Finance

The UK sits at the heart of the global financial community, with an agenda to transition the global economy and financial system towards sustainability. This includes asset management, banking, professional services and capital markets.

Hong Kong, the financial centre for Asia, has pinpointed green finance as a key element in achieving carbon neutrality. Green finance will play an important role to boost investments conducive to reducing carbon emissions and building a low-carbon economy more resilient to climate change.

Bringing together both sides of the world’s respective experience will provide abundant opportunities for further investment in critical sustainable development from energy efficiency, infrastructure to creative industries.

UK Industry Snapshot

1st to launch a dedicated green bond segment and strict admission criteria in 2015 on the London Stock Exchange.

£51bn raised from 155 green bonds, 9 social bonds, 7 sustainability bonds and 77 green issuers from 23 different countries and regions.

#1 global Environmental Finance stock exchange of the year (2020) thanks to launching a sustainable bond market.

Case Study

HSBC has been embedding sustainability into its products and services, including access to capital markets, lending, transaction banking, advisory services, and investments. The Bank made market firsts in Hong Kong in the past two years with the issuances of green retail and institutional certificates of deposit. In February 2021, the Bank issued Asia’s first RMB denominated retail green certificates of deposit in Hong Kong.

Image credit: HSBC

Company Spotlight

Belu Water

Belu provides filtered water systems that are good for people and good for planet. We support the hospitality industries in the UK and Hong Kong to reduce reliance on single-use products and lower carbon emissions, and we invest all of the profits in our impact partner WaterAid to bring clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to everyone, everywhere. So far, over £5million has been invested in transforming lives worldwide.

Arup

Environmental Street Furniture design and supply sustainable and renewable source outdoor commercial furniture. Products include solar powered cell phone charging benches and stations, LED solar illuminated and litter bins and compacting trash cans, recycled plastic benches, picnic tables, planters, bins, fencing and much more. All products can be customised to suit clients needs whilst maintaining sustainable and renewable focus.

Food Made Good UK

Food Made Good HK is a Sustainability Consultancy with a focus on the F&B sector. Our membership programme is one of the ways we support the long-term needs of our clients. A chapter of the UK’s Sustainable Restaurant Association, we are dedicated to making every meal served out of home as sustainable as possible. Members are supported and inspired via a programme of assessments, campaigns and awards.

Eckersley O'Callaghan

At Eckersley O’Callaghan, we are committed to help tackle the Climate Emergency and promot low carbon building design through structural and façade engineering. From using carbon trackers to promote sustainable building materials, to holistic approaches to facade and glass design, improving the sustainability of buildings is embedded into our core engineering values. We have pledged to keep the momentum in advancing the construction industry towards a low-carbon future..

Meet Our Sector Lead

Karin Rancuret

Head of Inward Investment and Financial & Professional Services

Karin Rancuret is responsible promoting the UK as investment destination and supporting companies to set up and expand their business operations and investments in the UK. Besides, she and her team also look after helping British companies access business opportunities in the financial and professional services, including Fin-Tech sector in Hong Kong.