Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. has introduced its landmark biodiversity initiative, “Ancient Tree Guardian Action,” at the 30th UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil.
China is home to approximately 5.08 million ancient trees, valued for their ecological, historical, and scientific importance.
Ping An recognises that these trees face growing risks from climate change, pest infestations, and limited maintenance resources. Their dispersed locations and the difficulty of quantifying their ecological and cultural value present challenges for traditional insurance providers, making comprehensive protection difficult.
To address these challenges, Ping An developed an innovative “Insurance + Technology” model, leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, and IoT to analyse tree growth, location, and historical risk patterns.
In 2023, Ping An launched Guangdong’s first ancient-tree insurance programme, establishing a comprehensive mechanism covering pre-disaster prevention, emergency response, and post-disaster compensation. By October 2025, Ping An had extended over RMB 700 million (approximately USD 98 million) in coverage for more than 55,000 ancient and notable trees nationwide.
Technology is central to Ping An’s conservation efforts. The company uses IoT devices and environmental sensors to monitor soil moisture, air quality, and tree health around the clock, sending real-time data to a cloud-based management system that provides visualisations and alerts for caretakers.
Ping An also developed the proprietary “EagleX” system, combining remote sensing, meteorology, big data, and AI to monitor extreme weather, floods, typhoons, and other risks. By delivering timely warnings, Ping An moves beyond post-disaster compensation, allowing proactive measures that significantly reduce potential damage.
Ping An also engages communities through educational programs, photography exhibitions, and public awareness campaigns on biodiversity. In 2025, Ping An launched the “Travel with Ancient Trees” eco-tourism initiative, creating routes highlighting ancient trees and reaching 250 million users via the “Auto Owner” app. This campaign simultaneously raises environmental awareness and stimulates local green economies, reinforcing Ping An’s commitment to combining conservation with social impact.
Ping An positions the “Ancient Tree Guardian Action” as a key component of its green finance strategy. The company provides insurance coverage for carbon-storing ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and marine environments. By the end of 2024, Ping An’s Carbon Sink Insurance programme had expanded to 18 provinces and municipalities, offering robust financial support for ecological protection.
Ping An has further strengthened its green finance initiatives across insurance, banking, and investment. From June 30, 2025, Ping An’s green investments totalled RMB 144.482 billion (around USD 20 billion), green loan balances reached RMB 251.746 billion (approximately USD 35.3 billion), and green insurance premiums for the first three quarters amounted to RMB 55.279 billion (about USD 7.7 billion).
Chen Yao, General Manager of Ping An Group’s Brand Department, emphasised: “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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