Utopia(s) Conversations on a Sustainable Planet

30 August 2026, 10:00 CEST
online (tbd)

Lecture: Jing Kui (Associate Professor, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China)

Abstract：
China’s green finance system has grown rapidly to support the nation’s “Dual Carbon” goals, with green loan balances surpassing RMB 42 trillion and green bond issuance consistently ranking among the global leaders. Policy frameworks—including the national carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) and updated green bond taxonomies—have broadened market coverage beyond the power sector to include steel, cement, and aluminium, now accounting for over 60% of total CO₂ emissions. Alongside, ESG integration among listed companies has accelerated, with disclosure rates approaching 50% and rating upgrades becoming more common across industries. Local initiatives, such as biodiversity‑linked lending and carbon‑sink financial products, illustrate a shift from purely policy‑driven programmes toward market‑led innovation. These trends signal that China’s green finance is transitioning from a compliance‑oriented phase to one where environmental, social and governance factors are systematically embedded in capital allocation, investment decisions and corporate strategy, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable and low‑carbon economic transformation.

Jing Kui is a colleague of Liang Wang who currently is Visiting Scholar at our Institute.