所屬分類：新聞動態發佈時間：2025-10-20
Hong Kong ESG trends
DFSA and HKMA to co-host second Climate Finance Conference to strengthen sustainable finance through innovation, resilience and cross-border collaboration
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced on 9 October that the second edition of the DFSA–HKMA Joint Climate Finance Conference will take place on 26 November in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As the flagship initiative of the DFSA-HKMA partnership to support and enable climate finance in the Middle East and Asia, this year’s conference will focus on “Transforming Tomorrow: Harnessing Green Finance for Sustainability” and will reflect the shared commitment of Dubai and Hong Kong – two of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs – to shape the future of global finance through innovation, resilience and cross-border collaboration.
Source: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/gb_chi/news-and-media/press-releases/2025/10/20251009-5/
Lianhe Green Insights
The second Climate Finance Conference co-hosted by the DFSA and the HKMA is a key initiative to advance the development of sustainable finance. Focused on "green finance empowering sustainable development," the conference will explore topics such as technological innovation and policy frameworks. This will facilitate the flow of capital and knowledge, strengthen cross-border cooperation between Asia and the Middle East, provide new impetus for global climate finance collaboration, and support the global transition to net-zero emissions.
Based on its research on sustainable financing instruments, Lianhe Green can provide technical support for the joint research outcomes of the DFSA and HKMA, helping explore effective ways to expand climate financing in emerging markets. Additionally, through case studies, Lianhe Green can demonstrate how certification services guide capital towards sustainable projects, promoting cross-border climate finance cooperation and innovation.
International ESG trends
APLMA/LMA/LSTA publish Guide to Transition Loans (October 2025)
On October 16, 2025, the APLMA, together with the LMA and the LSTA, officially released the Transition Loan Guidelines (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"). The Guidelines provide a standardized framework for the initiation, structural design and risk management of transition loans in the Asia-Pacific region, further improving the system of sustainable financing instruments.
The Guidelines clarify the core definition of transition loans, the scope of fund use and performance assessment standards, with a special emphasis on the binding mechanism with ESG goals. They require borrowers to set quantifiable transition path indicators, which must be verified for compliance by third-party institutions. This specification complements the documents on green loans and sustainability-linked loans previously launched by APLMA.
Source: APLMA - Green and Sustainable Lending Microsite
Lianhe Green Insights
In the context of existing irregularities such as "greenwashing" in the Asia-Pacific sustainable finance market, its clear definitions and ESG-binding standards not only respond to enterprises' needs for low-carbon transition but also align with regulatory compliance requirements. This framework, which complements existing documents, provides an operational anchor for the market. Its subsequent implementation and promotion will further contribute to the high-quality development of regional sustainable financing.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Releases New Biodiversity Standard ISO 17298
October 7, 2025 – At the 2025 Annual Meeting (AM25) held in Kigali, Rwanda, the ISO released the world’s first international standard dedicated to supporting global organizations in taking actions to conserve biodiversity. ISO 17298: Organizational Biodiversity – Guidelines and Requirements is a new standard that, for the first time, provides a practical and scalable framework to help organizations assess their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities. Biodiversity – the variety of life on Earth – is crucial to the health of ecosystems, economies and communities. As the loss of natural resources accelerates, ISO’s new standard offers a key tool to help organizations take measurable and accountable actions to conserve and restore biodiversity.
Source: https://www.iso.org/standard/17298
Lianhe Green Insights
The release of ISO 17298 fills the gap in the lack of a unified international standard for biodiversity management. It establishes a consistent framework for organizations across different industries and of varying sizes to assess and manage their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities. In the process of implementing this standard, the core step lies in identifying an organization’s own connection to biodiversity, including the impacts biodiversity has on the organization.
Mainland China ESG trends
"Belt and Road" Green Innovation Conference 2025 Held in Beijing
The conference, themed “Pooling Resources and Financing to Drive Green Development,” aims to build global consensus on green development and promote the deep integration of green investment and financing with green transformation. Sun Jinlong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Sun emphasized that green and low-carbon transformation represents the trend of the times and is the only path to advancing global sustainable development. China stands ready to collaborate with all parties to implement global governance initiatives, uphold the principles of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and continue advancing the high-quality development of the green Belt and Road. We will further strengthen dialogue and exchange on climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, and other issues to jointly address global environmental crises and achieve new outcomes in green Belt and Road cooperation. We will promote the establishment of a more open, transparent, and inclusive green investment and financing system, continuously enrich financial products and tools, and enhance the sustainable development vitality of the green Belt and Road. We will improve the supporting and guarantee system, implement the Green Silk Road Envoys Program, and elevate the environmental governance levels of Belt and Road countries.
Source: https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/hjywnews/202510/t20251018_1130329.shtml
Lianhe Green Insights
The Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference has offered China's solutions and practical pathways to address the challenges of global green transition. Amid rising unilateralism and a growing climate finance gap, China has established a collaborative platform spanning 39 countries under the theme “Pooling Resources and Financing to Drive Green Development,” demonstrating its commitment as a steadfast actor in advancing global green development.
Official Report on the Investigation and Verification of the "Cai Guoqiang Fireworks Show" Incident
After verification, the mountainous area where fireworks were set off has an altitude ranging from 4,670 meters to 5,020 meters, affecting a grassland area of 30.06 hectares. A total of 1,050 pots of fireworks were set off, with a duration of approximately 52 seconds.
The investigation report shows that the emergency monitoring results of surface water sites all meet the Class II water quality standards specified in the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB 3838-2002); the concentrations of major characteristic pollutants at air monitoring sites are all lower than the limit values for Class I areas in the Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012); leveling operations, human trampling, and vehicle rolling have damaged the structure of the soil mat layer, with the damaged area reaching 15.29 mu (1 mu ≈ 0.0667 hectares); the cleanup of fireworks residues, plastic debris, and other wastes generated from the incident was incomplete; the instantaneous intense light and loud noise from fireworks setting off caused short-term disturbance to wild animals. The report concludes that this incident is a human-induced disturbance activity carried out in a plateau ecologically sensitive area. Its impact on the ecological environment manifests as local interference—although the degree of short-term direct pollution and damage is limited, the potential ecological risks require monitoring and tracking.
At present, the Shigatse Municipal Government has commissioned the conduct of identification and assessment work for ecological and environmental damage compensation. Based on the investigation results of ecological and environmental damage, it will legally pursue the liability of Beijing Cai Guoqiang Art Studio for ecological and environmental damage compensation and ecological restoration. Relevant departments of Shigatse City will conduct long-term monitoring and post-assessment work. As the sponsor of this event, the "Arc'teryx" brand will bear corresponding liabilities for ecological and environmental damage compensation and ecological restoration in accordance with the law.
Source: https://news.cctv.cn/2025/10/15/ARTIC7cSO6Big2NxjQzeLPTd251015.shtml
Lianhe Green Insights
Although this incident did not cause severe direct pollution, it clearly exposes the lack of front-end risk assessment for commercial activities in highly ecologically sensitive areas. For enterprises' ESG management, a shift must be made from "post-event remediation" to "pre-event prevention". Only by integrating ecological sensitivity into core decision-making processes can the bottom line of sustainable development be truly safeguarded.
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