Leveraging an Innovative “Insurance + Technology” Approach to Safeguard 55,000 Ancient Trees and Promote Biodiversity Conservation

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An” or “the Group”, HKEX: 2318/82318; SSE: 601318) presented its biodiversity protection project, “Ancient Tree Guardian Action”, at the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Belém, Brazil. This initiative deeply integrates insurance coverage, technology, and social welfare to establish a sustainable protection system for ancient and notable trees in China, demonstrating the innovative efforts of a Chinese enterprise in tackling climate change and preserving biodiversity.

Innovative Approaches to Overcome Challenges in Ancient Tree Conservation

China harbors a rich heritage of ancient trees, with around 5.08 million specimens recognized for their ecological, historical, and scientific significance. These venerable trees, however, face serious threats from climate change, pest infestations, and insufficient maintenance funding. Since ancient trees are widely scattered and their value is difficult to quantify, insurance companies must dedicate extensive resources to individual inspections and ongoing monitoring. This demand places a heavy burden on underwriting capabilities, making it hard for traditional commercial insurance models to offer comprehensive protection.

To tackle this challenge, Ping An introduced an innovative “Insurance + Technology” model, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This model combines assessments of ancient tree growth, geographical location, and historical risk data to enable multidimensional evaluation. Building on this, Ping An launched Guangdong’s first ancient-tree insurance in 2023, creating a full-chain model “pre-disaster prevention, in-disaster emergency response, and post-disaster compensation” mechanism. As of October 2025, the project has provided over RMB 700 million (approximately USD 98 million) in risk protection for more than 55,000 ancient and notable trees nationwide.

Shifting From Post-Disaster Compensation to Pre-Disaster Prevention through Technology-Enabled Protection

The application of technology is a key characteristic of Ping An’s ancient tree protection program. Ping An uses IoT, environmental sensors, and wireless communications to monitor crucial indicators such as soil moisture, air quality, and tree health, 24/7. All data is uploaded to the cloud in real time, where an intelligent management system enables visualization and dynamic alerts, providing caretakers with precise, science-based guidance for tree maintenance.

Ping An has also developed its proprietary “EagleX” system, which integrates remote sensing, meteorological monitoring, big data, and AI analytics to track extreme weather, floods, typhoons, and other natural hazards in real time. The system issues timely alerts when major risks are detected, extending insurance services from post-disaster compensation to pre-disaster prevention and significantly reducing the likelihood of damage to ancient trees.

Empowering Communities and Fostering Green Economic Growth Through Public Initiatives

Beyond providing financial security, Ping An actively engages in a range of public welfare activities, including educational programs on ancient trees and photography exhibitions, to raise public awareness of biodiversity conservation. In 2025, Ping An launched an eco-tourism campaign titled “Travel with Ancient Trees,” creating distinctive tourism routes centered on ancient trees. This initiative was promoted to 250 million registered users through Ping An’s “Auto Owner” app. While spreading ecological knowledge, the campaign also stimulates the growth of local green economies.

Promoting Biodiversity Conservation Through Green Finance

Ping An’s “Ancient Tree Guardian Action” forms a vital part of its green finance strategy. In addition to safeguarding ancient trees, Ping An provides insurance coverage for carbon-sequestering ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and marine environments. By the end of 2024, Ping An’s Carbon Sink Insurance had expanded to cover 18 provinces and municipalities nationwide, providing robust financial backing for ecological preservation.

In recent years, the Group has expanded both the depth and breadth of its green finance initiatives, advancing coordinated efforts across green insurance, banking, and investment. As of June 30, 2025, Ping An’s green investments totaled RMB 144.482 billion (approximately USD 20 billion), green loan balances reached RMB 251.746 billion (around USD 35.3 billion), and premium income from green insurance for the first three quarters amounted to RMB 55.279 billion (about USD 7.7 billion).

Looking ahead, Chen Yao, General Manager of the Brand Department at Ping An Group, stated: “Ping An will persist in promoting innovation within green finance. The Group aims to create a wider range of green insurance and investment products, collaborating with international partners to support sustainable development and the preservation of our environment.”

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About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEX:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services. Under the technology-enabled “integrated finance + health and senior care” dual-pronged strategy, the Group provides professional “financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge” services to its nearly 250 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses’ quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 27th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2025, 47th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2025, and ranked AAA in MSCI ESG Ratings in 2025.

For more information, please visit the www.group.pingan.com and follow our LinkedIn page – PING AN.

SHARJAH, UAE, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Xposure’s International Photography and Film Festival unites 420 artists from around the world under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling.” From January 29 to February 4, 2026, the 49,000-square-metre Aljada site will become a global hub for photography and film, hosting 570 events, including 95 exhibitions featuring 3,200 works.

Over the past decade, Xposure has established Sharjah as a global destination for visual storytelling. Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the 2026 edition will feature 126 talks, 72 workshops, and portfolio reviews. Tariq Saeed Allay, SGMB Director-General, said: Xposure has become a global space for human connection, shaped by the stories photographers tell and the perspectives they capture.

Since its launch, the festival has grown into a meeting point for visual artists worldwide. The Xposure Photography and Film Awards 2026 received more than 29,000 entries and 634 films from over 60 countries, reflecting its international reach.

Award-winning environmental photographer Sebastian Copeland highlights Xposure as a platform that showcases photography not only as art but also as a tool for environmental awareness: “When nature speaks and we do not listen, photography can make us hear with our eyes.” Acclaimed American photographer George Steinmetz offers a contrasting perspective with “Feeding the Planet,” a long-term project documenta global food systems and their environmental impact. For the first time, Xposure will feature a Guest of Honour: Athens, presented through a curated programme highlighting the city’s heritage and contemporary creativity. Mayor Haris Doukas described the selection as a significant distinction: “Our legacy is not only inherited but alive — and shaping the future.”

More information: Here

– Picture is available at AP –

Media Contact:

Hussain Al Mulla – Sharjah Government Media Bureau
+971 56 398 0067 | Hussain.almulla@sgmb.ae 

SHARJAH, UAE, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Xposure’s International Photography and Film Festival unites 420 artists from around the world under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling.” From January 29 to February 4, 2026, the 49,000-square-metre Aljada site will become a global hub for photography and film, hosting 570 events, including 95 exhibitions featuring 3,200 works.

Over the past decade, Xposure has established Sharjah as a global destination for visual storytelling. Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), the 2026 edition will feature 126 talks, 72 workshops, and portfolio reviews. Tariq Saeed Allay, SGMB Director-General, said: Xposure has become a global space for human connection, shaped by the stories photographers tell and the perspectives they capture.

Since its launch, the festival has grown into a meeting point for visual artists worldwide. The Xposure Photography and Film Awards 2026 received more than 29,000 entries and 634 films from over 60 countries, reflecting its international reach.

Award-winning environmental photographer Sebastian Copeland highlights Xposure as a platform that showcases photography not only as art but also as a tool for environmental awareness: “When nature speaks and we do not listen, photography can make us hear with our eyes.” Acclaimed American photographer George Steinmetz offers a contrasting perspective with “Feeding the Planet,” a long-term project documenta global food systems and their environmental impact. For the first time, Xposure will feature a Guest of Honour: Athens, presented through a curated programme highlighting the city’s heritage and contemporary creativity. Mayor Haris Doukas described the selection as a significant distinction: “Our legacy is not only inherited but alive — and shaping the future.”

More information: Here

– Picture is available at AP –

Media Contact:

Hussain Al Mulla – Sharjah Government Media Bureau
+971 56 398 0067 | Hussain.almulla@sgmb.ae 

• Beyfortus® (nirsevimab) is an available option designed to protect all infants – whether born full-term or pre-term, healthy or with underlying conditions – against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with proven high and sustained efficacy, a favourable safety profile, and real-world public health impact.^[1]
• Administration can be timed during the first year of life to provide protection from birth, or as early as possible. ^[1]
• In the recent HARMONIE trial findings, Beyfortus reduced RSV hospitalisations in infants by 82.7% (95% CI: 67.8 to 91.5; p<0,0001) through six months (180 days).^[2]
• Real world evidence from several national immunisation programs globally underscores the urgency for infant RSV prevention and reinforces the proven efficacy and favourable safety profile of Beyfortus against RSV disease and hospitalization in all infants.^[3]
• Beyfortus has demonstrated high real-world effectiveness consistently exceeding 80% with high acceptance rate.^[3]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) is now approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and is available for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease in newborns and infants born during or entering their first RSV season.^[1]

RSV is predominantly seen in infants less than 1 year old and infected children below 2 years old had a high hospitalisation rate of 84.5%^[4]. As a tropical climate country, RSV circulation in Malaysia is seen throughout the year with distinct peaks.^{[4], [5]}

Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail
Technical Chairman of Immunise4Life and former president of the Malaysian Paediatric Association
“In Malaysia, RSV remains a significant but under-recognised public health burden. Hospital data consistently show that the majority of infants admitted with RSV are full-term and generally healthy, which highlights the importance of preventive solutions that extend protection to all babies across the board. Broader awareness and stronger cross-industry collaboration will be critical in easing the burden RSV places on families and our healthcare system overall.”

Zainab Sadat
Vaccines General Manager, Sanofi Southeast Asia & India
“Today, Malaysia joins other countries worldwide where an innovative immunisation solution is now available to protect all infants against RSV. The approval of Beyfortus marks a critical step towards giving parents the ability to protect their babies during their first year of life, when they are most vulnerable to severe RSV disease. We are committed to working with stakeholders across the RSV care continuum to ensure seamless implementation and broad availability of this innovative preventive solution — because every baby needs protection. Our goal is simple: to help parents protect their babies, and give them peace of mind.”

The approval was based on results from the extensive Beyfortus clinical development programme spanning across broad infant population from pre-term, heathy full-term and those with underlying comorbidities. Across all clinical endpoints, a single dose of Beyfortus demonstrated high and consistent efficacy against RSV disease sustained for at least six months. Beyfortus was well tolerated with a favourable safety profile that was consistent across all clinical trials and real world evidence. The overall rates of adverse events were comparable between Beyfortus and placebo and the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity.

In temperate countries, the single administration of Beyfortus was developed to correspond with the beginning of the RSV season for babies born prior to the season or at birth for those born during the RSV season. In clinical trials, Beyfortus helped prevent RSV disease requiring medical care in all infant populations studied, including those born healthy, at term or preterm, or with specific health conditions that make them vulnerable to severe RSV disease. RSV disease requiring medical care included physician office, urgent care, emergency room visits and hospitalisations.

For more information and references, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/SanofiRSVENG.

In the news release, Dr James Liang Launches HK$500 Million “Genovation Foundation” to Address Low Fertility, issued 20-Nov-2025 by The Genovation Foundation over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows:

Dr James Liang Launches HK$500 Million “Genovation Foundation” to Address Low Fertility

HONG KONG, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On World Children’s Day, Dr James Liang, Co-founder of Trip.com Group, announced the establishment of the Genovation Foundation Limited in Hong Kong. Established in his personal capacity, the foundation pledges HK$500 million over five years to address declining fertility through three key avenues: economic subsidies, cultural advocacy, and policy research.

The name Genovation combines “Gene” and “Innovation”, symbolising both the continuity of life and the pursuit of creative solutions to pressing social challenges. This marks another significant step in Liang’s decade-long dedicated research into demographic issues, moving from corporate practice into the realm of public philanthropy.

Supporting Policy Research and Global Dialogue

Beyond funding policy research, including the Global Fertility Crisis Forum scheduled to launch in January 2026 and held annually thereafter, the foundation has opened applications in two further areas:

• Childbearing subsidies for PhD students in Hong Kong
• Grants for fertility-friendly cultural and artistic projects worldwide

As a scholar-entrepreneur who has long studied the relationship between demographics and innovation, Liang has repeatedly warned that a shrinking younger population will erode national creativity and long-term economic vitality. He argues that addressing this challenge requires coordinated action across government, business, and society. By piloting initiatives in Hong Kong and focusing on three strategic directions, the foundation aims to create replicable models for wider adoption.

Financial Support for Doctoral Students

In its first phase, the foundation will pilot a targeted subsidy for doctoral students at higher education institutions in Hong Kong. As a crucial reserve of future research talent, PhD students often face multiple pressures of academic advancement, early career development, and family planning. Despite being in their prime reproductive years, many are forced to delay or abandon parenthood due to research demands, limited income, and the high cost of childcare.

To address this, the foundation will provide a HK$50,000 childcare and education grant to families of full-time PhD students based in Hong Kong whose children are born on or after 1 January 2026. Applications require a birth certificate, proof of enrolment, and academic transcripts. The foundation pledges to complete reviews within 14 working days and disburse funds within five working days. (Further details are available at http://www.genovationfoundation.org/ )

Promoting Fertility-Friendly Cultural Innovation

Liang recognises that low fertility is not only an economic issue but also shaped by social attitudes and cultural anxieties. To foster a supportive environment, the foundation has established a Fertility-Friendly Cultural Innovation Project, inviting global submissions of creative works that inspire childbearing, convey family warmth, and reduce anxiety around parenthood.

The foundation provides grants of up to HK$1 million to individuals and organisations, awarded annually to support creative works — from film and literature to art installations — that celebrate the joy of family life and the positive impact of childbearing.”

Global Fertility Crisis Forum

Low fertility is a shared global challenge requiring international collaboration. A flagship initiative of the foundation will be the Global Fertility Crisis Forum, to be held in Hong Kong in January 2026. Co-hosted by leading institutions including Peking University and the University of Hong Kong, the forum will examine demographic trends, the economic impact of declining fertility, policy responses, and the balance between women’s reproductive choices and career development.

Combining macro-level analysis with personal sharing, the forum is intended to become a regular platform for international dialogue, pooling global expertise to inform policy-making. Liang believes that evidence-based policies and sufficient support can meaningfully raise fertility intentions, and the forum will serve as a hub for such collaborative efforts.

More information about the Global Fertility Crisis Forum can be found at https://globalfertilitycrisis.org/

From Corporate Practice to Public Philanthropy

The creation of the Genovation Foundation represents another breakthrough in Liang’s long-standing commitment to fertility support. Over the past decade, he has authored works such as The Demographics of Innovation and Population Strategies: How Population Affects Economy and Innovation, while also implementing childcare-friendly measures at Trip.com Group, including subsidies for employees worldwide and three additional days of parental leave.

He has sought to build public consensus through creative initiatives, such as the philosophical novel and play After Immortality and the interview series James Liang in Dialogue with Multi-Child Families. Liang has consistently called for stronger national support, including tax relief, mortgage interest rebates for larger families, and expanded childcare provision.

With government subsidies now in place and public awareness of the fertility crisis growing, Liang’s personal investment of HK$500 million reflects his philosophy of “testing solutions through corporate practice, expanding impact through public philanthropy”. From supporting employees to engaging society at large, and from financial subsidies to a combined framework of economic, cultural, and policy support, Liang emphasises that safeguarding fertility intentions is safeguarding the future of society and the foundations of innovation. He hopes the Genovation Foundation will act as a seed, encouraging wider participation and transforming childbearing from a “dilemma” into a “choice of hope and happiness”.

About the Genovation Foundation

The Genovation Foundation is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to population development and social innovation. The name Genovation combines “Gene” and “Innovation”, symbolising both the continuity of life and the pursuit of creative solutions to pressing social challenges. Established in Hong Kong by Dr James Liang in his personal capacity, the foundation will invest HK$500 million over five years, committed to alleviating poverty through education, promoting fertility, and advocating family virtues.

Official website: http://www.genovationfoundation.org/

 media contact: info@genovationfoundation.org