At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11–22, LONGi, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), launched the "Initiative of Advancing Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation with Photovoltaic." The event was attended by LONGi’s Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zhang Haimeng, IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis, and Ant Group’s Director of Sustainable Development Wang Xiaoying.

Recognising climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution as the world's top environmental challenges, LONGi emphasised the dual role of photovoltaic technology in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving ecosystems. Building on its Climate Action White Papers presented at previous COP events, LONGi has taken its sustainability efforts further by integrating biodiversity conservation into its corporate strategy.

The initiative calls for companies to align their operations with international environmental agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It encourages the adoption of environmentally friendly practices in renewable energy projects, increased use of clean energy, and the establishment of a corporate culture centered on biodiversity conservation.

Stewart Maginnis highlighted LONGi’s proactive approach to addressing the biodiversity impact of solar energy projects and expressed hope that this initiative would inspire broader industry participation in renewable energy development while minimising environmental impacts.

LONGi has consistently demonstrated its commitment to biodiversity conservation since COP15 in 2021. Notable projects include:

Zero-carbon life plan for Pandas: A distributed photovoltaic power station donated to the Qinling Giant Panda Conservation Base, along with support for wildlife monitoring equipment.

Aquila Wildlife Conservation Base, South Africa: Donation of photovoltaic modules, providing electricity and clean water to sustain ecological operations.

Solar + tea complementary projects: Combining photovoltaic technology with tea cultivation in Guizhou and Yunnan, China.

Kubuqi Desert projects: Establishing photovoltaic power stations to support green development in arid regions of Inner Mongolia.

Zhang Haimeng praised IUCN’s expertise and global network, emphasising the value of collaboration in driving effective biodiversity protection. LONGi also draws inspiration from other innovative initiatives, such as Ant Group’s "Ant Forest," to further enhance its ecological practices.

"Protecting Earth’s biodiversity and achieving harmony between humans and nature is not just an initiative but a call to action. We urge everyone to contribute to this critical mission," Zhang stated.

(ET)