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Improve S&P ESG Rating

Shenzhen, May 14, 2025 – The seminar “Navigating ESG Ratings in 2025: Strategies for Success (S&P)” hosted by Alaya Consulting and co-supported by the Digital Economy-Fintech Research Center (DeFin-NCAMS) of the National Center for Applied Mathematics Shenzhen (NCAMS) at Southern University of Science and Technology, and S&P Global successfully concluded at NCAMS.

This seminar brought together experts and representatives from the corporate sector, financial institutions, and academia to discuss enhancing corporate ESG performance and leveraging digital tools for ESG management. Participants shared the latest industry insights and practical experiences, fostering a collaborative environment for learning and innovation.

Opening Remarks: Deep Integration of ESG with National Strategies 

In his opening speech, Professor Huang Wei, Chair Professor at the School of Business of Southern University of Science and Technology and Director of DeFin-NCAMS, stated: “Low-carbon transformation and ESG strategies are not only important issues for national development but also a necessary path for Chinese enterprises to go global.”

He introduced the research achievements of NCAMS in the fields of digital economy and green finance, including the AI-driven ESG intelligent reporting system developed in collaboration with Alaya Consulting – the core modules of this system have been initially developed to help enterprises automatically generate compliant reports.

Keynote Speech: The Value and Practice of the S&P CSA Assessment System 

Robert Dornau, Head of S&P Global CSA (Corporate Sustainability Assessment), delivered a keynote speech titled How to Improve ESG Performance through S&P CSA. He reviewed the three stages of global ESG development – from concept advocacy to effective implementation, and now to the current integration period of “returning to the essence of business” – and emphasized: “The core value of CSA lies in helping enterprises transform sustainability issues into quantifiable commercial drivers.”

Through case studies, Robert pointed out that enterprises’ transparent disclosures and action commitments in supply chain management, biodiversity conservation, and other areas directly influence investor trust and market performance. He elaborated on the value of the CSA system and its implementation, noting that S&P CSA’s industry-differentiated assessment framework covers 62 industries and over 1,200 data points, with a dynamic weighting system accurately reflecting core industry issues. CSA not only helps enterprises understand their global sustainability performance but also provides important references for investors.

Alaya’s Perspective: Keys to Enhancing CSA Performance 

Tony Wong, Founder of Alaya Consulting, proposed five strategies for improving CSA ratings in his special speech: governance structure establishment, material issue identification, data transparency, stakeholder communication, and industry best practice benchmarking. He called on enterprises to “regard ESG as a long-term strategy rather than a short-term task” and shared practical cases of rapidly improving ratings through S&P gap analysis reports, providing feasible operational suggestions for enterprises.

Themed Presentation: Comprehensive Analysis of CSA Participation Strategies 

James Ching, Director of Sustainability at S&P Global, analyzed the four steps for enterprises to participate in CSA from a practical perspective: assessing the current situation, benchmarking against the industry, formulating strategies, and continuous improvement, providing effective guidance on how to prepare for CSA.

He emphasized: “CSA is not just a rating tool but also a compass for enterprises to improve governance capabilities. Small and medium-sized enterprises can gradually align with international standards through the S&P CSA Fundamental questionnaire. Enterprises intending to fill out the questionnaire are advised to consult Alaya for relevant project consulting services.”

CSA is not only an external rating tool but also an important basis for guiding enterprises’ internal sustainable development direction and actions. Continuous repeated rating, benchmarking, internal communication, and formulating action plans can progressively enhance overall performance.

Fireside Chat: Practical Experience of Corporate CSA and Sustainable Practices 

In the fireside chat session, Ms. Wang Renxiao, a senior ESG expert from the Sustainable Development Office of BYD, and Mr. Setch Chang, Director of Sustainability Account Management at S&P Global, exchanged views on BYD’s practical experience in participating in S&P CSA ratings and its long-term sustainable development practices.

Ms. Wang introduced that BYD has been deeply engaged in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) since 2008, publishing sustainability reports for 15 consecutive years, and officially participated in CSA assessment in 2024 due to global ESG layout needs. By establishing a three-tier ESG governance structure including a board-level strategic committee, a chief sustainability officer, and departmental interface personnel, combined with a cross-departmental interface mechanism and a system library covering over 1,200 indicators, it efficiently completed questionnaire filling and incorporated rating results into internal KPI assessments.

In addition, BYD used S&P’s peer benchmarking tools to accurately identify management shortcomings such as employee care and supply chain carbon footprint accounting, and optimized processes accordingly. She emphasized that CSA is not just an external rating tool but also a core tool for enterprises to deepen ESG governance. Its comprehensive data indicator system and benchmarking analysis functions help BYD improve disclosure transparency and management efficiency in the global competition of the new energy industry.

Academic Empowerment: AI-Driven ESG Intelligent Decision-Making 

Dr. Tang Xin, Assistant Director of the National Center for Applied Mathematics Shenzhen (NCAMS), and his team demonstrated the cutting-edge research achievements of Southern University of Science and Technology in the ESG field, including a five-dimensional carbon footprint model, an ESG intelligent decision-making system, and carbon reduction optimization projects in collaboration with multiple enterprises.

He particularly mentioned that the AI tool developed by the team and Alaya Consulting can automatically generate ESG report frameworks and predict rating trends by analyzing enterprises’ public data, providing low-cost solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Guest Speech: The Retail Industry and ESG 

Xie Yongming, Executive President of the Shenzhen Retail Association, shared the connection between digital transformation in the retail industry and ESG from an industry perspective.

He emphasized that the rise of artificial intelligence will reshape the supply model and organizational structure of the retail industry, while ESG standards provide guidance for balanced development. “The key to becoming a century-old brand lies in the deep integration of data capabilities and sustainable development goals.” President Xie also shared the Shenzhen Retail Association’s experience and achievements in promoting corporate social responsibility.

Industry Collaboration: Building a Trust Foundation for the ESG Ecosystem 

In the closing remarks, Ms. Yang Mei, Director of the Party Office and Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Institute of Certified Public Accountants, stated that the certified public accounting industry will play a key role in ESG disclosure and assurance. “Authentic and credible data are the foundation for capital allocation and public trust.” She revealed that the Ministry of Finance and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants are advancing the formulation of ESG disclosure and assurance standards, and the ESG assurance standard system will be further improved.