logo
Hong Kong SMEs generate new business by making use of their carbon-tracking technologies

Hong Kong SMEs generate new business by making use of their carbon-tracking technologies

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) say they have been generating new business by leveraging their carbon-tracking technologies,
despite some financial uncertainties facing the broader sector.
For Hong Kong start-ups like Urban Spring, which supplies smart water refilling stations, and EzyGreenPak, which makes sustainable packaging, using technologies that measure climate-related data throughout their production chains has created new business opportunities. Both firms operate carbon-tracking platforms.
'[Carbon data] data transparency helps to attract business partners,' said Helen Chan, head of partnerships at Urban Spring, adding that the company's smart water stations in the city have surged 50 per cent in number since 2023.
At the end of last year, the company saw a major increase in inquiries, she said.
Carbon data data transparency helps to attract business partners, says Helen Chan, head of partnerships at Urban Spring. Photo: Handout
'Our pipelines for 2025 show a lot of demand coming from hotels,' she said, as they were eager to receive green certifications.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Behind Trump's South Korea deal, a plan to transform global shipbuilding
Behind Trump's South Korea deal, a plan to transform global shipbuilding

South China Morning Post

time32 minutes ago

  • South China Morning Post

Behind Trump's South Korea deal, a plan to transform global shipbuilding

South Korea has pledged US$150 billion to help its shipbuilders enter the US market as part of its new trade deal with Washington, a move that could help America revive its shipbuilding industry and counter China's dominance in the sector. Advertisement US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States and South Korea had agreed a 'full and complete' trade deal, which would see the US impose a 15 per cent tariff on South Korean goods and receive US$350 billion of investment from its Asian ally. Shortly after, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that US$150 billion of the promised investment would be dedicated to shipbuilding – an industry where South Korean firms are second only to China in global market share. The capital would provide 'solid support' for South Korean companies entering the US shipbuilding industry, Lee wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. The wider US$350 billion investment package was intended to solidify bilateral cooperation in strategic industries, including semiconductors, he added. Seoul clarified in a media briefing on Thursday morning that the promised funds would not come in the form of direct equity investments, but 'will primarily consist of loans and guarantees'. Advertisement Earlier this week, local media outlets in South Korea reported that Seoul had proposed a multibillion-dollar project to Washington named 'Make American Shipbuilding Great Again' during their trade negotiations, which would involve large-scale investments in the US by Korean shipbuilders and government financial support measures.

China's call for global AI governance is loud and clear. Is the US listening?
China's call for global AI governance is loud and clear. Is the US listening?

South China Morning Post

timean hour ago

  • South China Morning Post

China's call for global AI governance is loud and clear. Is the US listening?

In late July, Shanghai hosted the World Artificial Intelligence Conference , once again showcasing China's formidable progress in AI. From Unitree 's robot boxer to Huawei' s next-generation AI developments, the energy on the exhibition floor was palpable. Advertisement Despite Shanghai's rainy weather, large crowds flocked to the exhibition, reflecting strong public enthusiasm. But beyond the futuristic gadgets and technical breakthroughs, this year's conference delivered a deeper message: China's readiness to play a constructive role in shaping global AI governance In his opening address , Premier Li Qiang struck a note of urgency, calling for deeper international cooperation and warning against the risks of fragmented governance in the age of rapidly advancing AI. The conference's alternative title, 'High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance', was not just symbolic. China recognises the question is no longer whether we can innovate, but whether we can govern wisely. This stands in stark contrast to the path taken by other powers. Days before the Shanghai event, US President Donald Trump unveiled 'America's AI Action Plan', doubling down on great-power competition and framing AI supremacy as a matter of national security. The US intends to outcompete China and preserve American leadership, especially through efforts to 'counter Chinese influence in international governance bodies', offering little in the way of genuine global collaboration or responsible development frameworks that include China. Advertisement Indeed, many AI governance initiatives emerging in recent years, such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and AI Partnership for Defence, have been framed around alliances of 'like-minded' countries. While these initiatives often speak the language of ethics and responsibility, they also reflect geopolitical fault lines. China is not only rarely invited to the table but is often treated as an imagined rival or a problem to be contained. The result is not global AI governance, but fragmented spheres of trust, each side viewing the other's intentions with suspicion.

Washington trade talks with India have stalled, sources say
Washington trade talks with India have stalled, sources say

South China Morning Post

time2 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Washington trade talks with India have stalled, sources say

US-India trade talks appear to have stalled, according to two sources familiar with the matter, as both sides remain unwilling to compromise on opening India's agriculture and dairy markets to US products. Before US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from the country, the Indian side was expected to visit. However, Indian negotiators will not be coming to Washington in mid-August as a planned follow-up to their previous meeting about two weeks ago, according to one person familiar with the issue. A scheduled trip by the US Trade Representative Jameison Greer to New Delhi later in the month also appears unlikely if the two sides do not reach a consensus on market access. The apparent setback follows five rounds of negotiations between April and July after Trump threatened India with 26 per cent so-called reciprocal tariffs on April 2. India's agricultural sector supports the livelihoods of roughly 42 per cent of the country's population, making Trump's demand for access politically risky for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ratcheting up tension between Washington and the world's most populous country. One of the sources said the mood in New Delhi felt 'bitter', while both sources said the US negotiators have remained firm in demanding a 'complete' opening of the Indian market, an approach India has rejected to protect its domestic industries and farmers.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store