Special Topic: 2026 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference & the Second Green Industry and Sustainable Consumption Expo. On October 22, a financial frontline dispatch reported that the 2026 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference was held from October 20 to 22 at the Shanghai Huangpu Expo Park. Li Wenjie, Deputy Director of the Suzhou Industrial Park Urban Development Research Institute, stated that AI tools can significantly reduce the workload of organizing and analyzing corporate materials, but companies still need to ensure data compliance, authenticity verification, and professional proofreading.
Li Wenjie explained that the Suzhou Industrial Park Urban Development Research Institute undertakes work in policy research, industrial development, and enterprise services. In 2024, the institute established the Suzhou ESG Research Center to provide research support for the park's ESG-related policies, action plans, and planning. Since June of the same year, the park has established an ESG Alliance, with more than 100 companies participating, and is preparing to build an ESG Industry Innovation Center, continuously exploring standards, digital platforms, and green finance, among other areas.
Discussing the difficulties companies face in advancing ESG, Li Wenjie believes that the first issue is insufficient awareness. Some companies have not yet established modern management methods, their internal tools are relatively scattered, and they still rely on spreadsheets, OA systems, and manual processes. Second, companies also face obstacles in strategic choices and identifying key issues. They need to combine their own business characteristics and industry attributes to transform the ESG framework into specific, executable management items. Promotion, training, and building an industrial atmosphere can help companies gradually develop understanding.
Regarding the park's practice of serving enterprises, Li Wenjie introduced that the park has built an ESG digital platform, designing core issues into standard and simplified versions of tools. By answering questions and uploading documents, companies can obtain ESG diagnostic and report generation services. The platform currently helps companies reduce the workload of data collection and analysis by about 70% to 80%. The generated reports still require manual correction and proofreading by engineers or consultants.
Li Wenjie stated that AI digital tools mainly handle tasks such as data collection, screening, and information extraction. Report generation does not mean eliminating human participation. The park is also exploring connections between the platform and ecosystem links such as enterprise services and green finance, and hopes to continue developing more refined artificial intelligence functions.
He pointed out that data compliance and the transmission of data authenticity are issues that need to be addressed as a next priority. When internal corporate data is used for industry platforms, industry ratings, or regional management, it may need to be transmitted externally. Companies therefore need corresponding mechanisms and technologies to ensure data is authentic and reliable. ESG is built on rules and trust. Improving data witnessing and governance mechanisms will help expand the application of AI in the ESG field.
Li Wenjie stated that AI will transform every industry and will also drive the ESG industry to improve efficiency and enhance services.
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