【ESG News】Global Trends Biweekly Newsletter Issue 70 (2026.10.12-2026.10.25)

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Hong Kong ESG trends

HKEX Launches Green Equity Designation Programme to Strengthen Capital Support for Green Economy

On 20 October, 2026, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced the launch of HKEX Green Equity, a new voluntary designation programme designed to help investors more readily identify Hong Kong-listed companies with significant green business activities. HKEX Green Equity, which is aligned with similar globally-recognised frameworks, will form a key part of HKEX's low-carbon transition ecosystem, providing a transparent framework and independent assessment process that helps investors identify qualifying green businesses.

Lianhe Green is honored to be among the first batch of recognised reviewers for the HKEX Green Equity designation scheme. To learn more about Lianhe Green's assessment methodology, please visit the following link for the full details: https://lianhegreen.com/article/26/281.html.

Source: https://www.hkex.com.hk/News/News-Release/2026/261020news?sc_lang=en

Lianhe Green Insights

The HKEX Green Equity Designation is a voluntary framework designed to enhance the visibility and transparency of companies whose activities and investments are substantially aligned with green and environmental sustainability objectives. Developed with reference to the World Federation of Exchanges’ Green Equity Principles, it aims to help investors identify companies engaged in environmentally sustainable economic activities, promote the application of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, and support Hong Kong’s development as an international centre for sustainable finance. As a Recognised Reviewer, Lianhe Green provides independent, entity-level assessments on whether applicants meet the eligibility requirements under HKEX Green Equity Designation Framework, issuing an assessment report for Hong Kong Green Designation Limited (HKGDL) to refer to when evaluating relevant designation application.

Second General Assembly of the Belt and Road Initiative Green Development International Alliance Held in Hong Kong on October 25

To strengthen the promotion of green cooperation under the Belt and Road (B&R), the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) have established a B&R Green Development Co-operation Platform. By connecting with the network of the International Green Development Coalition for the Belt and Road Regions (IGDC), the platform facilitates exchange and cooperation among B&R countries and regions in green technology, policy and capacity‑building. The Second General Assembly of Members of the IGDC was held on October 25 in Hong Kong.

The IGDC was jointly initiated and established by the MEE and partners from the Mainland and overseas. It aims to build an international consensus on green development, and to initiate open, inclusive and mutually beneficial international cooperation and action on green development. By providing implementing pathways such as promotable sustainable technical solutions, verifiable green finance instruments, sharable digital and intelligent empowerment platforms and replicable capacity building paradigms, it aims to help promote sustainable development and build a clean and beautiful world together.

Source: https://sc.isd.gov.hk/TuniS//www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/25/P2026102300757.htm?fontSize=1

Lianhe Green Insights

The hosting of the Second General Assembly of Members of the IGDC in Hong Kong highlights the city's key hub role as a "Belt and Road" green super-connector. It provides a platform to connect green technologies, green capital, and green standards, while leveraging Hong Kong's robust legal framework, professional services, and international business environment to support Belt and Road countries and regions in advancing their green transition.

International ESG trends

17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity Opens

On 18 October 2026, the opening ceremony of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) was held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The conference will conduct the first global collective progress review on the implementation of the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (KMGBF), driving progress toward the 2030 targets established by the framework. The official session of COP17 runs from October 19 to 30 under the theme "Action for Nature."

Source: https://www.news.cn/world/20261019/089e238f845a4f769b764201c71c8c93/c.html

Lianhe Green Insights

The opening of COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, centers on the first global collective progress review of the KMGBF. With only four years remaining until the 2030 conservation targets, this serves as a critical "compliance health check" for global biodiversity governance. Under the theme "Action for Nature," the conference focuses on evaluating national action gaps and driving the transformation of international commitments into measurable outcomes. Facing practical challenges such as persistent global funding shortages and uneven implementation progress, the assembly will set the trajectory for national implementation, international capital allocation, and multilateral ecological cooperation, testing the practical execution capacity of global multilateral mechanisms.

Mainland China ESG trends

"China Pavilion" Biodiversity Finance Day Successfully Held: Harnessing Financial Empowerment to Accelerate the Implementation of the KMGBF

On 22 October 2026, Biodiversity Finance Day was successfully held at the "China Pavilion," guided by the Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and co-hosted by the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS). Occurring at a critical milestone in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the event directly confronted the reality of a global biodiversity financing gap of USD 700 billion, actively responded to the global review and resource mobilization agenda of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), and supported the global fulfillment of commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Source: http://www.zhb.org.cn/gjhb/gjhb_2/2026-10-23/26574.html

Lianhe Green Insights

The Biodiversity Finance Day at the "China Pavilion" reflects a vital trend in domestic ESG, expanding from carbon emission reduction into the dimension of natural ecosystems. In the face of the massive global biodiversity funding gap, the event explored natural equity trading, risk disclosure, and diversified financing instruments. It aimed to guide financial institutions to integrate biodiversity into ESG risk control and investment decision-making, thereby accelerating the implementation of the KMGBF.

MEE Releases Annual Report on China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2026)

To systematically present China's progress and achievements in actively addressing climate change both domestically and internationally, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) compiled the Annual Report on China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2026) (hereinafter referred to as the "Annual Report"), which was officially released on 21 October 2026.

The Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of the policies, measures, and key work outcomes in China's climate response since 2025. It outlines China's new climate targets and deployments, highlighting progress in climate mitigation and adaptation actions, national carbon market development, product carbon footprint management, institutional support and foundational capacity building, as well as participation in and leadership of global climate governance. Furthermore, it articulates China's basic position and proposals regarding the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Source: https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/ydqhbh/qhbhlf/202610/t20261021_1183474.shtml

Lianhe Green Insights

The release of the Annual Report systematically reviews China's latest progress and institutional development in key areas such as carbon reduction, carbon markets, and product carbon footprint management. This not only demonstrates China's firm commitment to advancing its "Dual Carbon" goals, but also sets out a clear pathway for corporate low-carbon transition and regulatory compliance. Particularly against the backdrop of reshaping global climate governance, the COP31 position articulated in the report further underscores China's responsibility as a major country in driving international climate cooperation.