Press Conference: Chinese Civil Society Practices for Mainstreaming Biodiversity, UN Convention on Biodiversity - COP 17

Good morning, everyone. And please have a seat. Our session will begin. And firstly, I just welcome everyone to join our joint press conference here, the Chinese Civil Society Practice of Mainstreaming Biodiversity. And I welcome everyone here. And to mention about this mainstreaming, I think we should go back to the COP 15. OK. And at that time, I think that all the Chinese environment NGOs, we have made a consensus about the biodiversity mainstreaming. We build up alliance of the biodiversity conservation. And also, we make a pledge. We wish to start as the 2030, we will just contribute 2.5 billion RMB to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Until now, we're halfway there. And I will not go through all this detail about this consensus, because it's pretty long. And if anyone wants to have the full document, they can just scan the QR code. And if anyone here, and also any press is interested about our actions from the Chinese NGOs, you can just join tomorrow's our side event, whole day event, the multi-stakeholder days in China Pavilion. In there, you will know all the actions from the civil society of China. And today, here we have three delegates and representatives from the foundation, from civil society, and also from the local government organizations. We'll give different cases from China about how we mainstreaming the biodiversity. And so today, it's welcome everybody here to know their concrete actions. So first, let me introduce Mr. Zhang Huifeng from HSBC Philosophy Foundation to give their cases about biodiversity conservation. Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends from media, thank you for joining today's press conference. I'm from HSBC Philanthropy Foundation Beijing. I'm delighted to share with you HSBC's environmental philanthropy in China and our outlook in the future. As a company with over 160-year history, HSBC firmly believes that sustainable economic and social development cannot be achieved without a sustainable supply of natural resources. Since 1999, HSBC has continuously supported environmental protection in China. We have carried out seven flagship programs, provided cumulative funding of approximately 400 million Chinese yuan. The beneficiaries span 1,200 nature reserves and communities. By working with All China Environment Federation, HSBC Philanthropy Foundation Beijing has supported the development of three standards for urban green space and water body restoration, invasive alien species management, and citizen science data utilization, helping the industry develop replicable ecological governance models. HSBC's Nature Programme focuses on incubating ecological management technologies, creating HSBC BioSpace demonstration and promoting the concept of biodiversity conservation. HSBC BioSpaces have four important features. First, scenic beauty. environments that people can enjoy. Second, affordability, significantly lower maintenance costs. Third, high ecological benefits, providing habitats for species. And fourth, collaboration, participation, and common interest, with public participation throughout the process and sustainable long-term maintenance. In 2024, In collaboration with the Forbidden City in Beijing, we launched the HSBC Biospace Project in Cing Palace Garden, carrying out a biodiversity friendly renovation of more than 2,000 square meters of the garden. We studied Asian paintings and books to locate suitable species for such environment. and successfully turned it into a beautiful and biodiverse garden with 140 species that attract over one million visitors a year. In the next five years, we plan to build more biospaces across China, creating natural environments for communities that are scenically beautiful, low-cost, and high resilience, so that more communities can experience biodiversity right on their doorsteps. We look forward to working with multiple stakeholders to protect nature and build a beautiful nature together. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Zhang Huifeng. And we all know that in the last 20 years, HSBC has contributed a lot to Chinese ecosystem protection. So I totally believe this biospace program will be successful. And next, let me introduce Li Hao from the JET Group to give their cases about the scientific stocking of endangered fishes in Yangtze River. And Li Hao, you have the floor.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Li Hao from GSET. It's my honor to be here to share a story from Wuxi, Jiangsu, a city on the lower Yangtze River in China. It involves one company, one city's charity organization, and one river. And I will show how a one-time event can grow into a long-term relay of life. First, please watch our video. Wait, video.

Okay, just a second. We'll play the video first. 长电科技副总裁许俊华，作为全球重要的芯片封测企业，每天都有数千万颗芯片从长电科技走向全球。我们响应国家长江大保护战略部署，将芯片产业的责任理念延伸至生态领域。在江阴厂区几公里外的 长江之畔，持续三年科学放流濒危鱼类，把企业的生态情怀封装进万顷碧波。长江生态是支撑长三角制造业发展的根基。作为扎根长江的制造企业，守护一江碧水早已成为长电科技心中沉甸甸的责任。2024年， 长电科技发起“守护美丽长江”濒危鱼类科学放流项目，三年累计放流中华鲟1274尾、胭脂鱼18万尾、长吻鲮2.1万尾，并同步开展卫星标记追踪，成为中国企业践行“绿水青山就是金山银山”理念的生动缩影。 将企业资源导向生态修复一线，将精益管理文化延伸至生态价值创造。长电科技以至省级的赋能科学放流项目，而生态保护实践也反哺企业提升治理水平，塑造责任品牌。 社会责任与企业长期发展在这里有机融合，相济相生。流域生态保护不是企业的独角戏。长电科技构建了政府指导、企业支持、慈善运作、专业支撑、公众参与的五方协同模式，以企业配捐撬动社会共创。 形成了线上募捐、线下见证的公益闭环，以创新方式践行环境责任，打造央企生态保护样本。科学放牛项目荣获中国上市公司协会可持续发展最佳实践案例等荣誉，并被收录于气候慈善指南。 in the UN Climate Change Conference, showcasing China's corporate ecological responsibility and practical results.

Thank you for watching. Just now, the video shows the action of panking chicks and also panking hope. Next, I'd like to end the key part the video didn't cover, Wuxi Charity Federation. The program started in November 2024 and has been seven times. making three upgrades in fundraising, content, and model. It can keep going today because of Wuxi Charity Federation. First, it provides top-level design. That means build a five-part model. Second, it It have two level on life at raising, and third, it building trust. Progress is shared in real time and kept donation easy to trace. Fourth, it brings resource together. It works with Plumford and other partners to close the lab. People give money online and then see the result on site. Then, federation also help launch the JZ Environmental and Health Correct Fund. The fund connect federation management and use so the work can last. And it ties corporate responsibility together with impact investing. So, as I say at the beginning, one company set up. charity group provide the management and the public joins, can grow from a long time event into long time action. At least, we hope protect the beautiful young trees for life, for the planet, for the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Li Hao. And this is a wonderful case which is made by the enterprises. And they cooperate with the local charity federation and co-generate this wonderful idea. And it's already operated this program for three years and protect lots of the species in the Yangtze River. And thank you. And next one, I will invite Mr. Guo Cheng and give their of the cooperates with local government and local NGOs to build up a city partnership biodiversity program. And Mr. Guo Cheng, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Good day, everyone. I'm Cheng Guo from Belt and Road Environmental Technology Exchange and Transfer Center, Shenzhen. So we are a nationwide platform carrying out green belt and road construction and green people to people diplomacy. So today, it's my privilege to share our practical experience on biological conservation from civil perspectives. So the story starts from the city Shenzhen. And could you please switch to the presentation? OK. It's not ours. It's not our point.

Sorry, can you switch to the next slide? Thank you. You need to push a little harder. This clicker is not that sensitive.

It's not moving.

It's another side.

Oh, okay. Thank you. So in Shenzhen, there is a Meiguan Express. cuts a continuous mountain into two ecological islands, so wild animals were blocked by traffic. They cannot cross to feed or breed. Eight years ago, three students investigated and proposed building a wildlife corridor which animals can pass through. So seeing their report, the government decided to invest in an ecological bridge. In 2023, the Kwun Pong Pass Bridge No. 1 was completed. It is 76 meters long with over 90% of its surface provided to wildlife. By June 2026, about 400 wildlife crossings had been recorded. If you compare the students' original drawing with the finished bridge, you will find striking similarities. This reflects a simple idea: the Government listens to public voices and encourages everyone to take part. Shenzhen is a city of small territory but big ecology and many caring people. We have over 300 environmental organizations, half a million registered volunteers, many nature schools, and eco-education centers. 20 million residents share this space with penguins, white dolphins, leopards, black-faced spoonbills, and local plants. But how do we coordinate so many actors? The top-level plans give us the answer. China's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan under whole-of-society action calls to broaden channels for whole-of-society participation, develop biodiversity citizen science, and study the establishment of a biodiversity conservation alliance with the participation of all parties. And also, the implementation decision of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework urges parties to engage all levels of government and stakeholders, women, youth, local communities, civil society, the private and financial sectors, so they can make full and effective contributions. Achieving the 23rd targets requires the puzzle-like contributions of actors beyond national governments. Hence, in 2024, the Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau launched the Urban Biodiversity Conservation Partnership, Shenzhen. It is an open, collaborative platform based on mutual respect, leveraging expertise and win-win cooperation. It aims to create a five-pattern model: the government-led, the research-supported, enterprises-enabled, socially-backed, and publicly-engaged. making Shenzhen a demonstration city for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Framework. The partnership is not only a statement of intent, it is a working mechanism. We have a secretariat and an expert committee, and a charter setting out members' rights, obligations, and decision-making. We have dedicated social media, a technology and product repository, and a published case compendium. For now, there are more than 80 member institutions joined our partnership, and it is free of charge, of course. In the past two years, we have focused on one thing, connection. We connected government with social organizations, bringing private capital into urban ecological infrastructure. At Tide Wetland Park, the government opens public space and restoration targets. The Meituan Qingshan initiative channels small donations from millions of merchants from their food ordering platform into sustained funding, and the Mangrove Foundation MCF implements professional restoration. And also, we connect research institutions with projects implementers. We set up expert products technology and case libraries to match various demands with supplies. For instance, the Blue Membrane Ecology Livestream has recorded 12 white coral species swarming in Dapeng Bay, with over 400 million views from the world. And with Tencent's Wild Friends digital tool, it is a digital tool to identify different species, more than 1,000 citizens recorded 42,000 species observations. And also, We connect citizens with conservation action. We are running the vibrant Peng Cheng Richer Account, EcoTalks, and other over 6,000 citizen science activities. In the bird collision survey, more than 3,000 people joined promoting bird-friendly stickers on the skyscrapers. In the Shenzhen-Hong Kong butterfly watching competition, about 1,500 citizens submitted nearly 5,000 entries, identifying 162 butterfly species. Biodiversity is no longer distant. It is knowable, tangible, and participable in daily life. And last, these practices are expanding Shenzhen's international influence. In 2022, the city was named a biodiversity charming city. In 2024, the agreement establishing the International Mangrove Center was signed. Furthermore, Shenzhen Bay Park and Futian Mangrove Reserve received Red Line Education Center Star Awards. Like our logo, our partnership puzzles with a click. All parties, like pieces, come together, breaking down the boundaries of space, age, social class, organizational structure, and professional sector. The audience will come from different cities and geographics. You may not fully feel how precious nature spaces is to our residents of a megacity like Shenzhen. Our partnership carries out that passion, that enthusiasm. and turns expectations into action. We hope to receive more support and suggestions from professional organisations and caring people, and to make more partners at this COP. So let us join hands to build a green future for our cities. This is all I have to share, and thank you for your listening.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Guo. And also, it's also a wonderful case about city-level biodiversity conservation. And can I give you back the clicker? Okay. And here is the three cases of the biodiversity conservation is only a small part of the actions from Chinese NGOs. And just as I have mentioned at the beginning of the session, we, Chinese NGO from the COP 15, we have built up consensus on biodiversity conservation and mainstreaming, and we build up alliances about the biodiversity conservation, and that we also make the pledge to contribute to the global framework, and now already contributed more than 1 billion RMBs to this biodiversity conservation. And so we Chinese NGOs totally want to cooperate with all the stakeholders here in CBD Convention to working together and to really create a future with the harmony between human and natures. So, and just, we invite again, tomorrow is our whole day event in the China Pavilion. And everyone, including the journalists and also the other stakeholders, if you want to join us to know more about the Chinese NGOs action, just join us. And here is the full agenda. And thank you for joining us. And the last, we have to take a group photo with all the speaker here. Yeah.