Climate change has emerged as one of the biggest environmental challenges the world is facing today. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) recognises that our planet needs sustainable action to protect our communities, businesses and natural environment from the effects of climate change; and this can only be done by working together for the climate.
As a part of HSBC’s initiatives for sustainability and to act on our responsibilities as individuals and corporates, HSBC Bangladesh has organised the first of the climate series events titled- Together for Climate with support from DNCC, on July 27, 2022, according to a press release.
This programme brought together the champions of sustainability including, startups, students, corporates, regulators and policymakers amongst others to drive city-centric climate action by sharing their innovative new climate solutions and success stories. The event was divided into three major segments – 1) Unlocking the solutions for the climate, 2) Local leadership and global reach, and 3) Ask the Mayor- Live Q&A session.
Md Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and a member of the Mayors Migration Council (MMC) attended the programme as the chief guest. Besides, Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Anne van Leeuwen, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ITO Naoki, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, Khondkar Morshed Millat, director, Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank, Md Jashim Uddin, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO, HSBC Bangladesh, Asif Saleh, executive director of BRAC Bangladesh, Zaved Akhtar, CEO and managing director, Unilever Bangladesh, Fahim Uddin Shuvo, founder and CEO of Garbageman, and esteemed members of Mayors Migration Council graced the event with their presence.
During his Live Q&A session, the Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md Atiqul Islam said: “Cities are on the frontlines of pressing global issues such as climate change and migration. Dhaka North City Corporation has taken many steps to address environmental concerns such as our Waterbody Recovery project to the restoration of parks. We need to work together with the private sector, development partners and also the citizens to accelerate our responses to the climate concerns and bring innovative solutions for a sustainable city.”
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said: “It is now clear that the story of how countries address climate change will necessarily be a story of how we redesign and rebuild our cities. It is essential that cities have a clear pathway towards net zero, as well as prioritising investing in crucial public services, ensuring access to healthy and sustainable food, creating green jobs, and giving public spaces back to people and nature.”
In his introductory remarks, HSBC Bangladesh’s CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman said: “Cities are major contributors to climate change, however, they may equally be where we see the impact of climate mitigation more clearly. To drive a city-centric climate movement, HSBC believes individuals, corporates and policymakers can make a difference by working ‘Together for Climate’ focusing on the three A’s- Awareness, Adaptation and Action. HSBC would also like to thank the Honourable Mayor of DNCC for leading from the front especially to foster adaptation and extending support for climate-based solutions.”
HSBC Bangladesh has pioneered many Sustainable Financial Solutions bringing it global expertise in the market such as Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL), Social Loan, etc. HSBC has a global ambition to contribute to sustainable financing and to support its customers to switch to more sustainable ways of doing business and bring their own financed emissions to net zero by 2050 or earlier.
Through initiatives like ‘Together for Climate’, HSBC aims to provide insights for the stakeholders to engage and encourage the best practices for sustainability in all aspects of society.
