In September 2026, China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security released the 8th batch of new occupations, and “Corporate Sustainable Development Planner” was included. Since 2016, the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HiESD) has developed a professional qualification curriculum for Sustainable Development Planning (SDP). Subsequently, it promoted professionals from various fields to jointly establish the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) and establish the “CSDP®” professional qualification certification for Sustainable Development Planners and the Certified Sustainable Development Corporation. Our ten years of progress has received active participation and support from diverse industries and has achieved fruitful results.
On 19 November 2017, the first China Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Forum was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, the China Association of Circular Economy, and the Centre for Responsibility and Social Value, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University.
Professor Karen Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association; Mr. Zhao Kai, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Circular Economy; Professor Wang Liyan, Director of the Centre for Responsibility and Social Value, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University; together with representatives from the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Centre of the Ministry of Finance, officiated the forum.
Certificates were presented to new Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporations (CSDC®) at each forum.
The Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, the China Association of Circular Economy, North China University of Technology, and the Centre for Responsibility and Social Value, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, jointly organised the Second Sustainable Development Forum.
Guests of honour included Mr. Feng Xiwang, former Secretary-General of the State Council Information Office and President of the Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Promotion Association; Professor Li Jinhui, Executive Director of the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme; Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation; and Professor Zhu Dajian, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development and Management, Tongji University.
At the forum, Certified Sustainable Development Planner (CSDP®) and Certified Sustainable Development Corporation (CSDC®) certificates were presented to professionals and recognised enterprises that had completed the training and assessment requirements.
The Third Sustainable Development Forum was Jointly organised in Nanjing by the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, the China Association of Circular Economy, and the Centre for Responsibility and Social Value, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University.
Guests of honour included Mr. Feng Xiwang, former Secretary-General of the State Council Information Office and President of the Mainland-Hong Kong-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Promotion Association; Mr. Zhu Xingxiang, President of the China Association of Circular Economy and former Director-General of the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment, Ministry of Environmental Protection; Professor Zhu Ronglin, former Director of the Shanghai Development Research Institute, Development Research Centre of the State Council; and Dr. Lu Jianzhong, Board Director of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Mr. Feng Xiwang, Mr. Zhu Xingxiang and Professor Karen Cheung presented certificates to Certified Sustainable Development Corporations (CSDC®) and Certified Sustainable Development Planners (CSDP®).
During the forum, a Special Exhibition on Corporate Actions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals was held, featuring 16 Certified Sustainable Development Corporations (CSDC®). Mr. Xie Zhenhua, former Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, and Mr. Xu Ming, former Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, former Vice-Governor of Jiangsu Province and former Vice-Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, visited the exhibition area and provided guidance.
The trademarks for “Certified Sustainable Development Planner”, “Certified Sustainable Development Corporation” and “Recognised Sustainable Development Corporation” — CSDP®, CSDC® and RSDC® respectively — were successfully registered.
The World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) was established. Its founding was supported by enthusiasts from different countries, professional fields and international organisations, including Nobel laureates, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UNPRME), Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, higher education institutions, the UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UHKA) and the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HiESD).
