Three more tickets added to brokerage carbon emission rights trading entry

Our reporter Zhou Shangyu

As an important participant in the financial markets, securities firms’ involvement in carbon finance continues to accelerate. On the evening of March 5, Guojin Securities, Zhongtai Securities, and Changjiang Securities, three listed securities firms, announced that they received official approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to participate in carbon emission rights trading through their proprietary trading businesses at domestic legal trading venues.

Industry Participation Expands to 20 Firms

For these three approved securities firms, compliance and risk control are prerequisites for business development. Guojin Securities, Zhongtai Securities, and Changjiang Securities all clearly stated that their goal is to serve the real economy, reduce the overall society’s emission reduction costs, and promote the green and low-carbon transformation and upgrading of the economy. They will conduct their businesses in compliance with regulations and prudently, integrating related activities into their comprehensive risk management systems.

From the pace of approval, securities firms’ participation in the carbon trading market is showing a normalized and scaled-up trend. After these three firms received approval, a total of 20 securities firms in the industry have officially been authorized to conduct carbon emission rights trading, covering leading and mid-sized specialized firms, forming a multi-level participation pattern.

“With more securities firms approved to participate in carbon emission rights trading, the market is welcoming important professional forces,” said Wang Hongying, President of the China (Hong Kong) Financial Derivatives Investment Research Institute. In an interview with Securities Daily, she noted that the concentrated entry of securities firms brings professional trading strategies and capital support to the carbon market, helping to balance buying and selling forces and promoting the valuation of carbon emission rights to return to reasonable levels. As the pricing function gradually improves, the investment value of carbon assets will become more apparent, attracting more market participants and creating a virtuous cycle. Meanwhile, securities firms can leverage their rich business experience and product innovation capabilities to deepen the development of carbon finance.

Building a Full-Chain Carbon Finance Service

The accelerated entry of securities firms is not only a proactive response to the national “dual carbon” strategy but also an important layout to expand business boundaries and enhance comprehensive financial service capabilities. From industry practice, firms that have entered the market are upgrading from single trading participation to building an integrated green financial service system.

As the first domestic financial institution to develop carbon trading business, CITIC Securities has established a full-chain green service system. From 2023 to the third quarter of 2025, it completed green bond underwriting totaling 181 billion yuan, ranking first in the industry.

Different securities firms have their own features in building carbon finance service systems. For example, Orient Securities leverages its nationwide branch network to effectively reach participants in various carbon markets, combining financial institution services to help enterprises activate their carbon assets through repurchase agreements. This not only ensures compliance but also alleviates cash flow pressures for companies, guiding resources into green and low-carbon fields, and expanding carbon finance business and real economy service scenarios.

Additionally, several firms like Shanxi Securities have explicitly stated that green finance is a key development direction. They are preparing for carbon emission rights trading businesses, increasing green research and product innovation, and supporting high-quality development in energy-saving, low-carbon, and clean energy sectors.

From an opportunity perspective, Wang Hongying told reporters: “Entering the carbon finance track helps securities firms broaden profit growth points and optimize business structures. The green and low-carbon industry is in a rapid development stage. By participating in the carbon market, securities firms can better grasp the trend of national green industry upgrades and deeply integrate financial services with real economic needs.”