Synopsis
Hong Kong, a vital gateway between China and the world, is well positioned to help lead Asia’s net-zero transition by leveraging its deep financial markets, revitalising multilateral cooperation and scaling climate technology. The city continues to lead sustainable debt issuance in Asia, while its sustainable finance taxonomy is helping bridge global and Asian frameworks. Demand for sustainable finance is being driven by emerging opportunities in infrastructure, real economy sectors and the wider energy transition across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Belt and Road economic corridors.
But capital alone will not determine the pace of change. As climate impacts intensify and geopolitical and economic uncertainties reshape investment decisions, Hong Kong’s regulatory and financing pathways must keep pace with climate targets. The key challenge is to connect finance with solutions, projects and businesses capable of delivering measurable real-economy outcomes.
Unlocking capital for sustainability 2026 – Hong Kong will explore how global sustainable capital flows can scale without compromising credibility, integrity and impact; how the Greater Bay Area can develop into Asia’s leading climate tech hub; and how Asia’s growing pools of private, institutional and philanthropic capital can support the transition while delivering positive social and environmental outcomes.
The forum will also examine how Hong Kong can integrate climate resilience and nature-based solutions into its urban development and infrastructure plans. Together, these conversations address a broader question: how can Hong Kong use its distinctive position within Greater China and the global financial system not only to finance the transition, but also to shape what gets built, where capital flows, and the outcome it delivers?
Now in its second year, the Hong Kong edition will convene leaders from government, finance and industry to explore practical strategies, investment opportunities and partnerships for advancing sustainable development across the region and the world.
The forum is part of Asia’s leading sustainable finance platform hosted by Eco-Business and UNEP FI since 2018, which takes place across six locations – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore – bringing together regional perspectives on how finance can support an inclusive transition.
What we're talking about
Key Speakers
Speakers
Agenda
9:30
Registration
Speakers
Moderators
9:45
9:50
Opening keynote by guest-of-honour
Speakers
Moderators
10:00
Opening plenary – Catalysing global capital for the future
As sustainable finance enters a more fragmented era, Hong Kong sits at a critical intersection between global capital, China and Asia’s transition. How can interoperable taxonomies, cross-border investment and emerging economic corridors unlock capital at scale – and what role can Hong Kong play in shaping the next generation of sustainable finance across the region?
Speakers
10:40
Climate tech plenary – Banking on the GBA as Asia’s climate tech capital
The Greater Bay Area combines China’s manufacturing and technology prowess with Hong Kong’s deep capital markets – but can it become Asia’s climate tech powerhouse? From AI and data centres to clean energy and advanced manufacturing, this plenary explores how finance, policy and public-private investment can turn innovation into scalable climate solutions.
11:20
Morning tea break
Speakers
Moderators
11:40
Plenary 3 – Deep pockets, deep impact: Mobilising private wealth for good
Asia’s private wealth is growing rapidly – but can it become a more powerful engine for the transition? From family capital and impact investing to direct investment in clean energy and new businesses, this plenary explores how patient, purpose-driven capital can take greater risks, back emerging solutions and turn long-term conviction into real-economy impact.
12:30
Networking lunch
Speakers
Moderators
14:00
Plenary debate – This House believes that AI will accelerate, not undermine, the climate transition
As AI adoption accelerates in Hong Kong, mainland China, and across the region, its demand for energy and digital infrastructure is rising quickly. At the same time, AI could help improve efficiency in key sectors such as power grids, finance, logistics, buildings, and transport. This raises an important question for Hong Kong: can these efficiency gains outweigh AI’s growing energy footprint, and in doing so, help speed up the city’s transition toward a low-carbon future?
Note: This session is under Chatham House Rule and will be strictly off-the-record and not for media coverage.
Moderators
14:30
Breakout sessions
Theme A: Financing nature and biodiversity
Theme B: Bullet-proofing against greenwashing risks
Speakers
Moderators
15:30
Tea break
Speakers
Moderators
15:45
Closing plenary – Building resilience into Hong Kong’s urban blueprint
Extreme weather is rewriting the economics of the built environment. As physical climate risks intensify, resilience is becoming a question of asset value, insurability and investment performance. This closing plenary examines how investors, insurers and asset owners are pricing a more volatile climate, and whether capital can help drive a more resilient Hong Kong.
Speakers
16:30
Closing fireside – Connecting the carbon markets: What’s next for China and the world
Speakers
Moderators
17:00
Closing keynote address
Partners
In partnership with
Strategic partner
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BDO Unibank
BDO Unibank is a full-service universal bank in the Philippines, providing a complete array of industry-leading products and services including Lending (corporate and consumer), Deposit-taking, Foreign Exchange, Brokering, Trust and Investments, Credit Cards, Retail Cash Cards, Corporate Cash Management and Remittances. Through its local subsidiaries, the Bank offers Investment Banking, Private Banking, Leasing and Finance, Rural Banking, Life Insurance, Insurance Brokerage, and Online and Traditional Stock Brokerage services.
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Supporting partner
Nature roundtable partner
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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
FSC is the leading global standard for responsible forest management, providing investors and asset owners with a high‑integrity, independently verified framework that strengthens nature, climate, and human‑rights performance across forest‑linked value chains. Built on transparent governance, rigorous oversight, and strong Indigenous rights protections, FSC offers investors an assurance system that enhances long‑term value, fortifies resilient real‑asset strategies, and directs capital toward credible nature‑positive outcomes.
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Knowledge partners
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Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC)
Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) is an initiative to create awareness and encourage action among Asia’s asset owners and asset managers about the risks and opportunities associated with climate change and low-carbon investing.
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International Capital Market Association (ICMA)
ICMA promotes well-functioning cross-border capital markets, which are essential to fund sustainable economic growth. It is a not-for-profit membership association serving around 630 members in 71 jurisdictions globally. Its members include private and public sector issuers, banks and securities dealers, asset and fund managers, insurance companies, law firms, capital market infrastructure providers and central banks.
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ReThink HK
ReThink HK is Hong Kong’s best-attended and most ambitious business event for sustainable development with over 8,500 in-person attendees at the 2024 event. The two-day expo and conference have been designed specifically for Hong Kong business leaders, sustainability practitioners and those responsible for researching, resourcing and reporting net-zero and ESG strategies. The 6th edition will be on 11-12 September 2025 at Hall 1 of HKCEC, Hong Kong. Co-organised with the Business Environment Council, the 2024 edition hosted over 8,000 attendees, 500 expert speakers, and an expo with over 300 exhibitors with the products, services, and solutions to accelerate our city towards carbon-neutrality and a circular economy.
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Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA)
Founded in September 2018, the Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) provides a unique platform that supports the development of green finance and sustainable investments in Hong Kong and beyond. It aims to mobilise both public and private sector resources and talents in developing green finance policies, to promote green finance business and product innovation within financial institutions.
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