Who are we
The International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF) of the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE), is an independent and non-profit think tank established in China in 2016, based on its predecessor Research Center for Climate and Energy Finance (RCCEF), established in 2011.
IIGF brings together a wealth of diverse expertise in this cutting-edge field, committed to conducting independent and rigorous research to generate innovative ideas and solutions for the sustainable development of our global economy.
- 81 Full-time Employees
- 18 External Researchers
- 60 Researchers with Overseas Academic Experience
Our Mission
“Promote the Development of Green Finance in China and Abroad”
Our mission goes beyond just research. We actively engage with policymakers, financial institutions, and industry leaders to promote sustainable practices and advocate for policies that support green finance development in China and globally.
We achieve our mission through innovative research, shaping green finance policy and standards, and market application of research findings.
We collaborate with international institutions and engage in capacity-building initiatives to enhance our expertise in green finance. Our efforts are aimed at making a meaningful impact in advancing green finance practices and contributing to sustainable development globally.
Our Focus Areas
Research
- Academic Research;
- Policy and Standard Research;
- Market Research;
Market
- Green Finance Database
- Green/ESG Indexes
- ESG rating
- Green Bond Certification
- Environmental Information Disclosure
Cooperation
- International cooperation(Oxford, WWF, UNDP, IFF)
- Capacity building (GIZ, CFA, UNDP, UK PACT)
- Domestic Cooperation
Education
- Collaboration with International Institutions
- Collaboration with Local Institutions
- Own Professional Training Center
Policy and Standard Setting
Within China, the IIGF is an executive member of Green Finance Committee (GFC) of China Society for Finance and Banking and works with various ministries, and a number of regional and local government institutions, financial institutions, and research organizations.
In 2022 we have provided policy recommendations:
Central Level
- National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
- Ministry of Ecology and Environment
- People’s Bank of China (PBoC)
- Ministry of Finance (MoF)
- Ministry of Education (MoE)
- China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC)
Local Level
- Local Governments (provincial, city level)
- Shandong Province
- Jiangxi Province
- Greater Bay Area
- Jiangsu Province
- Zhejiang Province
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Market Application
ESG & Green Finance Consulting Service
Our comprehensive endeavors encompass conducting a study to optimize the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) by establishing an ESG indicator framework for projects, developing ESG standards for China’s mining industry, publishing reports on ESG investments of insurance funds and ESG action in National Business Daily, producing the “Taikang Asset Green Finance White Book”, and spearheading green payment innovation in collaboration with Tencent.
Market application of research findings:
Our commitment to market application of research findings is evident through the development and utilization of various databases, including:
- Energy Finance Database;
- ESG Database;
- BRI Database;
- Health Finance Database;
- Climate Finance Database;
- Carbon Emission and Rating Database;
- International Green Finance Database;
- Green Bond Database;
- Regional Green Finance Database,
IIGF has released 19 ESG indexes, including:
- CNI-Cufe Carbon Neutrality Serial Indexes;
- STOXX® PSBC China A ESG;
- Stoxx- IIGF A-Shares ESG Index.
International Cooperation
In the spirit of international cooperation, we actively collaborate on emerging topics and engage in innovative research areas such as biodiversity finance, seafood finance, and gender finance, while spearheading Global Green Finance Development initiatives across 55 countries to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and inclusive global economy.
Events
Promoting global dialogue on green finance, we facilitate impactful knowledge exchange and collaboration by organizing workshops and seminars, fostering an inclusive platform for discussions and actions towards sustainable financial practices worldwide.
communications
We bridge China and the world by disseminating information and fostering engagement through newsletters, articles, and social media platforms.
Education
The Professional Training Center offers a diverse range of educational resources, including the Elephant Green Finance Online Study Platform, which provides access to nearly 30 courses on ‘Dual Carbon’ Goals and Green Finance.
Additionally, the center has developed the comprehensive “Guidance for Financial Practitioners: Green Finance” resource, and has submitted a proposal on Talent Cultivation of ‘Dual Carbon’ Goals to the Ministry of Education and several provinces, aiming to foster expertise in this critical area of sustainable development.
The Sustainable Finance Youth Program (SFYP)
The Sustainable Finance Youth Program (SFYP) has gained significant traction, attracting over 2,400 college student enrollments by the end of August 2022. The program’s impact extends beyond enrollment numbers, as it has fostered a community of more than 300 SFYP members from universities both domestically and internationally, who have collectively contributed over 180 articles. This broad participation reflects the program’s success in engaging and empowering young minds to explore and promote sustainable finance, furthering the discourse on environmental and social responsibility within the next generation of financial leaders.