Recently, six agencies including the National Development and Reform Commission ("NDRC") have jointly issued the Implementing Opinions on Creating a Better Development Environment and Supporting the Healthy Development of Private Enterprises Engaged in Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection (the "Opinions").
The Opinions roll out 12 concrete measures for four purposes, including creating a fair and open market environment. Among the measures are further opening up major markets and offering greater support for green finance. Among others, the Opinions urge efforts, in key industries and sectors such as petroleum, chemicals, power and natural gas, to further introduce the market competition mechanism, liberalize the competitive business of energy conservation and environmental protection, and actively promote energy performance contracting and third-party environmental pollution control. Additionally, private enterprises will be supported in participating in the battle of preventing and controlling atmospheric, water and soil pollution, and be guided to get engaged in the construction of environmental infrastructure for sewage, garbage and others and of major ecological and environmental protection projects, such as the project designed for collection, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. Moreover, the Opinions encourage financial institutions to incorporate the requirements on environment, society and governance into their business processes, enhance their professional services of green finance for private enterprises specialized in energy conservation and environmental protection, and vigorously develop green financing.