The Green Innovation and ESG Sustainable Development Conference opened at the Guangming Yungu International Convention Center on Jan. 12, Bao'an Daily reported.
ESG (environmental, social, and governance) is an investment philosophy and corporate evaluation standard that focuses on the environmental, social, and governance performance of a company rather than its financial performance.
The ESG conference is a two-day event, including development conferences, visits to Guangming enterprises and landmarks and roadshows for listed companies, award ceremonies, and capital operation sub-forums, etc. The aim is to leverage innovative capital advantages through exchanges and cooperation, promote ESG sustainable development, and promote a virtuous cycle of technology, industry, and finance.
Nearly 500 experts, scholars, and representatives from enterprises and investment institutions attended the conference. Among the participating enterprises, there were 146 listed companies, one Fortune Global 500 enterprise, 32 China's Top 500 enterprises, and 46 specialized and sophisticated enterprises.
Organizers carried out four roadshow activities, including roadshows for representative companies in new energy, medical health, artificial intelligence, high-end equipment, and intelligent manufacturing. These roadshows focused on cutting-edge industries and built a platform for precise match between investment institutions and enterprises.
In the afternoon of Jan. 12, participants visited representative enterprises and local landmarks such as Lenovo's southern manufacturing base, Guangming City Planning Museum, BTR New Energy Technology Building, and Hongqiao Park.
On the evening of Jan. 12, the 2023 annual Easy Board ESG+8 top 100 list was released at an award ceremony, and awards such as the 2023 Best ESG Practice Award for Listed Companies were presented. Among them, BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd. from Guangming District was listed on the ESG+8 top 100 list.
A sub-forum on capital operation was held Jan. 13, with experts and entrepreneurs sharing ideas and experiences in ESG development.
Guangming District has been adhering to the new development concept, with green development and innovation as the driving force, and sustainable development as the goal, to develop new quality productivity and fully empower high-quality development.
The output value of the district's new energy industry cluster exceeded 120 billion yuan (US$16.76 billion). It has gathered a number of high-quality enterprises such as BTR, Xinwangda, and Xingyuan Material. A number of large scientific installations and large institutes have been successively completed. Nineteen major innovation carriers have been put into operation.
The district's total social investment in research and development has exceeded 10 billion yuan for the first time. It vigorously promotes the deep integration of production, learning, research, and application. Last year, it facilitated enterprises to establish four innovation consortiums with scientific research institutions and universities.
A firm practitioner of ESG sustainable development, Guangming District won the China Ecological Civilization Award in 2022, becoming the only administrative district in Shenzhen to receive this prestigious honor.
Dong Zhanfeng, director of the Institute of Management and Policy of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, highly affirmed the advantages and achievements of Guangming District in green innovation and ESG sustainable development. "The achievements of Guangming District in green development and ecological environment protection are impressive," Dong said.