Financial decision-making should ideally contribute to positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes. ESG measurement and reporting is therefore becoming ever more important for corporations, financial institutions, governments and civil society.
Another turbulent and complex year is coming to end driven by economic recovery (discussions), more COVID19 and more Zoom conferences. Before we round up and share what we believe were key developments in green finance and sustainable development in 2021, we want to take this opportunity and first say: Thank you for…
On July 16, 2021, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China issued the “Green Development Guidelines for Foreign Investment and Cooperation” (hereinafter referred to as the 2021 Green Guidelines). The Guidelines focus on both investment and trade. With MOFCOM being responsible for regulating Chinese…
On June 23, 2021, during a virtual conference, political leaders of 29 partner countries of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development (“BRI Green Partnership”). Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister WANG Yi presided over the conference during the Asia and…
The BRI offers the Central Asian range states of Panthera Uncia a once in a generation chance to bring economic opportunity to a region often overlooked in development. Like all projects of this scale, the ramifications for the area’s biodiversity, and in particular its flagship species Panthera Uncia remains hard…
Highlights Renewable energy investments (solar, wind, hydro) constitute majority of Chinese overseas energy investments – increasing their share from 38% in 2019 to 57% in 2020 – amid a total decrease of BRI investments of 54% Key findings Chinese overseas investments into countries of the BRI were about US$47 billion…
On January 10th, the State Council Information Office (the administrative office under the State Council) published the White Paper on “China’s International Development Cooperation in the New Era” (中文版本). In 8 chapters, the paper summarizes China’s recent engagement in (generously) providing development assistance (intermixed with its overseas economic engagement) and…
On September 22, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China aims to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 during the UN General Assembly. EU-China-summit-2020 (Pic: European Council) One important partner for China to reach its ambitions is the European Union (EU). On September 14,…
While green bonds remain the most mature instruments, a wide range of innovative financial solutions are rapidly developing. Issuing green bonds, i.e. bonds whose proceeds are earmarked for funding climate and environmental-friendly projects, is an effective and increasingly popular way to achieve this end. In just over a decade, annual…
Editorial Note The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), since its initiation and implementation, has brought new opportunities for global economic development, particularly sustainable economic development of BRI countries. As of 18 April 2019, new progress had been made under the BRI in terms of policy coordination, infrastructure building, unimpeded trade,…