Energy sector experts explored the opportunities and challenges for Chinese enterprises in aligning with international sustainable development standards, and called for stronger global cooperation on the green energy transition at a forum in Hong Kong.
“Energy transition means much more than just shifting from one form of energy — fossil fuel — to another more climate-friendly form of energy. It means rewiring our societies, and changing the way we take decisions,” said Irene Giner-Reichl, president of the Global Forum on Sustainable Energy, on Monday.
She stressed that cross-border cooperation is the “essence” of this process, urging greater connectivity among international partners.
These remarks were heard at the World Sustainable Development Frontier Forum, which was co-hosted by the World Green Design Organization (WGDO) and the World Sustainable Development Institute (WSDI), a nonprofit and nongovernmental research organization headquartered in the special administrative region. It coincided with the inauguration of Hong Kong Green Energy Week, a brand new platform officially launched earlier in the day.
During the forum, WSDI released three key reports, including the “Global Carbon Price Index Report”, which advocates “relative effort equivalence” in carbon pricing and proposes a roadmap for value convertibility in a unified global carbon finance network.
“Moving forward, we will be guided by these phased strategies, and will leverage Hong Kong’s regional advantages to deepen international cooperation, making the carbon price index a bridge between China's carbon market and global markets,” said Zheng Haoming, a researcher.
Alfred Sit Wing-hang, former secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR government, told the forum, “Hong Kong boasts the world’s leading innovation environment and financial system, providing comprehensive support for commercializing green technologies.”
The city is also cultivating international talent and professional skills, which can contribute significantly to global sustainable development, he added.
Another focus of the event was building a digital product passport (DPP) ecosystem for green energy products.
The DPP — a digital ID tracking a product's materials, manufacturing, carbon footprint, and recycling from cradle to grave — was first mandated by a European Union regulation and is now a global green trade standard for supply chain transparency.
However, challenges persist in data interoperability and mutual recognition, hindering global DPP adoption, including for Chinese firms, according to Zhang Chao, secretary-general of the International Code Authority.
To help local companies overcome trade barriers, the Zhongguancun Industry and Information Research Institute of Two-Dimensional Code Technology — a core player in China’s identification standards — last year launched the “MA-DPP” framework, which aligns with the EU rules while integrating China's home-developed code standards.
Zhang, who is also the institute’s president, called on energy stakeholders to make use of the framework, deepen alignment with global standards, and foster government-industry collaboration to advance green energy transition through DPP adoption.
From a consumer perspective, DPP lets everyday buyers join the green transition, said Xing Lei, WGDO director-general.
“Consumers can simply scan a QR code to see the green design behind a product,” Xing said. “This will not just enhance corporate image, but also help boost small and medium-sized enterprises’ sales, which thereby further encourage emissions cuts.”
Hong Kong Green Energy Week is a platform dedicated to energy governance, gathering scholars, government officials, representatives of international bodies, and industry players from the energy sector to share cutting-edge research and build consensus on green energy cooperation. It plans to organize its first event next year.
Contact the author at gabylin@chinadailyhk.com
