ESG News｜May
40
1. Paris AI Declaration: Global Agreement vs US-UK Dissent Sixty-one nations including China, India, Japan, and EU members signed the Paris AI Declaration on February 12, establishing seven principles centered on transparency, ethics, safety, and inclusivity for global AI governance. Key provisions include a technology assistance fund championed by China—requiring developed nations to allocate ≥0.2% of their AI R&D budgets to support developing economies. Further Reading： https://news.sohu.com/a/858015846_115479
2. Trump Issues Hardest-Ever Investment Policy Targeting China Released on February 21, the “America First Investment Policy” presidential memorandum imposes sweeping restrictions on Chinese investments while selectively welcoming capital from allies. It declares “economic security is national security,” accusing China of systematically acquiring U.S. technology through investments and asserting that America should restrict Chinese access to critical assets just as China limits foreign ownership. The policy explicitly bans Chinese investment in sensitive technologies and infrastructure, blocks U.S. capital from funding China’s military development, and extends existing crackdowns on technology transfer and intellectual property violations initiated under Trump’s first term. Further Reading： https://k.sina.cn/article_5953189932_162d6782c06702mxoi.html
3. JD.com: Full Social Insurance Coverage for Food Delivery Riders JD Group will fully cover all social insurance costs (“Five Insurances and One Housing Fund”) for its food delivery riders starting March 2025. Unlike competitors, JD absorbs even the employees’ share of contributions, ensuring take-home pay remains unchanged for both existing and new full-time riders. Part-time riders receive accident and medical insurance. This landmark policy—making JD the first major platform in China to provide comprehensive social benefits for delivery riders—aims to close the wage gap with JD’s couriers. It expands the company’s 2024 benefits reform for logistics staff, which guarantees pension-covered retirements. The move accompanies JD Eats’ ongoing “zero-commission” campaign for new restaurant partners. Further Reading： https://www.nbd.com.cn/rss/zaker/articles/3762425.html
4. EU Commission Proposes Comprehensive Package to Simplify Disclosure Rules The European Commission unveiled a Comprehensive Package Proposal on February 26 to slash corporate sustainability reporting burdens by 25%, targeting reforms to the CSRD and CSDDD directives. This aligns with the EU’s Competitiveness Blueprint goal of streamlining regulations to boost global competitiveness. Key revisions include: simplified environmental disclosures under the Taxonomy framework, adjustments to carbon border tax rules (CBAM), and amendments to InvestEU regulations. The proposal signals the EU’s push to ease compliance costs for businesses, though final implementation remains subject to debates and potential adjustments. Further Reading：
5. UN Biodiversity Summit Ushers in New Era of Global Conservation Funding The resumed COP16.2 summit in Rome achieved a breakthrough consensus on financing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, formally concluding the suspended 2024 conference. Delegates established binding targets to mobilize $200 billion annually by 2030, including scaling international funding from $20 billion (2025) to $30 billion (2030). This milestone agreement outlines a detailed roadmap through COP19 for implementing a hybrid financing system that combines public budgets, private investments, and multilateral development funds. Crucially, a newly adopted resource strategy designates specific funding channels – such as national tax revenues, philanthropic capital, and blended finance mechanisms – to ensure measurable progress toward reversing biodiversity loss. Further Reading： https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jo9ti2_znqFXKeu4jkGn2Q 6. Greenland Partners Launch China’s First Carbon-Neutral Waste-Free Smart Market On February 26, Greenland Financial Technology participated in launching China’s inaugural pilot “carbon-neutral + zero-waste” smart produce market in Shanghai’s Baoshan District. This demonstration project advances the “Baoshan Model”—integrating green architecture, carbon credits, and green finance to accelerate regional decarbonization goals. Further Reading： =85ad8b5c3a35da78f7d79a4d3c181270d6c1eee536fc402adf1fe75f2374634b5aa6546aa580&scene=27
12. Apple Shareholders Reject Anti-DEI Proposal by 97% Margin At its February 26 shareholder meeting, Apple overwhelmingly defeated a proposal from a conservative think tank urging elimination of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Regulatory filings confirmed 97% of voting shares rejected the measure. CEO Tim Cook affirmed Apple’s commitment to “fostering a culture of belonging,” while acknowledging potential policy adjustments amid changing U.S. legal landscapes. Further Reading： https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/25/apple-annual-shareholder-meeting-2025-.html
13. Hong Kong’s Sustainable Finance Development Annual Work Plan The Cross-Agency Steering Group has formulated a three-pronged approach for 2025 to advance the city’s sustainable finance ecosystem. Core priorities include developing a comprehensive disclosure framework through ISSB Standards implementation with capacity-building support; reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a sustainable finance hub by expanding taxonomies and establishing an Asia-Pacific carbon trading center; and driving tech-enabled solutions via a Green Fintech Map initiative to enhance data utilization in sustainable financing activities. Further Reading： http://www.tanjiaoyi.com/article-85498-1.html
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