The recent Beijing International Sustainability Conference focused on the theme of “Implementing Global Baseline: Building Compatible Sustainability Disclosure Infrastructure”, discussing best practices and the role of ISSB Standards in building a robust sustainability-disclosure ecosystem, attracting over 12 million online views.
The event brought together leading figures from regulatory agencies, international organizations, business and academia to share insights on improving sustainability disclosure systems worldwide, with JA Solar the sole representative from the private sector.
In his opening remarks, ISSB Chair Emmanuel Faber spoke of China’s leadership in aligning domestic sustainability standards with global frameworks.
Ms. Li Jing, President of Branding and Sustainability Officer at JA Solar joined a high-level panel titled “Building a complete global sustainable disclosure system”, with experts from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria, the World Resources Institute (WRI), ARGA Investment Management, ACCA and EY.
Q: What are the key steps for companies in implementing ISSB Standards and identifying material metrics?
A: Companies should prioritize disclosure metrics that are closely linked to financial performance, providing investors and the market with comparable and decision-useful information. The ISSB Standards have provided a unified global benchmark to reduce compliance burdens and enhance transparency. For technology-intensive sectors like solar, the standards have also offered industry-relevant guidance.
Beyond financial metrics, JA Solar places greater emphasis in practice on cross-cutting topics that are of concern to stakeholders such as customers, including responsible supply chains, climate and nature. By focusing on these areas through more targeted actions, the company steadily strengthens its resilience and builds investor confidence.
As a member of the ISSB Standards P4EAST (Priority Four Early Adopter Support and Training) initiative, JA Solar was among the first companies to follow up on the ISSB S1 and S2 standards after their release, and has since actively promoted their integration into the company’s governance framework. While supporting its customers in achieving their emission reduction targets, the company has also been advancing its own carbon management efforts and has incorporated its supply chain into decarbonization plans, empowering and supporting upstream small and medium-sized businesses to achieve low-carbon transformation together.
Q: How effective is ESG reporting in attracting investors, and how can it be strengthened through regulation or communication?
A: A transparent and quantifiable ESG framework is essential for cross-comparison and gaining investors’ trust, with ESG acting as a common language for global companies to align on sustainability goals and practices.
Q: How does ESG enhance global competitiveness?
A: ESG and sustainability must be embedded into the core operations of photovoltaic companies. PV growth has always aligned with global climate actions, from COP28’s 11 TW renewable energy goal to the “Energy for All” vision implemented widely across Africa.
Global attention to climate and sustainable development has consistently served as a powerful engine driving the photovoltaic industry’s growth. JA Solar particularly welcomes the increasing focus from both investors and governments on long-term risk management. As highlighted in the Davos Forum risk assessment, “Climate change remains one of the most critical risks within a ten-year horizon.”
In his closing remarks, ISSB Vice Chair Hua Jingdong affirmed that the summit had provided valuable insights for advancing global collaboration on sustainability disclosure. The proceedings crystallized a fundamental consensus across sectors: Uniform and comparable sustainability reporting forms the cornerstone for the long-term, stable development of global capital markets.
