Conference targets climate change in Global South

Participants at the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference 2026 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region called on Monday for urgent action to address climate change in the Global South and greater support from the international community.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the SAR government and the International Green Development Coalition for the Belt and Road Regions, the conference brought together more than 300 officials, scholars and industry leaders from 17 Belt and Road partner countries and about 40 provinces and cities on the Chinese mainland.

They discussed ways to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in green finance, innovative green technologies and other fields.

A highlight of the conference was the release of a report titled "Green Development Outlook of the Global South 2026: Joining Hands for a Climate-resilient Future". The report described climate adaptation as a practical necessity directly affecting the survival and development of countries in the Global South. It outlined action plans to improve water and food security, build agricultural resilience, strengthen monitoring and early warning systems, protect ecosystems and safeguard public health.

The report identified financial constraints, limited technological capabilities, insufficient capacity building and governance shortcomings as major obstacles to climate adaptation in the Global South. It called on developed countries to provide greater support and fulfill their relevant obligations.

The conference also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding between the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and partner countries. The agreements covered cooperation with Mongolia on environmental and climate issues, material assistance to Cambodia for climate cooperation projects, and cooperation with Kenya on climate change.

Held outside the Chinese mainland for the first time, the conference's arrival in Hong Kong was described by organizers as highly significant for advancing the BRI's green development agenda in both scope and substance.

Huang Runqiu, minister of ecology and environment, said Hong Kong serves as a "bridgehead for the country's opening-up". He pledged continued central government support for the SAR and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to leverage their respective strengths and jointly advance the green transition of the Global South.

Huang reaffirmed China's commitment to green development cooperation under the BRI, noting that the country has signed more than 80 cooperation documents with relevant authorities in more than 50 countries and regions. It has also conducted more than 300 training courses, recording over 10,000 instances of participation by environmental officials from developing countries.

To further advance green development, Huang called on countries and regions to better align their green strategies, deepen practical cooperation, make greater use of technological innovation, and expand an open and inclusive system for green investment and financing.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the SAR is a trusted partner in efforts to build a greener, more prosperous and more sustainable future.

Lee highlighted Hong Kong's role in connecting international green cooperation projects with financing, helping green technologies reach markets, building cross-border trust in technology through widely recognized standards, and training talent needed for green development.

He also cited Hong Kong's position as a recognized Asian hub for international green and sustainable bond issuance, accounting for about 40 percent of the regional market in 2025.

Aziz Abdukhakimov, adviser to the president of Uzbekistan on environmental issues and chairman of the country's National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, proposed establishing a platform to help Uzbekistan's industries pursue greener development by drawing on China's experience. He also called for a joint advisory council and a dedicated working group on green investment.

Abdukhakimov said a unified online portal was needed to help Chinese investors explore environmental projects in Uzbekistan and connect them with Chinese capital and technology.

Ali Mohamed, special envoy for climate change in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, called for deeper China-Africa cooperation in green finance, the development of a green, low-carbon trade network, and common standards for digital solutions such as green data centers.

The conference also featured discussions on aligning green finance rules, promoting green technological innovation and industrial cooperation, and using digital technologies to accelerate green development.

wanqing@chinadailyhk.com