BEC EnviroSeries Conference Opens Up Business Discussion On Financing Climate Transition & Delivering Net-zero Innovations

Business Environment Council Limited (“BEC”) held its flagship event BEC EnviroSeries Conference with the theme “Financing Climate Transition and Delivering Net-zero Innovations for Hong Kong” at Cordis Hotel, Hong Kong on 23 November. The Conference was held in hybrid mode, attracting over 800 in-person and online participants including government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, industry experts, academics and other interested participants from Hong Kong and abroad.

Mr Kevin O’Brien, Chairman of BEC, said, “The net-zero transition must happen at all levels from national to local governments, financial markets, the private sector and individuals. While more responsible companies are setting and validating science-aligned targets and action plans, adequate financing and innovative climate solutions are instrumental to a smooth implementation of these ambitious plans.”

The Conference were divided into four inspiring sessions, namely, “Financing Transition with Credible Frameworks and Instruments”, “Reducing Scope 3 Emissions with Practical Approaches”, “Attracting Finance with Robust Corporate Climate Transition Plans”, and “Delivering and Replicating Climate Innovation in Real Economy”. The programme facilitated exchange between participants in the financial markets and the real economy sectors.

Mr Simon Ng, Chief Executive Officer of BEC, said, “In support of Hong Kong’s 2050 carbon neutrality pledge, BEC will continue to partner with our members and the business sector to accelerate the city’s net-zero transition through knowledge and best practices sharing. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all speakers, panellists, moderators, sponsors and supporting organisations for making this Conference a great success.”

Among the speakers, panellists and moderators at the Conference were (in order of appearance):

  • Mr Kevin O’Brien, Chairman, Business Environment Council
  • Ms Jenny Lee, Deputy Secretary General, Hong Kong Green Finance Association
  • Mr Huifeng Zhang, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Asia Pacific, HSBC
  • Ms Carmen Tsang, Head of Greater China Sustainable Investment Banking, Crédit Agricole CIB
  • Ms Celina Chan, Head of Sustainable Finance, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
  • Ms Grace Lam, Sustainability Manager, Hongkong Land Limited
  • Ms Genevieve Hilton, Co-chair, E-ESG Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
  • Ir Dr Shelley Zhou, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Hang Seng Bank
  • Ms Qian Li, Senior Director, Budweiser APAC
  • Ms Priscilla Lin, Sustainability & Strategy Manager, Schneider Electric
  • Mr Sébastien Pivet, Chief Sustainability Officer and QA Director, AS Watson Group
  • Mr Joseph H. L. Chan, JP, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, HKSARG
  • Ms Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director, OECD Environment Directorate
  • Ms Sherry Madera, Chief Executive Officer, CDP
  • Ms Agnes K Y Tai, Director, Great Glory Investment Corporation
  • Ms Ellie Tang, Director, Sustainable Investing, Fidelity International
  • Mr Patrick Ho, Deputy Head, Sustainable Development, Swire Properties Limited
  • Mr Ronald Young, Head of Sustainable Finance Asia, Societe Generale
  • Dr Ben Caldecott, Director, Oxford Sustainable Finance Group and the Lombard Odier Associate Professor
  • Ms Wendy Chow, Head of Information and Communications Technology, Invest Hong Kong
  • Mr Tom van der Lee, Finance Director, DFI Retail Group
  • Dr Saraansh Dave, Director of eMobility, CLP Power Hong Kong
  • Mr Antonio Ng, Founder & CEO, Formwork IO
  • Mr Norman Cheng, Business Development Director, Veolia Hong Kong
  • Mr Simon Ng, Chief Executive Officer, Business Environment Council

EnviroSeries Conference is BEC’s flagship event that aims to provide a cross-sector forum for stakeholders to discuss and address key issues related to Hong Kong’s environmental sustainability, and serves as a BEC’s key initiative for thought leadership development on important topical issues.

 

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Mr Kevin O’Brien, BEC Chairman, welcomes all speakers and guests to BEC EnviroSeries Conference with his opening remarks

 

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Mr Joseph H. L. Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury, delivers his keynote speech at BEC EnviroSeries Conference

 

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Over 800 business leaders and industry experts attend BEC EnviroSeries Conference to exchange insights and ideas