Pricing "Green Waters and Lush Mountains": NPC Deputy Suggests Improving Resource and Environmental Factor Trading Market

【Caixin.com】 Promoting green transformation through finance is a “world exam.” How will China respond? During the 2026 National “Two Sessions,” several NPC deputies focused on this topic.

Currently, China has established the national carbon emissions trading market, the voluntary greenhouse gas reduction trading market, and the China Water Rights Exchange. Pilot programs for trading carbon emission rights, water rights, energy rights, and pollution discharge rights have been launched in relevant regions. In May 2025, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Improving the Market-Based Allocation System for Resources and Environmental Factors” (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”), further strengthening top-level design.

Wang Jun, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and head of the Henan branch of the People’s Bank of China, pointed out that the current market-based trading mechanism for resource and environmental factors is not yet sound enough, and the integration of market development and financial services still faces some constraints, mainly reflected in the “three mismatches.”