31 March 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Blue Defenders project. With the theme of “DEFEND · CHANGE”, the SEE Blue Defenders 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting was successfully held. Guests from various fields, including government agencies, industry experts, enterprise representatives, Blue Defenders partners and SEE members, gathered in Beijing to revisit the past journey and seek new ways of management in the future.
On May 21, 2023, the Ten-Year Road Event of Green Starters & Growing Up Together was successfully held, in which the Ten-Year Evaluation Report of Green Starters & Growing Up Together was released, sorting out the breakthrough points of the projects and proposing the direction of the projects' future development.
In July 2023, the “SEE For Good” platform was launched.
On 27 September 2023, “Time Flies, Green Thrives” 2023 International Forum on Desertification Control – “100 Million Suosuo” Ten-Year Anniversary Theme Event were successfully held. Experts, scholars and non-profit workers from various fields gathered together and expressed their views, witnessing the ten-year achievements of the project and envisioning future development in the next ten years.
SEE developed and released with McKinsey the SEE Foundation Strategies for Coping with Climate Change on October 20. This is the first attempt to lay out environmental protection actions at the issue strategy level. The strategy specifies the carbon reduction and ecosystem demonstration targets for 2030 from the production, consumption and ecological sides, and formulates nine paths to realize them, so as to promote ecological protection in multiple fields.
From November 30th to December 12th, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Dubai Expo City in 2023, during which SEE Foundation hosted a side panel, participated in a series of activities, exchanged views with domestic and international partners, and officially launched its “Climate Companions” Program at the official press conference of the United Nations: by 2030, SEE Foundation will empower 100 civil society talents, provide funding of more than 10 million RMB, and support no less than 100 civil society projects to be carried out on the ground.
On December 15, 2023, SEE Foundation was re-awarded the 5A Level organization in China Social Organization Evaluation Grade, which is assessed every five years, and this is the third consecutive award since 2013 when it was first assessed.
On May 30 2022, the 19th China Philanthropy List, edited and produced by China Philanthropy Times, was officially released. SEE Foundation received the honor as Role Model Foundation of the Year.
From May 31 to June 4, SEE Foundation, as a member unit and executive committee of UN-SPBF, was invited to attend the 4th Global High-level Conference of the UN Global Environment Forum on Science, Policy and Business (UN-SPBF). Secretary General of SEE Foundation, YANG Biao, was invited to make a speech in the panel discussion at the opening ceremony on "Reimagine Multilateralism and Bridging the Implementation Gap". This meeting focused on what technologies, regulatory frameworks, financing and incentives we would need to achieve sustainable development over the next 50 years.
On this World Environment Day, the 9th Chinese Enterprise Green Compact Forum was successfully held. The forum gathered leaders from various industries, government guests, academia authorities and entrepreneur representatives, unfolding several thematic speeches and conversation about green development tendency under global perspective, synergistic interaction of carbon neutrality governance, enhancement on the effect of blue carbon towards carbon neutrality, solving scheme of business and nature as well as green new choice coping with climate change, sharing more innovative mindsets and directions.
On June 17, also the 28th World Day to combat desertification, in the recent flagship report Global Land Outlook Second Edition, published by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, SEE Foundation "100 Million Suosuo" project was included in the report as a demonstration case. This is also the first time that the project has been written into an international authoritative report in the field of combating desertification, further displaying the practice case of SEE Foundation to policymakers around the world.
On June 29, the official side event of "Promoting Blue Partnership and Building A Sustainable Future" hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and co-organized by SEE Foundation was successfully held during the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. At the meeting, the project plan of Blue Partnership Action Fund was officially released.
On October 27, the 2022 1st SEE Foundation Philanthropy Development Forum "Innovation, Value, Green and Prosperity" was held in Beijing. In this forum, the nature protection philanthropy partner program secretariat as a guiding unit, SEE Foundation as the organizer unit, Economic View as the strategic partner, experts, entrepreneurs, public colleagues guests from all walks of life, together shared dialogues around climate change and green development, harmonious coexistence between human and nature, good ecology supporting rural revitalization, multiple participation creating harmonious nature, provided a new train of thinking in promoting ecological protection and sustainable development.
With nature protection public partner program secretariat as the guiding unit, 2022 China Ocean NGO Forum was smoothly held, SEE foundation and the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Fund Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF-GSP) jointly organized the theme of "Ocean NGO Actions in the Coming Decade". In this forum, multiple parties, from the government, scientific research institutions, public environmental institutions, love enterprises, to community representatives, together discussed the development of the next decade of Marine public welfare.
SEE Conservation, allied with SEE Foundation, Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation (MCF), Changjiang Conservation Foundation (CCF) and other launching agencies, has successively participated in the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Wetland Convention (COP 14) and the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27). By hosting, co-organizing and participating in a series of theme side meetings and forums, we will promote the socialized participation in the long-term development of wetland protection, present the achievements of Chinese enterprises and social forces in tackling climate change, and share China's stories and experiences.
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) was held in Montreal, Canada. During the conference, SEE Conservation and SEE Foundation hosted a number of themed side meetings, and made speeches in several side meetings, showing the practice and achievements of SEE's participation in biodiversity conservation, and contributing to its active participation in global biodiversity conservation.
On June 8,Foundation signed China's first blue carbon sink project trading agreement with the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Administrative Bureau of Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve. This deal is of exemplary significance for attracting private funds to the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystem, promoting the development of marine carbon sink economy, and going carbon neutral.
On June 24, F20, SEE Foundation and Campaign for Nature jointly organized the "International Symposium on Synergistic Action on Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity", where senior government leaders, academic experts, business leaders and indigenous representatives discussed specific actions of the Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
In September, it participated in a series of fundraising activities on various platforms such as Tencent 99 Giving Day, 95 Alibaba Philanthropy Week and Weibo Philanthropy Day for All, receiving 417,371 supports.
From September 3 to 11, the 7th IUCN World Conservation Congress took place in Marseille, France. As IUCN members, SEE Conservation and SEE Foundation voted on several governance proposals and regular proposals.
On September 28, SEE Foundation, as a philanthropic organization, won the "Capital Philanthropy Award" granted by the Capital Philanthropy Federation under the guidance of the Social Work Commission of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC and Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau.
From September 27 to 28, the parallel forum for non-governmental organizations of CBD COP15 was held in Kunming. SEE Foundation, as one of the organizers, co-hosted the fifth thematic forum on "Foundations Contributing to Biodiversity Conservation" with F20 and WWF, and released the Report on China's Grant-Making for Biodiversity Conservation. It also organized the “Jingcao Carnival Night of Biodiversity”
On October 25, as the first group members of environmental protection organizations, SEE Conservation and SEE Foundation participated in the Global Joint Initiative on the Partnership of Biodiversity and Finance (PBF), in a bid to foster cooperation among all sectors with concrete actions.
From October 31 to November 9, the 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 26) was held in Glasgow, UK. In the 12-hour continuous live streaming of "Showing You Carbon Neutrality" during the Conference, 17 industry guests from different fields were invited at the section of "Efforts of Chinese Enterprises" sponsored by SEE Foundation to discuss and exchange "carbon neutrality" topics such as green building, green manufacturing, green supply chain and low-carbon black technology.
Ten Focuses of Amendment to the Law on the Protection of Wildlife (2020), a proposal made by SEE, was submitted to the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
SEE, together with ByteDance and JianYing, launched the #Wildlife Protection Challenge#, during which over 100 famous entrepreneurs, popular social media influencers and nonprofit organizations called for wildlife protection.
SEE initiated the theme activity titled #Unconditional Writing Day: Love for Earth#, and advocated “writing for nature”.
SEE’s “GUT Carnival” was included in the top ten public engagement cases of 2020 for “Beautiful China, I am the Actor”, a project launched by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Through cooperation with Ximalaya and Alipay, SEE released Being Family and Friends of Nature, which tells interesting stories about wildlife protection and communicates the ecological concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
In order to facilitate the preliminary preparations and important workshops for COP 15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Civil Society Alliance for Biodiversity Conservation, SEE, Global Environmental Institute, etc. worked with the World Economic Forum to hold many online forums on biodiversity.
SEE participated in the fundraising activities launched by different platforms such as Tencent 99 Giving Day, Alibaba 95 Philanthropy Week and Weibo Public Welfare Festival, and received over 960,000 person-times of support.
The third anniversary of Free Flying Wings: Over the past three years, the project team has submitted 180,000 pieces of bird survey results, carried out wetland patrols and bird surveys nearly 5,500 times, recorded more than 600 bird species, organized 910 nature education activities covering a total of more than 700,000 people, and protected about 4,000 square kilometers of bird habitats.
Ministry of Natural Resources, together with SEE and 10 more nonprofit organizations, launched the “Nonprofit Partnership Scheme for Natural Conservation”.
Green Supply Chains Action witnessed its fourth anniversary. During the past four years, it has secured great achievements, expanded the categories of green purchase, issued a “white list”, launched the online application system for the “green list”, released the document on mechanism of the black list, announced the results of the tenth batch of CURA Green Real Estate joint purchase.
On the occasion of the G20 Riyadh Summit, Foundation Platform 20, SEE and Wyss Campaign for Nature jointly released The Nexus Report: Nature Based Solution to the Biodiversity and Climate Crisis. It is the first time that SEE have issued a global research report together with international institutions.
SEE assisted UNEP in releasing the Chinese version of the Global Environment Outlook 6, marking its first edition in an official language of UN except for English.
Taihu Lake Project Center was established.
SEE worked with the Netherlands NO.5 Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to jointly launch the Rhino Conservation Business Leaders Alliance Plan aiming to build a global rhino conservation campaign and refuse to consume rhino products.
Liaoning Project Center was established.
The 7th Chinese Enterprises Green Compact Forum and the 8th SEE Award Ceremony were held. SEE Volunteer Program was launched and people from all walks of life participated in it to build a better future.
Tianjin Project Center was established.
Xinjiang Project Center was established.
By celebrating "99 Giving Day" in 2019, SEE received 620,000 person-times of support and donations worth 36.78 million CNY in three days.
Hebei Project Center was established.
During the New York Climate Summit, SEE hosted a reception meeting themed "SEE A BETTER FUTURE". On the 15th anniversary of its founding, SEE displayed the growth process and environmental protection results of China on international stages.
The Guangxi Project Center was established.
The Sichuan Project Center was established.
The Chongqing Project Center was established.
The Heilongjiang Project Center was established.
The Sanjiangyuan Project Center was established.
On “99 Giving Day,” 2018, the SEE received 450,000 person-time hours of support within three days, and receives more than 46.62 million RMB in donations.
SEE delegation went to California to participate in the Global Climate Action Summit and worked with Vanke Charity Foundation and C Team (China Champions for Climate Action) to launch the "China Business Climate Action".
The Saishang-Jiangnan Project Center was established.
SEE Environmental and Philanthropy Institute was established. It set up a systematic member growth training system to train business leaders and public welfare leaders with forward-looking vision in China.
The Zhejiang Project Center was established.
Shenzhen Aleshan Foundation was established, committed to providing sustainable sources of funding for charity organizations and projects.
The 10th Anniversary of SEE Foundation's Public Welfare Night "Stand Fast to Our Dream" was held to recall its ten years of environmental protection and public welfare course.
In 2018, the General Meeting of SEE Members was held. The meeting discussed and passed the vote on transforming SEE Conservation’s the "membership convention system" to the "members' representative convention system"
SEE attended the 24th UN Climate Change Conference and co-hosted a side meeting on "Building a Business Climate Action Platform" with Vanke Charity Foundation and C Team.
The Poyang Lake Project Center was established.
The Henan Project Center was established.
The 5th Chinese Enterprises Green Compact Forum and the 7th SEE Award were held successfully.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection’s “Green Consumption and Green Supply Chain Alliance” was formally established, and the SEE became the deputy governor of the alliance.
A delegation from the SEE participated in the G20 Foundation Alliance Conference (F20) held in Hamburg, Germany. The SEE was the only foundation in China to become the first member of the F20.
The Shanxi Project Center was established.
The initial 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is held in Erdos, Inner Mongolia. The desertification control of the SEE went on the international stage for the first time.
On “99 Givign Day,” 2019, the SEE received 570,000 person-time hours of support within three days, and receives more than 55.67 million yuan in donations, ranking No. 1 in the environmental field for another consecutive year.
The Xi’an Entrepreneurs Environmental Conservation Foundation was founded.
The Fujian Project Center was established.
The 3rd UN Environment Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya. This was the debut of the SEE at the UN Environment Conference.
The Shandong Project Center was established.
"Free Flying Wings", "Noah's Ark" Project were launched.
“Green Supply Chains” was launched.
The first SEE public finance class opened.
UNEP Executive Director Erik Solheim met with the SEE’s “Green Supply Chain Initiative” project team and praised it for opening up a new perspective in the global response to climate change.
On this year’s “99 Giving Day,” the SEE received 179,000 persontime hours of support and 24.177 million RMB in donations. This ranked it in the top 10 among all public welfare organizations and No. 1 in environmental protection organizations.
The SEE Ecological Conservation Museum was opened.
A side event was held at the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to release the latest results and environmental benefit assessment report of the Green Supply Chain Initiative in China’s real estate industry.
The Anhui project center was established.
The SEE successfully filed two charitable trusts, one of which became China’s first charitable trust with a charity organization as the single trustee. This was selected as one of the Top Ten Hotspots in the 2016 Charity Profession by the “Blue Book of Charity” published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The SEE formed a strategic partnership with a number of important companies, and establishes the social enterprise “WeiXi.” It launched the water-saving millet brand “Zen millet” to benefit the desert environment.
The Hubei Project Center was established.
The Inner Mongolia Project Center was established.
On the first annual “99 Giving Day,” the SEE received 17,000 person-time hours of support within three days and 4.23 million RMB in donations.
The entrepreneur delegation of the SEE participates in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), and it issued the “Beijing Declaration on Corporate Sustainable Development,” which was submitted to UN agencies.
The Hunan project center was established.
The SEE’s “100 Million Suosuo” project was launched. It is committed to planting 100 million psammophytes represented by the Suosuo in the key ecological zone of Alxa within a decade (2014-2023). It also commits itself to the recovery of 2 million acres of desert vegetation.
The SEE Foundation was upgraded to a public fundraising foundation.
“The Blue Guard Fund” was initiated (strategically transformed to the “Blue Defenders” project in 2016)
The Pearl River project center was established
The Northwest district was established (later renamed to the Northwest project center).
Together with folk NGO organizations and Chinese enterprises, the SEE held a series of activities featuring “China Going Green” in the UNEP Exhibition Hall at the United Nations Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The SEE launched the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation
The “Green Starters” project started its first season
SEE Green Future - China Green Contract Dialogue and I SEE U-China Entrepreneurs' Public Welfare Night was held in Beijing. SEE started to promote green economy.
The “Growing Up Together” project was launched
The North China district was established (later renamed to the North China project center)
The SEE launched the Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation.
The Southwest district was established (later renamed to the Southwest project center)
The SEE’s Taiwan district is established (later renamed to the Taiwan project center)
The East China district was established (later renamed to the East China project center)
During the negotiations at the Cancun Climate Change Conference, the SEE, together with international NGO Climate Organizations, Vanke Foundation, Vantone Foundation, Lao Niu Foundation, and YuanDa Enterprise Group, hosted the “China Day” event. The SEE led the Chinese nongovernment environmental protection activities onto the international stage.
SEE was voted as the “Republic Landmark” by Sina. The reason is that it is “synonymous with China’s environmental protection efforts, and represents the attempt of China’s new entrepreneurial class to assume its social responsibility”.
The SEE’s South China district was established (later divided into the Shenzhen- Hong Kong project center and the Pearl River project centers)
During the 15th UN Climate Change Conference (COP15), more than 200 Chinese representatives, including entrepreneur members of SEE, as the only local public welfare organization in China holding consultative membership with the United Nations Environment Programme, jointly issued the Chinese Enterprises’ Copenhagen Declaration.
