On November 14, China Social Investment Forum (China SIF), initiated by SynTao Green Finance and the Securities Times CSR Center, hosted the second China SIF Annual Conference focusing on responsible investment in China, and highlighting the integration of green investment as an important tool to drive environmental impact. The general manager of SynTao, Dr. Guo Peiyuan launched the new research of China SIF -- Socially Responsible Investment Survey on Chinese Funds 2014. The report shows that a growing number of funds are caring about companies’ extra-financial performance by questionnaire and interview to China’s fund managers.
Ms. Tessa Tennant, the non-executive director of UK Green Investment Bank delivered the first keynote speech, introducing the global trends in green investment based on the practices from banking, insurance, and investment sector. Deputy Director of the Statistics Department of China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), Mr. Ye Yanfei presented CBRC’s experience on promoting green credit guidelines. Dr. An Guojun from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Finance and Banking suggested that a structured green finance system needed communication and cooperation of the finance, taxation and environmental protection sector. Ms. Wu Changhua, Greater China Director of the Climate Group, shared her experience of clean tech investment.
The first panel discussion was hosted by Ms. Cai Yingcui, CEO of SynTao Green Finance. Founding Chair of Calvert Funds, Mr. Wayne Silby, and KoSIF’s director Karl Yang joined the conversation together with Tessa and Wu Chuanghua. Wayne shared his observations on responsible investment in the US and the impact of Shanghai – Hong Kong Stock Connect to China’s corporate social responsibility development as more and more foreign institutional investors accessing mainland market. Karl explains the role of SIFs in the development of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) and the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information disclosure. Tessa, who involved in the establishment of Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA), and Wu Chuanghua both emphasized that the younger generation, as well as civil organizations such as SIFs and Climate Group, played an important role in the development of responsible investment.
The two panel sessions in the afternoon focused on the concept of stranded assets, divestment campaign and air pollution with diverse speakers from investors, consultancies, academic, think tanks, international and Chinese NGOs. The first panel consisted of Prof. Wang Yao, the director of the Research Center for Climate and Energy Finance in Central University of Finance and Economics; Ben Caldecott, director of the Stranded Assets Programme in Oxford University; Jackrit Watanatada, Deputy CEO of ASrIA; Paul Cooper, Corporate Reporting Director of ACCA London; and Wang Xiaoshu, Senior Analyst from MSCI ESG Research.
The second panel featured Prof. Zhang Qiang, Deputy Director of School of Social Development and Public Policy of the Beijing Normal University; Trucost’s Head of Business Development in Asia, Chaoni Huang; Gu Beibei, Green Securities Project Manager of the Institute of Public Environmental Affairs (IPE); Clean Air Alliance of China (CAAC)’s Director of Secretariat, Tonny Xie; Sun Xi, Responsible Investment Analyst of Sustainalytics; and Avantage Ventures’ Executive Manager, Wang Dongxiang.
Nearly 150 participants from institutional investors, asset management firms, brokers, consultancies, academia and civil society joined the conference.
Click the following links for conference materials and presentations by:
Agenda
Keynote speech I: Global trends of green investment
Tessa Tennant, Non-executive Director, UK Green Investment Bank
Keynote speech II: Green Credit in China
Ye Yanfei, Deputy Director, Statistics Department, China Banking Regulatory Commission
Keynote speech III: Establishing a green investment structure in China
An Guojun, Researcher, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Finance and Banking
Keynote speech IV: Disclosure and responsible investment
Wu Changhua, Greater China Director, Climate Group
Panel discussion I: Responsible investment for green growth
Host: Tracy Cai, CEO, SynTao Green Finance
Karl Chun Seung Yang, Director, KoSIF
Tessa Tennant, Non-executive Director, UK Green Investment Bank
Wayne Silby, Founding Chair, Calvert Funds
Wu Changhua, Greater China Director, Climate Group
Report release: SRI Survey of Chinese Funds 2014
Guo Peiyuan, Co-founder of China SIF, General Manager of SynTao
Panel discussion II: Stranded assets, investment risks and low carbon energy mix
Host: Wang Yao, Director, the Research Center for Climate and Energy Finance, Central University of Finance and Economics
Ben Caldecott, Director, Stranded Assets Programme, Oxford
Jackrit Watanatada, Deputy CEO, Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA)
Paul Cooper, Corporate Reporting Director, ACCA London
Wang Xiaoshu, Senior Analyst, MSCI ESG Research
Panel discussion III: Clean air and responsible investment
Host: Zhang Qiang, Deputy Director, School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University
Chaoni Huang, Head of Business Development, Asia, Trucost
Gu Beibei, Green Securities Project Manager, Institute of Public Environmental Affairs
Tonny Xie, Director of Secretariat, Clean Air Alliance of China (CAAC)
Sun Xi, Responsible Investment Analyst, Sustainalytics
Wang Dongxiang, Executive manager, Avantage Ventures
For more information，please contact
SynTao/ SynTao Green Finance
Ms. Wu Yanjing
wuyanjing@syntao.com
86 10 58699466 ext.8007