On October 16, the 2025 Sustainability Global Leaders Conference commenced in Shanghai, with the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) serving as the exclusive academic partner.
Centered on the theme "Joining Hands to Address Challenges: Global Action, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth," the conference convened global experts to explore new pathways for sustainable development and contribute Chinese momentum to global sustainable governance.
Co-organized by the World Green Design Organization (WGDO) and Sina Group, with co-organization by the IFRS Foundation Beijing Office, the event was undertaken by Sina Finance and the WGDO Beijing Representative Office—with support from the Huangpu District People's Government of Shanghai.
Building upon the previous four editions of the ESG Global Leaders Conference, this year's conference featured nearly 50 topics spanning energy and dual-carbon goals, green finance, sustainable consumption, technology, and public welfare.
SAIF-Led ESG Report Released
A key highlight was the release of "Practicing Sustainable Development: 2025 Shanghai ESG Development Report," led by SAIF in collaboration with multiple institutions. The report analyzes Shanghai's corporate ESG practices and offers policy recommendations to advance sustainable development locally and nationally.
Following its 2024 systematic overview, SAIF's latest report uses specific cases to provide a more focused, practice-driven, and problem-oriented analysis of ESG development among Shanghai's various entities.
Guangshao Tu, Founding Chair of the SAIF Board and Co-Chair of the ESG Leaders Forum, outlined the report across three dimensions: background and development, Shanghai's overall ESG progress, and its key characteristics. He positioned the report at the convergence of global consensus-building, China's evolving ESG framework, and Shanghai's leading role. The report systematically assesses Shanghai's ESG landscape across eight areas: policy guidance, corporate practice, financial enablement, market systems, third-party services, talent development, public participation, and international cooperation.
Tu highlighted Shanghai's balanced approach to growth and sustainability, synergy between government and market forces, integration of corporate practice and ecosystem, and alignment of local initiatives with global trends. He also expressed hope that the conference would build broader consensus and collaboration to advance sustainable development.
SAIF's Active Participation
As the exclusive academic supporter, SAIF and its faculty participated extensively throughout the conference. During the SAIF-themed event "Innovation and Practice of Shanghai's Sustainable Development," Professor Hong Yan—Chair Professor of Finance, Deputy Dean, and Director of the Sustainable Investment Research Center— engaged in dialogue with leaders from various institutes. They discussed the highlights and unique advantages of Shanghai's ESG development, challenges in promoting sustainable development strategy, and shared innovative practices and experiences in ecosystem building.
Professor Ning Zhu, SAIF Professor of Finance, participated in a cross-border dialogue on "How AI is Reshaping New Pathways for Sustainable Development" with Kevin Kelly, Founding Editor of Wired magazine. They exchanged views on AI applications in education, thinking ability cultivation, ethical risks, and green development.
Professor Zhan Jiang—SAIF Professor, EED Programs Faculty Director, and Executive Director—moderated the dialogue session "Where Will AI Lead Humanity?" guiding discussions exploring the future direction of technology and sustainable development.
On October 18, SAIF hosted a themed dialogue on "How to Integrate Sustainable Concepts into Higher Education and Future Talent Cultivation Systems." Shijun Cheng, SAIF Executive Dean and Chair Professor of Accounting, exchanged views with multiple guests, sharing SAIF's approach to ESG talent cultivation.
As an important component of the conference, the first Green Industry and Sustainable Consumption Expo was held simultaneously in the Huangpu World Expo Park, where SAIF showcased its academic programs and ESG research to public audiences.
