While Malta has some 24 endemic species and around 700 indigenous species, most Maltese are not aware that local endemic and indigenous species such as the Maltese freshwater crab, the Maltese wall lizard of Fungus Rock, most moths, the rock dove, the painted frog, and the hedgehog are all threatened by direct human activity and by other indirect actions, such as the introduction of non-indigenous invasive species.

This was revealed during an afternoon seminar organised by HSBC Malta as part of its recently launched awareness campaign entitled “Banking on Survival”. Attended by 40 HSBC Malta Climate Champions, the seminar explored environmental sustainability in Malta.

Jeffrey Sciberras who specialises in flora, his brother Arnold who focuses on fauna, and hydrologist Marco Cremona who explained the different kinds of water resources available in Malta and highlighted the real threat of Malta’s dwindling fresh water supplies, delivered presentations.

Water pollution, severe valley droughts, light pollution, genetic pollution, and even reckless driving in the case of the wandering hedgehog are some of the issues that need to be tackled in order to conserve and sustain a healthy environment.

HSBC’s Climate Change Coordinator Martin Scicluna said: “HSBC has long been committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting the principles of environmental sustainability. In 2010, HSBC Malta and its staff further maintained this momentum by undertaking number of initiatives, such as the energy saving Earth Hour, regular clean-ups of natural heritage spots and on the spot lectures to understand the local environmental reality.”

HSBC was the first major bank to go carbon neutral back in 2005. Together with four leading global organisations – The Climate Group, Earthwatch, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and WWF – the bank set up the HSBC Climate Partnership, a $100 million community investment initiative for climate change research.

So far, over 1,000 HSBC employees worldwide, including around 40 in Malta, have trained to become climate champions. Their aim is to bring an understanding and encourage action on climate change issues in the organisation and the Maltese community.