https://www.scmp.com/rss/509867/feed Latest news, analysis and commentary about the provision by financial institutions of credits, loans and equity financing towards the construction of environmentally sustainable projects and business activities. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s finance chief has pledged to support the regional and global transition to a green economy by leveraging the city’s role as an international financial centre and a developing innovation and technology hub. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the remarks at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, the fifth day of his six-day trip to the capital. He also met Chinese Finance Minister Lan Foan, exchanging views on the national and global economic outlook and fiscal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:58:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has achieved a breakthrough in its decarbonisation efforts by successfully repurposing a long-haul oil pipeline to transport carbon dioxide, in a trial run that offers a potentially scalable solution to accelerate the nation’s ambitious climate goals. The 27km (16.8-mile) route delivered carbon dioxide to an oilfield in central China’s Henan province earlier this month, according to China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corporation, also known as PipeChina. In an online statement, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Alice Li,Sylvia Ma Alice Li,Sylvia Ma China has vowed to deepen cooperation in new energy and green minerals with the nations in the Global South, saying the move is in line with their industrial goals and a step towards further advancing Beijing’s economic opening-up, according to the latest front-page commentary in the Communist Party’s official newspaper. “Amid profound changes in the global environment, [China’s commitment to further opening up] underscores our confidence and responsibility in upholding openness and win-win... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339569/china-pledges-green-energy-push-global-south-signals-wider-market-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339569/china-pledges-green-energy-push-global-south-signals-wider-market-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:05:24 +0000 Cheng Xianyue Cheng Xianyue On December 16, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on receiving a work report from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, said the city should proactively align with the country’s 15th five-year plan and better integrate into, and serve, the national development agenda. In recent days, discussion of the coming plan across the Hong Kong government and wider society has underscored a growing consensus behind deeper integration with the mainland. While the 14th five-year plan spoke of “maintaining”... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338179/how-hong-kong-can-take-more-frontier-role-chinas-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338179/how-hong-kong-can-take-more-frontier-role-chinas-development?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 John Haffner,Jenny Lee,Lisa Sachs John Haffner,Jenny Lee,Lisa Sachs For decades, New York and London have defined the flow of global capital. But while markets still chase short-term returns in US equities, the next great wave of productive investment is taking shape in East Asia, led by China’s financing, manufacturing and export of the clean technologies that are remaking the global economy. That contrast has only widened. As the United States retreats from climate leadership, China has doubled down. A day after US President Donald Trump called climate change... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334872/how-hong-kong-can-distinguish-itself-climate-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334872/how-hong-kong-can-distinguish-itself-climate-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Nirbhay Rana Nirbhay Rana Cop30 concluded with confident declarations from global fashion brands: upgraded net-zero road maps, new partnerships under the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and bold promises to “accelerate supply-chain decarbonisation”. However, the summit revealed something the industry continues to avoid. Fashion’s climate ambition is still being shaped in the West, while the responsibility for delivering it falls almost entirely on Asia. This imbalance has not shifted. Instead, the UN... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335136/fashion-industry-must-tailor-climate-plans-asian-suppliers-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3335136/fashion-industry-must-tailor-climate-plans-asian-suppliers-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Ma Jun,Sean Kidney Ma Jun,Sean Kidney As the United States renounces its climate commitments, a chain reaction of wavering pledges and scaled-back investments by other donors and multilateral institutions has followed. This trend raises the stakes for everyone else, underscoring the urgency of closing the financing gap for climate adaptation and mitigation in the developing world. Fortunately, China has increasingly been projecting itself as a source of alternative, low-cost funding for climate and sustainability projects across the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334996/how-yuan-internationalisation-helping-close-climate-finance-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334996/how-yuan-internationalisation-helping-close-climate-finance-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:30:10 +0000 Karin Costa Vazquez Karin Costa Vazquez As South Africa hands over the Group of 20 presidency, something more consequential than a routine rotation is taking place. The moment marks the end of an unprecedented cycle: four consecutive presidencies led by major economies of the Global South – Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa. For four years, the G20 was steered by countries whose development priorities, demographic structures and geopolitical positions diverged from those of the Group of Seven. In 2026, the gavel will pass to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333956/us-must-build-global-souths-g20-momentum-not-undermine-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333956/us-must-build-global-souths-g20-momentum-not-undermine-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:30:09 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Spectating from afar during the Cop30 UN climate summit in Belem on the edge of Brazil’s Amazon forests, it is easy to despair. Despite 30 years of concerted global diplomacy and exhaustive scientific evidence of the gravity of global warming, carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise, as do global temperatures. Brazil’s rainforest continues to burn. Global oil and gas production remains robust. Governments procrastinate and funding promises still fail to materialise. Worst of all, the world’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332704/takeaway-cop30-climate-action-needs-be-close-and-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332704/takeaway-cop30-climate-action-needs-be-close-and-local?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:30:10 +0000 Wang Huiyao,Zhi Wang Wang Huiyao,Zhi Wang The world stands at a crossroads, amid an accelerating climate crisis, geopolitical tensions reshaping global trade and the demand from Global South nations to exercise their right to industrialise without repeating the polluting mistakes of the past. A new consensus is urgently needed that moves beyond zero-sum competition and towards collaborative solutions. The path to decarbonisation creates a trilemma of competing interests that threatens progress for all. First, Western anxieties must be... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332346/global-green-industrialisation-initiative-can-have-win-win-win-outcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3332346/global-green-industrialisation-initiative-can-have-win-win-win-outcome?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hong Kong is marketing a new set of “digitally native” bonds denominated in multiple currencies, intensifying the city’s drive to become a global hub for digital assets. The government was looking to sell digital green bonds denominated in US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, euros and offshore yuan, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal could be priced as early as Monday, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. If successfully priced, it would mark... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3332197/hong-kong-extends-digital-bond-ambitions-third-offering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3332197/hong-kong-extends-digital-bond-ambitions-third-offering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:04:43 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China will join a Brazil-led coalition to link carbon markets across major economies, one of the key environmental proposals set to be adopted at Cop30 in Belem on Friday. The so-called Open Coalition for the Integration of Carbon Markets was created to align standards and make it easier for countries to trade carbon credits. Developed by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, it is part of the government’s Ecological Transformation Plan, a broad strategy to combine economic growth with social inclusion... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3332010/cop30-china-join-brazil-led-coalition-seeking-improved-carbon-trading-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3332010/cop30-china-join-brazil-led-coalition-seeking-improved-carbon-trading-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:27:26 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu A growing number of mainland Chinese financial institutions and international companies have shown interest in establishing regional headquarters in Hong Kong to tap into increasing business opportunities across the region, according to the head of Citigroup’s local unit. Aveline San Pau-len, Citi Hong Kong CEO and head of banking, said many mainland banks and international financial institutions would like Citigroup to help set up their headquarters in the city to serve clients who wanted to... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3328462/mainland-financial-firms-seeking-strategic-hong-kong-headquarters-rise-citigroup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3328462/mainland-financial-firms-seeking-strategic-hong-kong-headquarters-rise-citigroup?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Hong Kong Green Building Council recently started issuing international certificates for buildings overseas, which is expected to enable more international developers to secure local funding for sustainable projects, boosting the city’s role as a regional green finance hub. A non-profit-making body focused on promoting the development of eco-friendly structures, the council has extended its Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus certification programme to foreign markets. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327913/hong-kong-strengthens-green-finance-hub-role-new-global-building-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327913/hong-kong-strengthens-green-finance-hub-role-new-global-building-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 23:30:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Asian companies, particularly those in China, are undergoing a structural transformation in their supply chains, with many redirecting investments towards Europe amid a decoupling from the US, according to a senior banker at ING. As Washington continues to negotiate with trade partners, companies active in the region – both local and international – recognised the need to diversify their supply chains, said Uday Sareen, CEO and head of wholesale banking for Asia-Pacific at the Dutch bank. “We... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327182/asian-firms-shift-investment-towards-europe-supply-chain-realignment-ing-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327182/asian-firms-shift-investment-towards-europe-supply-chain-realignment-ing-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis is no longer a distant blueprint but a defining project of our times. In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made clear that its delivery will be a top priority, with new structures, legislation and transport links to ensure momentum. This marks a significant step forward for Hong Kong, signalling a determination to transform vision into reality. The creation of a committee tasked with developing the Northern Metropolis, backed by working groups... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325941/northern-metropolis-can-be-hong-kongs-new-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325941/northern-metropolis-can-be-hong-kongs-new-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:30:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is boosting financial ties with the Middle East by signing initial accords with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to enable mutual recognition of funds and cross-listings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Hong Kong’s market regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to facilitate the mutual recognition of funds. This would allow public... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3325954/hong-kong-and-uae-strengthen-financial-ties-etf-and-fund-accords?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3325954/hong-kong-and-uae-strengthen-financial-ties-etf-and-fund-accords?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong can take a more active role in the multibillion-dollar impact investment sector by developing a thriving ecosystem that includes more start-ups, offers innovative financial products and upholds world-class standards, the finance chief has pledged. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that the initiative was part of the city’s commitment to making the world more sustainable. He noted that last year, the capital involved in impact investment had reached US$1.6 trillion and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3325483/hong-kong-boost-impact-investment-sector-start-and-innovation-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3325483/hong-kong-boost-impact-investment-sector-start-and-innovation-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 08:10:02 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu The memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year between Hainan province and Hong Kong is more than a mere policy document. It’s a signal that two of China’s key gateways have entered a new phase of two-way coordination and shared ambition. Spanning multiple sectors such as finance, trade and investment, data, tourism and talent exchange, the memorandum underscores the deeply intertwined future of both places. In August, China launched a cross-border asset management pilot in the Hainan... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325041/how-hainan-and-hong-kong-can-build-each-others-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325041/how-hainan-and-hong-kong-can-build-each-others-success?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong can play a role in helping the UN achieve its sustainability and humanitarian goals through green financing, the head of innovative finance at its refugee agency has said. Siddhartha Sinha also said that developing “good partnerships” would help Hong Kong as it looked to tap into Islamic financing, citing the agency’s own experience. Sinha was speaking to the Post on the sidelines of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Global Conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday. AVPN pitches... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325212/very-valuable-role-hong-kong-helping-un-body-reach-green-finance-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325212/very-valuable-role-hong-kong-helping-un-body-reach-green-finance-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:28:26 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The Asia-Pacific region presents insurers with substantial growth opportunities when it comes to covering climate-related risks, according to Swiss Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers. Victor Kuk, Swiss Re’s head of property and casualty reinsurance in Southeast Asia, India, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said that only 16 per cent of climate-related risks in the region were presently insured. Kuk spoke on Tuesday at the Climate Business Forum: Asia Pacific, hosted by the International... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324929/asia-pacific-presents-major-climate-related-insurance-opportunities-swiss-re?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324929/asia-pacific-presents-major-climate-related-insurance-opportunities-swiss-re?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:58:38 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is poised to gain from mainland China’s expanding Belt and Road Initiative, as new projects under the effort to build a China-centred economic network increasingly focus on green development, digital transformation and trade-corridor connectivity, according to HSBC. Hong Kong, with its strengths in green finance and status as the world’s largest offshore yuan hub, was set to play a bigger role as the 12‑year‑old belt and road plan shifted towards more private sector-led projects across... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324330/chinas-ramp-belt-and-road-investments-plays-hong-kongs-strengths-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324330/chinas-ramp-belt-and-road-investments-plays-hong-kongs-strengths-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:30:27 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong stands to benefit as a family office hub and impact investment centre, according to industry observers, after a survey showed ESG investments account for a growing share of the portfolios of nine out of 10 family offices globally. According to a study released on Wednesday by the Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI), ESG investments – which seek to improve society, reduce pollution and address climate change risks – accounted for at least half of the portfolio for nearly 20 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/article/3324205/hong-kong-emerges-hub-impact-investments-90-family-offices-embrace-esg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/article/3324205/hong-kong-emerges-hub-impact-investments-90-family-offices-embrace-esg?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:45:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The sustainable debt market in Hong Kong recorded solid growth in the first half of the year, with estimated issuances rising 15 per cent to US$34.3 billion from a year earlier, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Wednesday as the city prepared to host the second annual Green Week event. Kenneth Hui, the authority’s executive director (external), said he hoped the momentum would extend to the second half, noting strong demand from international investors, particularly in Europe and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324186/hong-kongs-sustainable-debt-market-grows-15-city-prepares-host-green-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324186/hong-kongs-sustainable-debt-market-grows-15-city-prepares-host-green-week?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:45:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong was responsible for nearly half of the green bonds issued in Asia in 2024 and saw a surge in sustainability-related funds, as strong demand from regional mainland governments and start-ups raised the city’s stature as a finance hub for climate-friendly projects, according to a minister. Green bond issuance in Hong Kong last year reached US$43 billion, representing 45 per cent of the region’s total and keeping the city atop the league table in Asia for the seventh consecutive year, said... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323896/hong-kongs-crop-green-bonds-esg-funds-flourishes-under-mainland-chinas-climate-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323896/hong-kongs-crop-green-bonds-esg-funds-flourishes-under-mainland-chinas-climate-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:00:07 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu The Greater Bay Area development zone is one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world. With a population of over 86 million and a gross domestic product of around US$2 trillion, it connects global manufacturing hubs, financial centres, technology clusters and tourism destinations. As Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province become more integrated, they are also becoming more exposed to shared risks from extreme weather events. A disruption in one jurisdiction can quickly cascade... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322506/hong-kong-can-find-its-niche-greater-bay-area-climate-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3322506/hong-kong-can-find-its-niche-greater-bay-area-climate-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong lenders were expected to face a talent shortage in artificial intelligence (AI), green finance and expertise related to the Middle East and Asean markets over the next five years, according to a study led by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). “We want to see local banks provide more training for their staff to upgrade their knowledge and skills to plug the talent shortage gap, instead of using higher pay to fight for talent from other banks,” Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang, deputy chief... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3322124/hong-kong-banks-face-ai-and-green-finance-talent-shortage-2030-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3322124/hong-kong-banks-face-ai-and-green-finance-talent-shortage-2030-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:30:12 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie China has been increasing investment in renewable energy to give its economy a boost. In the first half of 2025, China’s solar power generation capacity jumped 54.2 per cent year on year, while wind power’s generation capacity increased by 22.7 per cent in the same time period. The country is also constructing what is set to be the world’s largest hydropower project, expected to cost less than 1 per cent of China’s gross domestic product (GDP). Reduced consumption of crude oil coupled with lower... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3320834/chinas-clean-energy-transition-solves-several-problems-once?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3320834/chinas-clean-energy-transition-solves-several-problems-once?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:28:59 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong is poised to play an invaluable role in sustainable development by capitalising on its strengths in green finance given mainland China’s status as a leader in advanced green technologies, a top American economist has said. Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor and director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, also said on Thursday that the Greater Bay Area was superior to Silicon Valley. Beijing should also speed up the internationalisation of the renminbi,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319502/hong-kong-urged-make-itself-truly-worlds-green-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319502/hong-kong-urged-make-itself-truly-worlds-green-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:18:09 +0000 Riaz Khokhar Riaz Khokhar Indian think tank NITI Aayog recently made a striking recommendation to ease the near-total restrictions on Chinese investment imposed during the 2020 border crisis. It suggested that Chinese companies be allowed to acquire up to a 24 per cent stake in Indian firms without any vetting. If implemented, it would represent a significant U-turn on New Delhi’s part. Since 2020, India has required screening for all investments from neighbouring countries, effectively targeting China. With the backing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319144/why-economic-ties-are-missing-ingredient-china-india-detente?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319144/why-economic-ties-are-missing-ingredient-china-india-detente?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Dani Rodrik Dani Rodrik Among the disasters of US President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, one is particularly stinging for political economists. The bill radically phases out the clean-energy subsidies introduced during president Joe Biden’s administration three years ago. These subsidies were considered by many as immune to a change of presidents since they created new jobs and profit opportunities for firms in traditionally Republican-voting “red” states. As allergic as the Trump-controlled Republican... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317659/how-us-climate-advocates-lost-narrative-battle-over-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317659/how-us-climate-advocates-lost-narrative-battle-over-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:30:07 +0000 Rioberto Sidauruk Rioberto Sidauruk At the 17th Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, some countries – particularly Russia, China and India – arrived wielding formidable influence. With nuclear capabilities, expansive infrastructure and veto power in multilateral bodies, they shape global narratives and push national agendas. Their role in the Brics grouping is that of a core capable of challenging norms and institutions. Indonesia, by contrast, does not bring hard power. We are neither a nuclear state nor a technological giant.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317280/through-brics-indonesia-offers-its-vision-inclusivity-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317280/through-brics-indonesia-offers-its-vision-inclusivity-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:31:00 +0000 Harvey Rouse Harvey Rouse Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Last year marked the hottest on record, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe. Just last month, scientists warned that we have only three years left to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels as set by the Paris Agreement. This target has long been the pillar of climate efforts worldwide. Our planet is not waiting for us. The European Union and Hong Kong share this conviction:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317171/hong-kong-and-eu-are-natural-partners-2050-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317171/hong-kong-and-eu-are-natural-partners-2050-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Genevieve Donnellon-May Genevieve Donnellon-May Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s coming visit to China later this summer presents a timely chance to reframe Australia–China relations through an increasingly vital lens: climate cooperation. With bilateral ties having largely stabilised since 2022 and a joint Australia–Pacific bid for the 2026 UN climate summit under way, climate action offers a promising platform for stronger engagement. The rationale for cooperation is clear. Australia possesses vast reserves of critical minerals... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3316466/climate-action-china-aligns-australias-security-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3316466/climate-action-china-aligns-australias-security-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Chris Hayward Chris Hayward Since my last visit to mainland China just 12 months ago, the global trade landscape has undergone drastic change. Navigating tariffs is a frequent topic of discussion, while the importance of trade relationships could not be more prominent. As policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, I strive to ensure that rising global uncertainty does not give way to inertia. As two of the world’s leading financial centres, London and Hong Kong have an opportunity to deepen the wider financial... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3314267/london-and-hong-kong-hold-keys-closer-uk-china-collaboration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3314267/london-and-hong-kong-hold-keys-closer-uk-china-collaboration?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse New homes built in Britain will have rooftop solar panels “by default”, reducing energy bills and helping to meet carbon-reduction targets, the Labour government announced on Friday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s party wants 1.5 million new homes built by 2029 amid a housing shortage, a figure many experts believe is optimistic. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said proposals announced on Friday mark “a monumental step in unleashing this rooftop revolution”. The government said: “New homes will also... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3313446/uk-plans-solar-panel-revolution-new-homes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3313446/uk-plans-solar-panel-revolution-new-homes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:06:00 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The Hong Kong government sold HK$27 billion (US$3.44 billion) in multicurrency green and infrastructure bonds to support the development of the Northern Metropolis, boosting the city’s reputation as a sustainable finance hub. The notes, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, yuan, US dollars and euros, drew strong demand from investors globally amid an uncertain interest rate environment. The sale attracted orders totalling nearly HK$237 billion, translating into subscription ratios of between 3.3... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3313123/hong-kongs-huge-multicurrency-bond-deal-oversubscribed-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3313123/hong-kongs-huge-multicurrency-bond-deal-oversubscribed-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:51:54 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The Brics economic bloc approved its first joint climate finance framework on Thursday, the group’s most coordinated effort to date on funding climate action and setting the stage for a shared position – a first for the group – ahead of Cop30 in Brazil. The nonbinding framework – agreed during a high-level meeting on climate change and sustainable development – outlines Brics priorities including the reform of multilateral development banks, the scaling up of concessional finance and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312365/brics-approves-climate-finance-framework-crafting-joint-position-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312365/brics-approves-climate-finance-framework-crafting-joint-position-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 19:55:53 +0000 Ban Ki-Moon Ban Ki-Moon Nearly a decade ago on the eve of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, as UN secretary general, I stood alongside then US president Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two countries took the historic step of joining the Paris Agreement. That moment – with the world’s two largest economies and biggest emitters – both expedited the ratification of the Paris Agreement and marked the start of an unprecedented era of climate cooperation. It showed shared responsibility in the face of an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3310967/chinas-green-energy-leadership-can-bridge-political-economic-divides?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3310967/chinas-green-energy-leadership-can-bridge-political-economic-divides?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Five public corporations in Hong Kong dedicated to supporting businesses should learn from Qatar and enhance their coordination to offer more comprehensive services to foreign investors, the head of one body has said. Hong Kong Productivity Council chairman Sunny Tan, who joined Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s delegation on a four-day visit to the Middle East this week, said on Saturday that he was inspired by the Qatar Development Bank. He said the Trade Development Council, InvestHK, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310752/hong-kong-trade-bodies-urged-learn-qatar-enhance-investor-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310752/hong-kong-trade-bodies-urged-learn-qatar-enhance-investor-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 07:59:02 +0000 In this day and age, doing a sustainability issue is treacherous territory. I’ll be honest, we had fierce debates in our editorial meetings. Should we? Shouldn’t we? There were arguments for both sides. So much is greenwashed, all marketing and no substance. The word itself has been co-opted by every brand imaginable – and even if you try to sidestep it and approach the subject with more nuance as a business, you can’t because SEO. And yet, writing off any and all attempts at lessening our... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3307884/week-postmag-upcycled-eggshells-and-eco-friendly-practices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3307884/week-postmag-upcycled-eggshells-and-eco-friendly-practices?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Apr 2025 01:00:14 +0000 China recently issued its first sovereign green bonds on the London Stock Exchange, a landmark moment that projected Beijing as a leader in sustainable finance. The move was welcomed: it promised to channel international capital into China’s vast green economy and could deepen climate cooperation with Britain and the European Union. But China also continues to approve new coal power plants and last year launched construction on 94.5 gigawatts of capacity, the most since 2015. Therein lies a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3307482/china-must-resist-greenwashing-its-dirty-coal-habit-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3307482/china-must-resist-greenwashing-its-dirty-coal-habit-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:30:08 +0000 President Donald Trump’s second term has been a wrecking ball for US climate policy – ripping the country out of the Paris Agreement, gutting climate science funding and abandoning global clean energy commitments. Fossil fuels are back at the centre of power, while international climate efforts scramble to fill the void left by a retreating America. Scientists flee to Europe, funding dries up for energy transitions and the United States, once a key player in climate diplomacy, now cedes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3303970/asia-cant-afford-wait-us-wake-its-climate-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3303970/asia-cant-afford-wait-us-wake-its-climate-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 The United States’ withdrawal from a multibillion-dollar plan designed to support Indonesia’s shift away from coal is likely to undermine the country’s energy-transition goals, analysts have said, particularly given Jakarta’s weak political will to meet its climate commitments. Washington confirmed its exit from the programme, known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), on March 6. The plan was first unveiled at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3302271/indonesias-energy-transition-doubt-us-pulls-out-us20-billion-coal-phase-out-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3302271/indonesias-energy-transition-doubt-us-pulls-out-us20-billion-coal-phase-out-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:00:17 +0000 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded its deliberations in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, recently. Predictably, there was a deadlock between the participants over the date by which the detailed, three-part assessment on the climate crisis – the seventh in the series – will be presented to the United Nations. The report is a comprehensive review and a rigorously researched assessment of climate impacts, vulnerabilities and mitigation efforts. Some want the report to be... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3300953/can-china-and-india-step-fill-climate-void-left-trumps-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3300953/can-china-and-india-step-fill-climate-void-left-trumps-america?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Mar 2025 12:30:10 +0000 US President Donald Trump is stunning the world with zigzag policy changes. His dictum “Drill, baby, drill” shows the US government is focused on boosting energy and wealth and abandoning net zero commitments to phase out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and removing environmental constraints on businesses that exploit energy resources, Trump is safeguarding the US as the global hegemonic oil and natural gas producer, ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3300508/how-trumps-rejection-net-zero-exposes-inconvenient-truths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3300508/how-trumps-rejection-net-zero-exposes-inconvenient-truths?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Last month, we flew to Toronto and plunged into a world, exacerbated by wind chill, of 35 degrees Celsius below zero. This record temperature resulted from the weakening of circumpolar currents that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3297583/why-hong-kong-should-consider-carbon-taxes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3297583/why-hong-kong-should-consider-carbon-taxes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:30:08 +0000 Imagine that our world was in the middle of a global pandemic. Now imagine that, in the middle of this pandemic, one country was producing abundant supplies of a proven vaccine but other governments were choosing not to use it. Not only that but imagine that some of those governments instead complained about supposed overproduction and imposed tariffs on imports of the cheap vaccine. Many adjectives might be used to describe such a situation, and perhaps “crazy” would be the politest of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3296322/we-wouldnt-slap-tariffs-vaccines-why-would-we-solar-panels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3296322/we-wouldnt-slap-tariffs-vaccines-why-would-we-solar-panels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong and countries in the Middle East are looking to deepen collaboration in finance, artificial intelligence (AI), logistics and big infrastructure projects, government officials said on Tuesday. The city’s strong capital market could help Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries raise funds to finance projects as they seek to diversify their economies, said Gulf officials, who welcomed investment from Hong Kong. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3294735/hong-kong-gulf-nations-seek-synergies-finance-and-infrastructure-deepen-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3294735/hong-kong-gulf-nations-seek-synergies-finance-and-infrastructure-deepen-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:51:10 +0000