Country Garden Holdings

Country Garden has not set any emissions reduction targets. The company should introduce targets to cover emissions from across its value chain, including the in-use emission of the buildings it develops. The company should ensure that these targets align with its 1.5°C pathway. Furthermore, the company should set regularly spaced intermediate targets at gaps of no more than five years to incentivise near-term action. 

Country Garden does not disclose in-use emissions intensity, or sufficient floor area and in-use absolute emissions data, for the buildings it develops. As a result, it is not possible to provide a meaningful assessment of the company’s past emissions trend or projected future performance. In addition, the company has not made commitments to develop low-carbon buildings in the future. As one of the largest property developers in China, the company can show leading practice by reporting the in-use emissions of the buildings it develops as part of its emissions reporting. 

Country Garden has recognised climate change as an issue and implemented board-level oversight of climate change. However, there is no evidence that the company intends to develop a low-carbon transition plan. Country Garden‘s decarbonisation strategy is limited to minor commitments to improve energy efficiency. The company should establish a time-bound action plan that outlines how it will transition to a low-carbon economy. This should be informed by scenario analysis and include emission reduction targets, verifiable and quantifiable key performance indicators and financial commitments. 

Country Garden has stated that it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it has not set any emissions targets. The company has not developed a vision, qualitative or quantitative, of what its business will look like in a low-carbon future.    

Country Garden has not developed a robust low-carbon transition plan or indicated that it will develop one in the future. 

The company has set short-term goals to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions through improving lighting to reduce electricity use. In 2022, the company planned to retrofit 1,200 property development projects with more efficient lighting.  

The company does not disclose the in-use emissions of the buildings it develops. It is not possible to provide a meaningful assessment of its historical emissions intensity trend. 

Country Garden has acknowledged climate change as an issue and stated that it will contribute to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. However, the company has not developed a transition plan that states how this commitment will be achieved.  

No evidence was found that China Garden’s commits to social dialogue or engages with the categories of stakeholders the company on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.  

No evidence was found that Country Garden undertakes low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue and with stakeholders in its just transition planning. 

No public commitment by Country Garden was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks.  

The company discloses the actions it takes to provide training opportunities for workers and affected stakeholders. For instance, it offers full-coverage talent training system to its employees and provides free skills training opportunities for local households. However, no relevant disclosure was found that the company embeds equality of opportunity for women and vulnerable groups in these actions. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company has a process for identifying skills gaps for workers and affected stakeholders or a public commitment to help workers displaced by the transition to re- or up-skill. 

No relevant disclosure was found to show if Country Garden Holdings identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers and affected stakeholders, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders.  

No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers. 

No policies or commitments of China Garden related to respect for human rights were found in the public domain. This includes the necessary policies and systems by which the company can ensure respect for basic human rights in its operations and supply chain. 

China Garden discloses some indicators of workforce diversity, including the age and gender of its workforce by employee category. However, no relevant disclosure was found of additional indicators of workforce diversity. Moreover, no evidence of the company’s policies or commitments related to other key decent work issues were found in the public domain. These issues include the provision of secure, safe and healthy workplaces, where workers are fairly renumerated and have a meaningful say in decision-making. 

No policies or commitments of China Garden related to key ethical business topics – personal data protection, tax, bribery and corruption, and lobbying and political engagement – were found in the public domain. This includes ensuring ethical business conduct throughout its operations and in its relationships with business partners.