Wang Jingli wangjingli0715@163.com GREEN finance was in the spotlight at the 15th Shenzhen International Financial Expo (Shenzhen Finexpo) as major firms from the financial sector exhibited green financial products and solutions, from green loans to green insurance. China Development Bank (CDB) Shenzhen Branch set up a special area at its booth in Hall 1 of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District to display its green financial products and programs during the expo. The branch issued a large number of long-term green loans to enterprises such as China General Nuclear Power Corp. (CGN) and vehicle manufacturer BYD for their green projects via its special green loan programs, said a staffer with the branch Friday. In addition to helping giant companies address financing issues in pursuit of green development, CDB Shenzhen Branch has also been cooperating with the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission and two local bonding companies to offer loans of a maximum of 50 million yuan (US$7.84 million) to small and medium-sized firms involved in green and low-carbon businesses. It is said that CDB Shenzhen Branch’s total green loan amount accounted for 39 percent of its total credit as of the end of 2021. Moreover, CDB Shenzhen Branch issued a “carbon neutrality” bond of 20 billion yuan last March to provide financial support to companies’ green projects. Insurance companies, as an important part of the financial industry, also displayed at the 15th Shenzhen Finexpo their efforts to foster green development as well as the country’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. Shenzhen-based Ping An Group demonstrated an environmental pollution liability insurance for companies with high environmental risk. According to staff with Ping An, the insurance is a response to last year’s establishment of the compulsory environmental pollution liability insurance system in Shenzhen. It is said that the system can assist companies in managing pollution and preventing and controlling related risks to improve the level of environmental governance. Most importantly, companies will be asked to pay higher fees or even have their insurance canceled if they are found to be failing the environmental standards set by authorities. Over the past few years, Shenzhen has made great contributions to the development of green finance. The Shenzhen Green Finance Association was officially established in September last year, and last year in March Shenzhen implemented its first local regulations on green finance. | 