Event Overview

On 29 October 2026, the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) opened in Yerevan, Armenia. A China Corner side‑event released the Biodiversity Conservation Report Series of Chinese Enterprises, using State Grid Corporation of China as a representative case to illustrate how power‑grid development can align with biodiversity goals.

Public‑Welfare Brand Programs

State Grid highlighted three flagship public‑welfare brand initiatives:

Birds' Guardian Grid

The program now spans 24 provinces, covers more than 40 major migratory‑bird habitats and all four migratory flyways across China. It has rescued and protected over 16,000 birds to date.

Nests of Life

This initiative introduced a standardised artificial‑nest management system operating under a “one nest, one file” protocol. Originally piloted in the Sanjiangyuan region, it has been expanded to plateau grassland areas in six provincial‑level regions.

Green Power Ark

Green Power Ark delivers zero‑carbon electricity to remote habitats through wind‑solar‑storage micro‑grids. The scheme has been extended to 17 national‑level protected areas across nine provinces, providing clean power to ecologically sensitive zones.

Shanghai Megacity Case Study

The same side‑event also unveiled All Life Thrives in Shanghai: State Grid's Biodiversity Conservation Practices in Megacities – Shanghai. Focusing on State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, the report details how biodiversity requirements are embedded throughout the power value chain, including:

  • Planning, design and construction
  • Operation and maintenance
  • Dispatch and supply‑chain management
  • Digital enablement
  • Corporate‑responsibility initiatives

Participants recognised State Grid’s approach as a practical model for integrating infrastructure with habitat protection.

Implications

Across the three brand programs and the Shanghai megacity case, the consistent conclusion is that power‑grid infrastructure can be designed not as a disturbance to biodiversity but as a supporting element of habitat protection. The initiatives represent a corporate contribution to China’s implementation of the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and offer a Chinese solution for global biodiversity governance.