CAFR Special Issue Conference 2026

The China Accounting and Finance Review (CAFR) Special Issue Conference 2026, jointly organised by the School of Accounting and Finance and the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the School of Accountancy of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, will be held at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, China on 28-29 November 2026.

Conference Theme and Aims

The conference theme for this year is “ESG in the AI Era: Challenges and Opportunities”. This special issue conference aims to explore the evolving relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and artificial intelligence (AI) in the contemporary business landscape. As AI technologies increasingly reshape how firms collect, process, and disclose ESG information, new challenges and opportunities emerge for stakeholders, regulators, and researchers alike. We seek to advance understanding of how AI impacts ESG reporting quality, assurance, investment decision-making, and corporate accountability. The conference also welcomes submissions from critical perspectives on ethical risks, algorithmic bias, and regulatory gaps introduced by AI-driven ESG practices. By bringing together interdisciplinary research, this special issue conference aspires to inform both academic inquiry and practical policy development, offering insights into responsible innovation, sustainability strategy, and the future of governance in the AI era.

The key features of this conference are:

• AI-Driven ESG Reporting and Assurance;
• Algorithmic Bias, Ethics, and Fairness in ESG Analytics;
• Regulatory Responses to AI-Enabled ESG Practices;
• AI, Greenwashing, and Corporate Accountability; and
• AI for Sustainable Finance and Investment Decision-Making.

Conference Format and Paper Presentation

The conference will feature plenary sessions and concurrent sessions. Authors of papers invited to be presented at the plenary sessions are expected to commit to publishing their papers in the special issue of CAFR (scheduled to be published in the second half of the year following the conference). The commitment to publish with CAFR requirement only applies to papers accepted for presentation at the plenary sessions, and not to those accepted for presentation at the concurrent sessions. 

One author of each paper accepted for presentation at the plenary sessions will be invited to present the paper at the conference and will be provided with three nights of accommodation and airfare reimbursement. The maximum amount of airfare reimbursement will range from USD 500 to USD 2,000, depending on the location of the presenter’s affiliation. The conference organisers reserve the final decision on the exact amount to be reimbursed. Presenters at the concurrent sessions will not be provided with accommodation and airfare reimbursement by the conference organizers.       

Conference Schedule

Dates:           28-29 November 2026 (Saturday & Sunday)

Location:      Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China

Theme:         ESG in the AI Era: Challenges and Opportunities

Paper Submission

Please send a complete English version of your submission in Microsoft Word format, including separate files for the title page and for the blinded manuscript, by 2 August 2026 via the online Submission System (https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cafr). Please select “ESG in the AI Era: Challenges and Opportunities” at Step 6: Details & Comments, and indicate in the cover letter whether you prefer to have your submission considered for:

• the plenary session only (which requires a commitment to publish in CAFR if selected);
• the concurrent session only (which does not require a commitment to publish in CAFR); or
• both sessions.

For submission guidelines, please visit:

https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/cafr#jlp_author_guidelines

There is no paper submission fee for the CAFR Special Issue Conference. Each paper will be peer-reviewed according to the policies of CAFR and the journal publisher Emerald.

Authors will be notified of their acceptance by 4 October 2026.

Key Dates

Paper Submission Opens: 15 April 2026

Submission Deadline: 2 August 2026

Notification of Acceptance: 4 October 2026

Guest Editors

Prof. Sihai LI, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

Prof. Yi XIANG, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Colin ZENG, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Qi ZHANG, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law 

Conference Organising Committee

Prof. Sihai LI, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

Prof. Nancy SU, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Qiang WU, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Qi ZHANG, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

Organisers

School of Accounting and Finance, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University