ONE REGION, ONE GOAL: ASIA PACIFIC’S CARBON MARKETS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

Asia accounts for more than 50% of global emissions yet its carbon markets remain fragmented – a gap that demands urgent, coordinated action. To address this, IETA, the global carbon market industry association, has joined forces with Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC), and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to convene its annual Asia Climate Summit (ACS).

Taking place 7-9 July in Hong Kong, SAR, China, ACS brings together leaders from government, finance, aviation, and industry for three days of critical discussion and decision-making on decarbonisation across the region.

Asia sits at the heart of global carbon market development through the growth of national Emissions Trading Schemes across China, Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the region holds a vast potential for nature-based carbon projects, from rainforest conservation in Indonesia to mangrove restoration in Pakistan and rice farming in Vietnam. This presents major economic opportunities for governments, companies, local communities and Indigenous Peoples across Asia. But fragmented standards, regulatory uncertainty and persistently low prices mean that potential remains largely unrealised.

ACS will tackle this head on. The summit’s agenda spans Article 6 implementation, CORSIA and aviation decarbonisation, carbon pricing progress, integrity questions, the role of AI and digital technologies, and the regional implications of CBAM. Across all of this, the focus will be on how trade competitiveness, market harmonisation, and pricing signals are becoming the primary drivers of demand and policy alignment.

Dirk Forrister, President & CEO at IETA, said: "The Asia Pacific region is experiencing the fastest growth in carbon markets anywhere in the world. We’ll examine the progress to date, the prospects for additional new emissions markets and how they will all interact with global programmes like the UN’s Article 6 system.”

IETA’s partnership with FSTB, the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and HKEX reflects a shared commitment to positioning Asia as a strategic hub for carbon market development, bringing together the regulatory, financial and market infrastructure expertise needed to move the region from ambition to action. 

ENDS

Attend the event

Register here.

Media enquiries

Lynne Backhouse, Communications Manager, IETA | backhouse@ieta.org

Attend ACS

The IETA Asia Climate Summit (ACS) returns in 2026 bringing the region’s leading carbon market and climate policy forum to Hong Kong for the first time.

• Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Hong Kong SAR China
• Date: 7-9 July 2026
• Agenda: View the full summit agenda here.
• Registration: Media can attend the full three days complimentary, including meals and refreshments throughout the day and the reception at the close of day one. Please contact Lynne Backhouse to register.

About IETA

Since 1999 IETA has been the leading voice of business on ambitious market-based climate change solutions and driving net zero. IETA advocates for trading systems for emissions reductions and removals that are environmentally robust, fair, open, efficient, accountable and consistent across national boundaries. Representing more than 300 leading international organisations, IETA is a trusted partner in developing international policies and market frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the lowest cost while building a credible path to net zero emissions. See www.ieta.org for more information.

About the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau

Leveraging on our strengths as a cosmopolitan city with a unique edge under the "One country, Two systems" principle, we strive to consolidate our status as a global financial centre, an asset and wealth management centre and an offshore RMB business hub, seeking breakthroughs in green finance and financial technology development. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau works closely with market regulators and participants to capitalise on every opportunity for our financial services sector. On the Treasury front, we take care of matters of fiscal policy to ensure that public resources are used effectively for economic and social development.

About Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC)

The SFC regulates the securities and futures industry in Hong Kong. Its responsibilities are to maintain and promote a fair, efficient, competitive, transparent and orderly market, while protecting the interests of investors.

The SFC is a statutory financial regulator independent from the civil service. It is funded mainly by transaction levies and licensing fees. Its core functions include the licensing and supervision of intermediaries, setting and enforcing market regulations, supervising market operators and helping to enhance market infrastructure, overseeing listing and takeovers matters, regulating investment products, and promoting education for the investing public.

About Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) is a publicly-traded company (HKEX Stock Code:388) and one of the world’s leading global exchange groups, offering a range of equity, derivative, commodity, fixed income and other financial markets, products and services, including the London Metal Exchange.

As a superconnector and gateway between East and West, HKEX facilitates the two-way flow of capital, ideas and dialogue between China and the rest of the world, through its pioneering Connect schemes, increasingly diversified product ecosystem and its deep, liquid and international markets.

HKEX is a purpose-led organisation which, across its business and through the work of HKEX Foundation, seeks to connect, promote and progress its markets and the communities it supports for the prosperity of all.