The 2025 Pearl Bay Climate Investment and Financing Conference concluded on December 10, 2025, in the Nansha District of Guangzhou, marking a significant step forward in addressing climate financing. Themed “Green GBA, Smart Future,” the conference attracted a diverse group of participants from government, business, academia, and research sectors, focused on discussing critical issues such as green financing and the development opportunities within the low-carbon industry.
During the conference, a pivotal cooperation agreement was signed regarding the mutual recognition of climate investment and financing standards in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This agreement aims to enhance collaboration among the three regions, promoting a unified approach to climate investment and financing standards, data sharing, and services. By establishing these standards, the GBA is positioning itself to become a global hub for green financing.
Several significant initiatives and achievements were presented at the conference. Among them was the introduction of the Guangzhou Nansha ECF Cooperation Mechanism, which is designed to facilitate financial empowerment for the region’s ambitious “Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Project.” This initiative aims to foster high-quality development across one hundred counties, one thousand towns, and ten thousand villages in Guangdong. Additionally, practical outcomes from the 2nd Xinhua Credit Pearl Cup on Climate Change Response were showcased, underscoring the interconnection between green finance and climate investment.
With the upcoming launch of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan set for 2026, attendees emphasized the importance of this period in advancing comprehensive green transformation across economic and social spheres. They noted that this transformation is essential for achieving significant improvements in ecological and environmental quality. To support these goals, guidelines for implementing transition finance within Guangdong Province’s paper-making industry were released, along with a detailed plan for a “beautiful Guangzhou.”
Further initiatives included a guideline on climate information disclosure for enterprises, as well as a new climate information disclosure module designed for the GBA’s climate investment and financing platform. These documents are expected to fill existing gaps in the region’s regulatory framework and enhance transparency in climate-related financial activities.
The conference was co-hosted by the brand work office of Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua News Agency Guangdong Bureau, and the China Economic Information Service. It took place from December 9 to 10, 2025, with activities held at a main venue in Nansha and sub-venues in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Spain, broadening the conference’s international reach and impact.
The outcomes of the Pearl Bay Climate Investment and Financing Conference reflect a growing commitment to sustainable development and set a solid foundation for future collaborative efforts in climate financing across the GBA and beyond.
