Earth Forum 2026: Hong Kong as Asia’s Green & Sustainable Finance Hub

Written By

Financial Services Development Council

Hong Kong, 22 April 2026 –Friends of the Earth (HK) (FoE (HK)), the Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), and the China Sustainable Investment Forum (China SIF) jointly hosted the Earth Forum 2026, a strategic initiative aligned with China’s forward-looking development agenda and Hong Kong's unique role as a bridge between the Chinese Mainland and global markets. The Forum reinforced the city’s positioning as a leading hub for green and sustainable financial services in Asia.

In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant progress in developing a robust green finance and green technology ecosystem. In support of the national “Dual Carbon” objectives, this year’s Government Budget outlined a forward-looking strategy to accelerate green industrial development and corporate transition. This approach underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to strengthening its position as a premier regional hub, particularly in green and sustainable debt issuance. As demand for capital, innovation, and expertise continues to grow, the green transition is expected to unlock substantial economic opportunities for the city.

Mr Plato Yip, Chairperson of Friends of the Earth (HK), asserted that sustainable development has become a vital component of economic and financial decision-making rather than a secondary concern. He noted, "As a leading international financial center, Hong Kong stands out for its strong adherence to the rule of law and a regulatory framework that meets global standards, including those established by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Moreover, we have a vast network of professionals across the banking, insurance, accounting, and legal sectors, which upholds financial integrity and resilience. This community plays a crucial role in applying international standards to capital allocation, thus fostering long-term value creation. The future of green finance relies on our commitment to professional integrity and collaborative efforts across various sectors. Together, we must champion this evolution with a focus on reliable, strategic, and sustainable outcomes."

Mr Daniel R Fung, SBS, SC, KC, JP, FCIArb, Vice-Chairman of the FSDC, emphasises, “Scaling climate finance is no longer just an ambition; it is a necessity. Hong Kong’s opportunity lies in leveraging its market depth and international alignment to transform sustainability commitments into credible, investable decisions. By reducing market friction and providing the transparency required by global capital, we are not just participating in the green transition—we are helping the region navigate it with greater assurance.”

Mr Ronald Young, Head of Sustainable Banking Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, noted “As an International Finance Centre and the region’s sustainable finance hub, Hong Kong has a key role to play in scaling up green and sustainable capital flows and supporting the region’s transition to a low-carbon economy. By strengthening risk management, enhancing transparency, catalysing innovation, and closing the talent and knowledge gaps, Hong Kong is further developing ourselves into the go-to sustainable financing platform of the region and beyond.”

Dr Kang Qu, Managing Director of Sustainability Strategy Bank of China (Hong Kong), said “ ‘Green’ and ‘Growth’ are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. By turning sustainability into a competitive advantage for clients, Hong Kong can connect the Chinese Mainland’s manufacturing needs with Southeast Asia’s green projects, thereby driving the growth of green finance in Hong Kong. By bridging the gap between Chinese innovation and Southeast Asian opportunities, we are doing more than just financing projects- we are building a resilient and sustainable ecosystem for the region and for the Earth.”

This forum featured two dynamic panel discussions. The first session, entitled “Unleashing Green and Sustainable Capital through Hong Kong's Professional Services and High-Integrity ESG and Climate Data,” was moderated by Dr Rocky Tung, Executive Director of the FSDC. Panellists examined how Hong Kong's professional services can support the development of a transparent and accountable ESG and climate data ecosystem, effectively connecting global investors with innovative green projects to fully unleash the potential of sustainable capital and drive the real economy towards a low-carbon transition.

The second session, titled “Building Hong Kong’s Sustainability Assurance Ecosystem: Advancing Talent, Technology and Global Connectivity?”, was moderated by Professor Anthony Cheung, Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) Independent Standards Board Member; Vice-Chairperson, Friends of the Earth (HK). This discussion focused on enhancing the transparency, reliability and comparability of ESG disclosures, and on building a robust sustainability disclosure and assurance framework aligned with international standards. A distinguished panel of industry experts explored practical steps to strengthen data governance, scale up interdisciplinary assurance talent, and develop an effective regulatory roadmap for sustainability assurance. The session also examined how Hong Kong can leverage its role as a “super connector” to promote the interoperability of international standards, laying a stronger foundation of trust for cross-border capital and sustainability data flows.

Dr Peiyuan Guo, Chairman of China SIF and SynTao Green Finance, highlighted that Hong Kong's advantage of being backed by the Mainland while connected to international markets constitutes its unique competitive edge in developing sustainable finance. He noted that Hong Kong has already laid a solid foundation in green bonds, sustainability disclosure, and talent development. Moving forward, the city can continue to take the lead in some forward-looking areas such as transition disclosure, biodiversity finance, and reporting assurance.

Bringing together financial institutions, corporates, and industry thought leaders, the Forum delved into how Hong Kong can enhance its status as Asia’s leading hub for green and sustainable finance. The discussions highlighted the importance of professional services — including sustainability assurance, climate risk insurance, strategic consultancy, asset management, legal services, and ESG talent development — in supporting businesses to meet international sustainability standards, enhance investor confidence, and facilitate seamless cross-border green capital flows. Anchored in transparency, accountability, and professional excellence, Hong Kong is well-positioned to play a vital leadership role in aligning the global financial system with the principles of sustainable development.

Special thanks to the venue sponsor Bank of China (Hong Kong) for their invaluable support in making Earth Forum 2026 a success.

For more details about Earth Forum 2026, please visit the official event webpage.