Agenda: Asia Climate Summit (ACS) 2026
LOCATION
Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
START
Jul 7, 2026
END
Jul 9, 2026
- Breakout
- Keynote
- Plenary
- Social events & networking breaks
- Side Event
- Workshop
Day 1
July 7
Since the introduction of carbon credits in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, their legal status within both voluntary and compliance markets has continued to evolve. Establishing legal certainty is essential to facilitate transactions and attract investment in this growing sector. The global nature of carbon markets, coupled with the absence of centralised governance, leaves the system vulnerable underscoring the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks.
Corporates across APAC are under increasing pressure to decarbonize while maintaining competitiveness. This session will showcase how leading companies are navigating the transition, leveraging environmental markets to meet sustainability goals. It will also examine how corporates integrate decarbonization strategies into mandatory ESG and climate reporting, ensuring transparency and credibility for investors and regulators.
What does it mean to be a member of IETA? Designed for curious, strategic organisations looking to join a global network of carbon market leaders, this session is an opportunity to gain insight into how members engage in IETA’s work, contribute to policy dialogue, and help shape market-based climate solutions.
This session will discuss the latest around digital tokenisation and other digital improvements in the market.
Day 2
July 8
This session will explore how capital flows when carbon markets are integrated into transition finance: using Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) including high-integrity carbon credits within corporate transition plans; and how exchanges collaborate to mobilize cross-border investors and unlock new products.
As emerging markets across the region launch new carbon pricing instruments, how do we ensure environmental policy instruments (CPIs) are effective and well-designed to support green growth? Focusing on Southeast Asia, this session will explore new carbon taxes, emissions trading system (ETS) pilot developments, early-stage implementation challenges, and the critical role of the private sector in ensuring effectiveness and credibility.
Direct air capture, biochar, enhanced rock weathering (ERW) and other novel carbon removal approaches are moving beyond pilots and seeing significant premiums in the carbon market - but the scale remains limited. This session examines what it will take to deploy technology-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) at commercial scale in APAC, by enhancing methodological approaches and strengthening long-term demand signals.
China has recently submitted its new nationally determined contribution (NDC) and tightened its national emissions trading system (ETS), with significant impacts for global climate action. This session explores market reforms, evolving price signals, export of Chinese climate technologies and digital MRV systems, and growing South–South knowledge exchange shaping the next phase of climate leadership.
Rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence is accelerating the growth of data centers across Asia, resulting in a sharp increase in energy demand. As governments and corporations pursue their decarbonisation targets, the region faces tough trade-offs. This session explores how to power this infrastructure with clean energy, minimise environmental impacts using carbon markets, and maximise AI’s potential to support climate solutions.
Separate paid ticket required for entrance, purchased online in advance of the party. Tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis.
Day 3
July 9
This session will explore how to scale high-integrity voluntary carbon markets in Asia, highlighting what credit buyers are looking for, and the work of The Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets. Panelists will discuss current risks, key trade-offs, and evolving buyer expectations, and what is required to build trust, credibility, and impact at scale.
As the EU CBAM has entered its definitive phase, countries in APAC are bracing for impact. This session examines the moving parts of EU policy development impacting compliance costs overseas, while also addressing issues with trust, data sharing, MRV and green competitiveness, overall influencing the region's policies and response.
Southeast Asia is entering a decisive period as pressures from deforestation, land use change, and ecosystem degradation intensify, even as the region’s potential to scale high integrity NCS grows. This session examines how the evolving political and regulatory landscape is reshaping forest finance pathways, from carbon markets to blended finance models, in delivering credible climate and biodiversity outcomes.
As carbon markets expand, so does the complexity of measurement and reporting. From the GHG Protocol to SBTi and emerging corporate and national frameworks, companies face a fragmented landscape of approaches. This breakout will explore how to navigate the jungle of carbon measures, align accounting standards, and strengthen credibility across markets and value chains.
As the world advance toward broader CORSIA participation, this session spotlights the latest progress on national implementation and airline preparedness. Speakers will unpack updated credit eligibility rules, shifting procurement strategies, and the market signals shaping supply, demand, and pricing as the scheme expands. This session delivers clear insights into the policies and trends defining Asia’s aviation decarbonisation landscape in 2026 platforms.
With Article 6 and the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism becoming operational, this session will explore how we move from rulemaking towards real transactions. Discussion will cover authorisation processes, high-level links to CORSIA, and emerging leadership from countries such as Singapore and South Korea in shaping early market activity.
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