As part of the HSBC Climate Partnership initiative, 18 HSBC Malta employees have assisted experienced scientists in field research in the UK Field Centre in Oxford. Each employee spent two weeks of hands-on fieldwork. Upon their return to Malta, these employees are beginning to share their knowledge and experience with various Local Councils and NGOs in a cohesive effort to create more awareness especially among Maltese adults.
The HSBC Climate Partnership
The partnership was established last year. HSBC Group is injecting US$100 million in a five-year programme to help tackle the causes and impacts of climate change. HSBC joined forces with The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and WWF, to form the HSBC Climate Partnership. By working with four of the world’s most respected environmental organisations and creating and mobilising a ‘green taskforce’ of thousands of HSBC employees worldwide including Malta, HSBC is endeavouring to tackle the causes and impacts of climate change in a tangible manner.
The partnership is focussing on four key areas. It will create ‘climate champions’ across the world who will participate in field research and return to share their knowledge and experience with their communities. It will make some of the world’s biggest cities cleaner and greener models for the rest of the world. The partnership will conduct the largest ever field experiment on the world’s forests to measure carbon and the effects of climate change. It will also help protect four of the world’s major rivers – the Amazon, Ganges, Yangtze and Thames – from the impact of climate change
Celebrating the partnership’s
first anniversary
To celebrate the first anniversary of HSBC Malta’s commitment in support of climate change initiatives, Malta linked up to the main London conference via a video-link. Following presentations by Earthwatch, WWF and The Climate Group, participants in London and several other countries, were informed about HSBC Group’s current sustainability and corporate real estate initiatives. The conference included presentations by Climate Champions teams.
As part of stepping up plans locally to help with the environment, HSBC Malta has installed intelligent water and electricity systems to avoid wastage, installed photovoltaic cell panels in selected offices and introduced or enhanced buildings management systems.
A group of circa 35 volunteers from HSBC Malta, over the last year, have conducted an environmental awareness campaign reaching circa 1,100 school children aged 8 to 13 years.
Global research results
In the meantime, results of the research commissioned by the HSBC Climate Partnership shows that consumers in twelve markets across the world want their governments to agree on carbon emission targets and start demonstrating positive action on climate change. Three-quarters of people surveyed want to see their governments cutting carbon by their national ‘fair share’ – or more to allow less developed economies to grow. More than half of people (55%) say that governments should invest in renewable energy, than participate in international negotiations on climate change (27%).
The research indicates the need for negotiators to step up to the plate at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan in December and agree carbon emission cuts. People are concerned about climate change. Just under half of respondents (43 per cent) rank climate change as a bigger worry than the global economic crisis. (The research was conducted between mid-September to mid-October during the start of the economic crisis.)
The research will help inform how HSBC can work with governments and the business community to provide financial solutions to support them.
“The HSBC Climate Partnership is a major long term commitment by HSBC to help address the challenge of global climate change. Given our presence in 85 countries around the world we are in an ideal position to help lead the fight against climate change,” said HSBC Malta CEO Alan Richards.
The research being conducted by HSBC Climate Partnership will enable HSBC to better understand the attitudes of consumers towards climate change including the actions individuals are prepared to take in reducing their carbon footprint. The research will also help inform how HSBC can work with governments and the business community to provide financial solutions to support them.