“2022 ESG and Green Finance Opportunities Forum” on October 27 Navigating climate risk and financing climate action

HONG KONG, October 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Following the success of the first ESG and Green Finance Opportunities Forum hosted by the Hong Kong Chamber of Listed Companies (CHKLC) last year, the second edition of the event will return this year on October 27. With the continued support and title sponsorship of Hang Seng Bank, the 2022 Forum will be themed Navigating Climate Risks and Financing Climate Actions. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has confirmed that he will deliver a keynote address as Secretary of Environment and Ecology Tse chin-wan will deliver a speech at the luncheon. President of the CHKLC Catherine Leung and Executive Director and General Manager of Hang Seng Bank Diana Caesar will also speak at the opening ceremony. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will participate in one of the panels.

Increase in global demand to improve ESG and green business practices

There is a growing global demand for enhanced ESG regulatory compliance and disclosure in recent years. The hong kong The exchange requires the filing of annual ESG reports with greater disclosure, including climate-related financial disclosures, while the mainland securities regulator has called for mandatory disclosures to include penalties for environmental violations, among others. The extreme climate and energy crisis has further prompted investors to study corporate initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint and the sustainability goals and practices of their operations.

In line with the mainland’s peak and carbon neutral targets in 2030 and 2060, the Hong Kong government is expected to launch additional green and carbon reduction policies for the business community. Hang Seng Indexes Company recently launched a climate-related market tracker to help promote the city as a fundraising hub for green products. The green finance market is booming and global green, social, sustainability and sustainability bond (GSSS) issuance is expected to total US$1.7 trillion this year, representing 52% year-over-year growth. All of these latest developments have prompted companies to improve their ESG and green practices.

Five panels to discuss issues related to the financing of climate actions

Against this background and these business trends, CHKLC will organize the 2022 Forum on ESG Opportunities and Green Finance on October 27. Sponsored by Hang Seng Bank for the second year, the Forum aims to update the local business community and listed companies on the latest developments in global climate change management, regulatory disclosure requirements, as well as the financing of climate actions. Experts and relevant stakeholders will come together to exchange views.

The Forum will offer five thematic panels, including:

1. Regulatory panel – Understanding the latest international ESG reporting framework and what it means for hong kong listed issuers

2. Panel on Climate Finance – Exploration of various means of financing climate actions and developments of carbon trading and carbon tax in the region

3. International panel – Presentation of the latest international objectives in terms of climate risk management at the United Nations level and the development of sustainable infrastructure development in Asia

4. Governance Panel – Discuss practical ways for listed issuers to pursue best practices in managing ESG and climate change risks

5. Investor Panel – Sharing investors’ views on ESG and their expectations for ESG data disclosure

A strong roster of speakers to share ideas on hot topics related to ESG

Speakers come from a variety of disciplines and are veterans in ESG-related fields. To name a few, they include Megan Tang, Senior Director of the Securities and Futures Commission’s Corporate Finance Division; Managing Director and Head of Policy and Secretarial Services, Listing Division of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Katherine Ng; Sustainable and climate partner of Deloitte China Lily Li; Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Senior Climate Policy Specialist Dr Zhang Xing; Chair of the Treasury Markets Association Education Subcommittee Dr. Wilson Chan; and Investment Stewardship, APAC at BlackRock Amar GILL. (Please refer to https://bit.ly/3EzkVVH for the list of speakers).

For more information on the “2022 Forum on ESG Opportunities and Green Finance”, please contact (852) 2970 0886 or email info@chklc.org.

About the Hong Kong Chamber of Listed Companies

Embedded in September 2002CHKLC is a not-for-profit organization serving listed companies and other industry bodies in hong kong. The Chamber strives to promote sound corporate governance; function as an effective channel of communication between listed companies and regulatory authorities; strengthen ties and foster cooperation between listed companies hong kong and China and respect that of Hong Kong position as a financial center and international capital formation. Since 2007, the Chamber has organized the “Hong Kong Corporate Governance and ESG Excellence Awards” jointly with the Hong Kong Baptist University advocate best practices in corporate governance, ESG and recognize excellence.

SOURCE Chamber of Listed Companies in Hong Kong