【ESG News】Global Trends Biweekly Newsletter Issue 66 (2026.8.17-2026.8.30)

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Hong Kong ESG trends

Hong Kong’s Environment and Ecology Bureau and Qinghai Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment Signed Cooperation Arrangement on Ecological and Environmental Fields

On August 27, representatives from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the People's Government of Qinghai Province met in Hong Kong to jointly witness the signing of the Cooperation Arrangement on Ecological and Environmental Fields between the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Qinghai Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment. The two sides will deepen cooperation and technical exchanges in ecological and environmental protection and green industries, with a focus on policy regulation, solid waste management, environmental awareness campaigns, scientific and technological innovation, and talent development. Qinghai boasts rich experience in ecological conservation and clean energy, while Hong Kong possesses an international network and advanced management technologies. The cooperation aims to align with the national "15th Five-Year Plan," promote high-quality green development, and achieve complementary advantages. Prior to the signing ceremony, officials from the environmental departments of both sides held a discussion meeting on environmental and ecological cooperation between the two regions.

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202608/27/P2026082700578.htm

Lianhe Green Insights

The signing of this cooperation arrangement between Hong Kong and Qinghai fully demonstrates the Special Administrative Region Government's strategic commitment to proactively integrating into the nation's overall green development agenda. Qinghai's rich ecological resources and clean energy strengths, combined with Hong Kong's unique international financial and management networks, will generate a powerful synergistic effect for both regions in addressing climate change, advancing green finance, and fostering environmental technology innovation. This not only provides a pragmatic model for cross-regional ecological collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong, but also injects fresh momentum into promoting high-quality green transformation.

International ESG trends

Singapore’s CIX, UK’s Carbonplace Plan Merger

Singapore‑based carbon exchange Climate Impact X (CIX) and UK‑based carbon settlement platform Carbonplace have agreed to merge. CIX operates markets for carbon credits, renewable energy certificates and other environmental products. Carbonplace provides carbon portfolio management, multi‑registry access and settlement infrastructure designed for institutional participants. Bringing those services together is intended to create a more complete transaction chain, enabling market participants to move from sourcing and trading credits through settlement, custody and eventual retirement using connected infrastructure. The transaction requires approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore because several shareholders are regulated financial institutions, and the integration is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2027.

Source: https://esgnews.com/cix-carbonplace-plan-carbon-market-infrastructure-merger/

Lianhe Green Insights

This merger reflects the carbon market's shift from purely voluntary emission reductions to a compliance-driven new stage represented by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. By connecting Singapore's carbon trading ecosystem with London's financial markets, the combined entity is positioned to provide financial-grade infrastructure backed by auditability and regulatory confidence, thereby driving the carbon market toward the scale and standardization of traditional mature financial markets.

UNCCD COP17 Concludes

In the early hours of August 29, the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concluded in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The conference adopted a series of resolution documents and the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, building consensus and clarifying action directions for advancing the implementation of the Convention and deepening global land governance. It was decided at the conference that the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties will be held in Egypt.

The Declaration points out that desertification, land degradation, and drought threaten ecosystems, food and water resource management, public health, livelihoods, cultural heritage, economic prosperity, social stability, and sustainable development. It calls for promoting the formulation of an ambitious post-2030 future strategic framework for the Convention, supporting country-led actions, enhancing policy coordination, and advancing the voluntary target of achieving Land Degradation Neutrality. The Declaration encourages Parties to strengthen coordination and cooperation, take further effective actions to implement the Convention, promote the integrated management of land and water resources, enhance the drought resilience of grassland, pastoral, and agricultural systems, strengthen the governance of sand and dust storm source areas, and drive the implementation of conference outcomes through sustainable financing, technical cooperation, and experience sharing.

Source: https://www.forestry.gov.cn/c/www/lcdt/686495.jhtml

Lianhe Green Insights

The adoption of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration at COP17 marks a new phase in global land governance focused on strengthened compliance and implementation. Faced with the compounding threats of desertification and drought to global sustainable development, the conference has solidified national action responsibilities by outlining a post-2030 strategic framework and the voluntary target of Land Degradation Neutrality. This not only highlights the international community's urgency in jointly addressing climate and ecological crises, but also reinforces institutional and cooperative safeguards for global ecological security by emphasizing sustainable financing and the governance of sand and dust storm source areas.

Mainland China ESG trends

Establishment of the Green and Low-Carbon Standardization Technical Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

The Green and Low-Carbon Standardization Technical Committee (GLCS-TC) of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been established to further leverage the supporting and guiding role of standards in promoting green and low-carbon industrial development. It is reported that the first session of the GLCS-TC is composed of 71 members from government departments, research institutes, universities, industry associations, and leading enterprises, with its secretariat hosted by the China Electronics Standardization Institute. Recently, the GLCS-TC deliberated and approved institutional documents such as its charter, the secretariat's working rules, and standard formulation and revision procedures, thereby promoting the institutionalized and standardized operation of its work. Moving forward, the GLCS-TC will coordinate standardization institutions across various industries, strengthen the pre-research, formulation, and revision of standards in areas such as energy conservation and carbon reduction, water conservation and emission reduction, cleaner production, comprehensive resource utilization, and green manufacturing, while intensifying efforts in standard publicity and implementation.

Source: https://www.news.cn/politics/20260825/7f65cfa12dc0492181eadc466b554679/c.html

Lianhe Green Insights

The establishment of the Green and Low-Carbon Standardization Technical Committee marks a new phase in which industrial green and low-carbon transition shifts from policy advocacy to standardized and systematic governance. The composition of 71 cross-sector committee members and the professional setup of the secretariat ensure that standard formulation combines both policy authority and technical operability. Covering full-chain domains including energy conservation and carbon reduction, cleaner production, and green manufacturing, the Committee will effectively address the pain point of standard fragmentation in the current industrial low-carbon transition, providing enterprises with clear compliance guidance and technology upgrading pathways.

Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Four Other Departments Jointly Issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting Diversified Investment in Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Ecological and Environmental Field"

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, along with four other departments, recently jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting Diversified Investment in Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Ecological and Environmental Field." The document aims to accelerate the establishment of a diversified investment pattern for scientific and technological innovation in the ecological and environmental sector characterized by multi-party participation, multi-channel guarantees, and full-chain integration. It seeks to enhance the supply capacity and industrialization level of scientific and technological innovation in this field, providing robust scientific and technological support for the construction of a Beautiful China.

The Guiding Opinions design diversified and practicable investment support models to address the prominent problems in the ecological and environmental field—such as weak basic research, insufficient technology supply, poor commercialization of research outcomes, and financing difficulties. Measures are proposed in three aspects: strengthening the guiding role of fiscal policy, enriching the supply of financial products, and pooling social resources on a broad scale.

Source: http://big5.www.gov.cn/gate/big5/www.gov.cn/lianbo/202608/content_7079476.htm

Lianhe Green Insights

This Guiding Opinions precisely address the long‑standing funding gap in scientific and technological innovation within the ecological and environmental sector. By strengthening fiscal guidance, diversifying financial instruments, and mobilising private capital through a three‑pronged approach, it aims to establish a virtuous cycle of collaborative investment involving government, market and society. Such an initiative is expected to break through persistent bottlenecks—insufficient basic research investment, poor commercialisation of research outcomes, and difficulties in financing industrialisation—thereby accelerating the transition of green technologies from the laboratory to large‑scale deployment. The diversified funding mechanism not only broadens financing channels but also channels resources towards low‑carbon technologies through clear market signals, providing a sustainable technological engine for the Beautiful China initiative.