HKMA and DFSA Host Joint Climate Finance Conference to Enhance Sustainable Investment and Innovation

2025-11-26 20:36 Last Updated At：20:48

DFSA and HKMA co-host second Joint Climate Finance Conference, showcasing opportunities to accelerate sustainable finance through innovation

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

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DFSA and HKMA co-host second Joint Climate Finance Conference, showcasing opportunities to accelerate sustainable finance through innovation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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DFSA and HKMA co-host second Joint Climate Finance Conference, showcasing opportunities to accelerate sustainable finance through innovation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (November 26) hosted the second Joint Climate Finance Conference. The hybrid conference, which took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, brought together nearly 250 participants across both regions.

As the flagship initiative of the DFSA-HKMA partnership to support and enable climate finance in the Middle East and Asia, this year's conference focused on financial risks arising from climate change and innovation. It featured a series of dynamic discussions on how the two regions can leverage their strengths in finance and technology to collaborate on the development and deployment of innovative products and solutions, to facilitate energy transition and other sustainable development goals of the region and beyond.

The conference also provided a deep dive into the findings of the DFSA-HKMA joint research "Scaling Sustainable Debt in Emerging Markets", developed with knowledge partner BloombergNEF, on the role of sustainable debt in scaling up climate finance in emerging markets.

Supported by strategic partners including Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, Nasdaq Dubai, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, the conference featured distinguished speakers in business, commerce, and financial services from across the Asia Pacific and Middle East and North Africa regions. Their participation underscores the event's role as a premier platform for cross-industry dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on initiatives that drive long-term value and responsible investment in the region.

The Chief Executive of the DFSA, Mr Mark Steward,said, "By combining our strengths as international financial centres, we are creating new pathways for sustainable investment and innovation. Tokenisation and other emerging technologies, which have been discussed in detail today, have the potential to make climate finance more transparent, efficient, and globally accessible - accelerating the transition across the Asia-Middle East corridor."

Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMAMr Darryl Chansaid, "Dubai and Hong Kong are in a unique position to facilitate climate action across Asia and the Middle East, enabling economies in the region to capture the growth opportunities created by technology advancement in green sectors. With the window for decisive action narrowing, we must move fast to bridge the gaps between markets, between capital and projects, and between ambition and execution. The HKMA and the DFSA will continue to provide a platform for the much-needed dialogue and collaboration."

Details of the DFSA–HKMA Joint Climate Finance Conference can be found here.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Highlights Green Transition Efforts at China Development Forum in Beijing

FS attends China Development Forum 2026

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit in Beijing today (March 22).

Mr Chan attended the opening session and a thematic symposium of the China Development Forum 2026 in the morning. He also spoke at the thematic symposium titled "Global Green, Low-carbon Transition and Sustainable Development" in the afternoon.

In his remarks at the symposium, Mr Chan said that, from an economic perspective, estimates project that by 2050 climate change could cause annual losses of up to US$38 trillion to agriculture, infrastructure and productivity. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the world still faces an annual funding gap of more than US$4.4 trillion. While some countries have withdrawn from international co-operation frameworks, the momentum of the green transition continues to advance. Investment in clean energy exceeded US$2.2 trillion by 2025, accounting for about two-thirds of global energy investment, with China contributing about one-third.

Mr Chan stressed that China is not only a participant in global climate governance, but also a steadfast practitioner and leader, making steady progress towards the "3060" dual carbon goals. The country's 15th Five-Year Plan will embed green development deeply into industrial upgrading and infrastructure development, accelerating a comprehensive green transition across economic and social development and setting out a number of binding targets. As a Special Administrative Region of the country, Hong Kong is firmly advancing towards carbon neutrality, with targets of halving carbon emissions by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It has been making solid progress. In 2024, Hong Kong's per capita carbon emissions fell to about 4.4 tonnes, roughly one-quarter of that of the United States and 60 per cent of that of the European Union. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to take forward its decarbonisation work along four major directions, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction.

He noted that Hong Kong is committed to contributing "Hong Kong's strength" to the regional and global green transition, leveraging two core engines of green finance and green technology. First, Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its role as a regional green finance hub. This includes maintaining its leading position in green and sustainable debt and integrating blockchain technology with green finance to attract more green capital. At the same time, Hong Kong will continue to align its green finance standards with international best practices. Second, Hong Kong will proactively develop innovative financial instruments to channel greater funding into green projects. Examples include infrastructure securitisation to mobilise global capital for renewable energy and other green infrastructure, as well as the issuance of catastrophe bonds to transfer major natural-disaster risks to the capital market. Third, Hong Kong will further foster a vibrant green technology ecosystem and step up investment in frontier green technologies, including through the deployment of "patient capital". Hong Kong will also support Mainland green technologies in expanding into overseas markets.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan called on the Minister of Finance, Mr Lan Fo'an. They had in-depth exchanges on the 15th Five-Year Plan, the national and global economic outlook and fiscal policies, as well as strengthening co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The Secretary for the Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong, also attended the meeting.

Mr Chan also attended the Beijing Night of the China Development Forum 2026 in the evening.

Mr Chan will continue his programme in Beijing tomorrow morning (March 23) and will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.

HKMA and DFSA Host Joint Climate Finance Conference to Enhance Sustainable Investment and Innovation

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