Based on a climate system that is no longer staying within a stationary range of extremes, climate change impacts are anticipated to increase for the coming decades despite mitigation efforts. Ongoing changes in the climate system complicates risks associated with climate change. In this webinar, two leading experts in climate finance will share their opinions on the corporate strategies to mitigate climate risks while reducing carbon emissions. Prof. Dayong Zhang will share his research on the role of governance in affecting corporate actions against climate change. Increasing evidence shows that corporates adjust their operations to respond to climate changes. Their actions of adapting to climate changes are however, affected by the quality of governance at both internal and external levels. Prof. Huanhuan Zheng will discuss the question: Can climate policies reshape socially responsible investing, and how? In her recent research, it shows that the climate policy accelerates the growth of sustainable assets, attracts fresh sustainable capital, and improves sustainable investment returns. Climate policy fosters sustainable investments because it mitigates climate risk through encouraging emission cuts, renewable energy consumption and generation, and green innovation. Prof. Lin Zhang will give an overview of the increasing concerns on climate risks, including the possible measures, and current practices of domestic and international corporations on mitigating climate risks in the transition towards low-carbon economy.

Moderator/Speaker: Prof. Lin Zhang

Dr. Lin Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, and a key member of the Guy Carpenter Asia-Pacific Climate Impact Centre and Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy. Before moving to Hong Kong, he has worked at ETH Zurich, the Energy Science Center, Simulation Lab, and the Competence Center for Research in Energy, Society, and Transition in Switzerland. His research includes energy and sustainability economics, green business and climate finance.

Speakers: Prof. Dayong Zhang; Prof. Huanhuan Zheng

Dr. Dayong Zhang is a Professor of Financial Economics at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China. His research interests cover energy finance, climate finance, and general economic and financial issues in emerging economies. He is the co-founder of China Energy Finance Network, president of the Society for the Studies of Climate Finance (www.cnefn.com) in China, and vice president of International Society for Energy Transition Studies (www.isets.org).

Dr. Huanhuan Zheng is an Assistant Professor in Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. She is interested in international finance and financial economics, especially their interaction with government policy.Previously she worked in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of York.