonathan HO, Senior Specialist of Environmental Policy at PRI pointed out that it is important for governments to clarify the role of the finance sector in achieving global and national sustainability goals. Doing so reinforces the relevance of sustainability to finance, strengthens the legitimacy of responsible investment practices, and sends clear signals that support investment decisions. Project Officer at the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSE) Landon WILCOCK shared with the audience that the UN SSE is pleased to co-host the China SIF Annual Conference and appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with leading institutions across China on advancing sustainability. As sustainability and nature-related disclosures gain importance for financial markets, China is well positioned to help shape emerging global practices. Through tools such as the UN SSE Model Guidance for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures, we look forward to supporting exchanges, regulators and companies in enhancing market transparency, resilience and long-term sustainable development. ZHU Shouqing, China Senior Policy Advisor at the UNEP FI introduced the UNEP FI recently released report Greening China’s Banking System: Analysis of Policy and Regulatory Measures. He said that over the past 18 years, China’s green finance policies and regulatory framework have developed into a comprehensive system that combines traditional administrative tools with innovative approaches. Through policy and regulatory actions, China has built an institutional environment that supports environmental protection and climate change mitigation, and has helped shift the economy from a high dependence on natural resources to a growth model driven by innovation and capital. Elaine NG, Associate Director, International Affairs & Sustainable Finance at the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong SAR (HK SFC) shared that, despite global ESG headwinds, the HK SFC remains focused on implementing Hong Kong’s sustainability reporting roadmap, driven by global investor demand for material sustainability information and the need for Hong Kong market participants to become fluent in this common language.

At the following release session, Raymond ZHANG, CEO of SynTao Green Finance and Member of China SIF Board of Directors, released the China Sustainable Investment Review 2025 and An Overview of China A-share ESG Performance 2025. The reports point out that China’s responsible investment market continues to expand, the overall level of A-share ESG ratings is steadily rising, and both the investment and financing sides are moving from “growth in quantity” to a stage of striving for “improvements in both quality and effectiveness.” Among these developments, high-quality data is the key link connecting capital and assets.

HOU Hongyang, Vice President of Ziru Group Co., Ltd., released a new business-travel carbon data measurement product called Zirong Green Carbon Pass. This product, jointly launched by Ziru Group and SynTao Green Finance, is an efficient and precise carbon management solution. It supports automatic multi-dimensional data collection across the entire business-travel process, enabling accurate calculation of carbon emissions for each trip. The carbon emission data can be directly used for corporate ESG disclosure in accordance to relative standards. Visualized data analysis and industry benchmarking can help companies optimize their emission-reduction pathways and enhance ESG management and sustainable value.

Dr. AN Guojun, Vice Secretary General of Green Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of China SIF and Founder of Yuze Cixin Charity, released the latest update of the Responsible Investment Capability Evaluation (RICE) System on behalf of the research team. The evaluation assesses the responsible investment capabilities of 231 asset management institutions across six dimensions, including strategy and management. The results show that 17 public fund companies and 2 insurance asset management institutions reached the four-panicle (fourth-level) rating, accounting for 10.3% of all public fund companies and 5.7% of insurance asset managers. Compared with 2024, this represents steady improvement.

The second round of keynote speeches were around the topic “Exploring New Opportunities in ESG Investing”. Franziska ZIMMERMANN, Managing Director of Sustainability, Temasek, emphasised that sustainability is not a trade-off of returns, but a source of resilience and long-term value creation. With Asia playing a decisive role in achieving global net zero and the urgent need to move beyond “financing green” to “greening finance”, Franziska underscored Temasek’s commitment to enabling the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient world through several initiatives. These include embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations across its investment process, and leveraging blended finance mechanisms and transition credits by collaborating with like-minded organisations through initiatives such as the Green Investments Partnership (GIP) and the Transition Credits Coalition (TRACTION) to scale regional clean energy projects. Her closing message was clear: the climate crisis knows no borders, and collaboration is key to turning risks into opportunities.

Global Head of Research in Sustainable Finance, Ofi Invest Asset Management; President of the Engagement Committee at French SIF, Luisa FLOREZ pointed out that, integrating ESG criteria is essential to shield investments from systemic risks like climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities, managing both financial and non-financial shocks.

WANG Yida, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of National Green Development Fund said that, in the coming period, the “dual-carbon” goals will guide the green transition, and “dual controls on carbon emissions” will become the core driving force. This will promote coordinated progress in optimizing industrial and energy structures and adjusting regional development models, accelerating the shift of economic and social development toward a green, low-carbon, and high-quality model. Under policy regulation and market forces, implementing ESG is gradually shifting from being an “optional choice” to a “required task” for enterprises. At the same time, by continuously strengthening “risk prevention and control” and “opportunity creation,” ESG is providing companies with a key pathway to enhance both resilience and value. It will move beyond the realm of “corporate responsibility” and become an “important paradigm” that aligns with global rules, drives green transition, and creates long-term value.

Geoff SU Gang, Executive VP, CIO and CFO of CPIC Group, stated that as global ESG standards continue to improve and benefits from domestic policies are being released, ESG has become a mandatory topic for investment, generating systematic opportunities in areas such as new energy and advanced manufacturing. CPIC has built end-to-end ESG investment capabilities through institutional development, technological empowerment, and the creation of benchmark projects, while also working with various stakeholders to promote international coordination, industry collaboration, and ecosystem building. Going forward, CPIC will continue to finance green development and further advance its work in sustainable development.

The second round of Panel Discussion focused on “ESG Investing in the New Landscape”, moderated by Valerie KWAN, Director of Stewardship at the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC). Arild Skedsmo, Director of Responsible Investment at KLP Asset Management AS, noted that climate change, human rights violations and environmental destruction are issues that will effect societies and economies at large, with substantial long-term financial consequences for any diversified portfolio. Reducing this to a separate asset class of 'ESG-investments' risks reducing issues fundamental to human well-being and global economies to a 'special interest issue'. Investors should focus on how to contribute to high ESG standards across the mainstream portfolio and reward leadership, but also engage lower performing companies, and challenge regulators for market conditions that stimulate responsible operations at a level playing field. SHI Yi, Client Portfolio Manager and Impact Specialist at Thematic Equities, Pictet Asset Management, shared with the audience that Pictet has been building environmental thematic strategies for 25 years, starting with water in 2000 and expanding into clean energy transition, sustainable timber, global environmental opportunities and, most recently, the shift towards a regenerative economy beyond net zero. As an impact‑oriented thematic investor, Pictet combines intentional capital allocation with rigorous, SMART‑based corporate engagement to drive measurable changes in business models and real‑world outcomes, supported by advanced impact models that capture lifecycle effects on biodiversity and society. Dr. Roman NOVOZHILOV, Head of ESG at the New Development Bank (NDB), stated that NDB is committed to advancing climate finance that supports a resilient and inclusive future. NDB’s goal is to mobilize resources for sustainable infrastructure which is built with robust environmental and social safeguards and to ensure that projects are delivered in alignment with NDB’s climate objectives. Ricco ZHANG, Senior Director for Asia-Pacific at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) stated that the landscape of sustainable development in the capital market is rapidly evolving and transition finance is poised to take a bigger role in financing the fossil fuel and hard-to-abate sectors. DENG Wenshuo, Deputy General Manager of the ESG and Brand Management Department at Huaxia Wealth Management, shared practical cases of both debt investment models and equity investment models employed by wealth management funds to support steel enterprises in their low-carbon transition, with tailored approaches for three distinct low-carbon transition pathways.

In the second release session, Professor ZHU Xufeng—Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University and Executive Director of the Tsinghua Institute for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—released, on behalf of the institute, the fifth consecutive edition of the Research on the ESG Rating System of Local Governments in China (2025) (hereinafter as the “Research”) at the China SIF Forum. The Research provides a quantitative assessment of the overall ESG performance of 32 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) and 120 cities in China from 2015 to 2025. The overall ESG performance of local governments in China has demonstrated a continuous upward trend, in close alignment with national-level policy efforts in digital government development and ecological civilization construction. The Research recommends accelerating the establishment of unified national standards for ESG governance information disclosure, creating special funds to enhance digital governance capacity in central and western regions, promoting institutionalized cross-regional ESG coordination mechanisms, and improving differentiated financing mechanisms based on governance performance.

Katherine HAN, Head of ESG Research & Investment at Harvest Fund, released the white paper Shareholder Voting Patterns and Trends in China’s A-Share Market: Insights for Institutional Investors’ Stewardship Practices. At a critical stage in the high-quality development of China’s capital market, the white paper focuses on the governance behavior of A-share listed companies and the protection of shareholder rights. By analyzing a large volume of voting data from shareholder meetings in the A-share market, it provides insights into shareholder participation and its effectiveness in corporate governance, offering useful reference for institutional shareholders to strengthen stewardship practices and support high-quality development of listed companies. As a pioneer in sustainable investment in China, Harvest Fund has actively practiced the concept of high-quality development through in-depth stewardship efforts, including leading ESG-themed engagements and collaborative engagement activities with companies. The release of this white paper marks another important achievement in Harvest Fund’s exploration of stewardship models with Chinese characteristics.

In the afternoon, the China SIF Annual Conference held four parallel forums covering the topics of “Diversification of ESG Ratings and Applications,” “Climate Risk Analysis and Assessment,” “Progress in Sustainable Disclosure at Home and Abroad” and “Agriculture Sustainable Development and Nature Finance.”