HKGFA is a proud supporter of the Pre-COP28 ‘Race to Transition’ Asia event series: The Road to COP28: Driving collective climate action across Asia on 6 November 2023 with three senior HKGFA representatives joining various sessions to share their views on taking action to drive climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Mr. Ben McQuhae, Vice President, HKGFA; Founder, Ben McQuhae & Co spoke alongside Mr. CF Wong, Commissioner for Climate Change, HKSAR Government, Dr. George Lam, Chair, UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network, and moderator Prof Christine Loh, HKUST on The Road to COP28: Driving collective climate action across Asia. During the panel, speakers acknowledge the evolving global requirements in ESG, urging companies and corporates to step up in facing climate-related risks and utilise the transition opportunities ahead. The panel also encouraged awareness building of sustainability in the overall macroeconomic space.
Ben accentuated the importance of collaboration – bridging the private-public gap in Hong Kong is essential to generate further momentum in accelerating the sustainability agenda and collectively tackling the climate challenges in front of us.
HKGFA also participated in another panel on Scaling corporate transition towards a sustainable future, moderated by HKGFA Deputy Secretary General, Ms. Jenny Lee and joined by esteemed speakers including Mr. Jonathan Drew, Vice President, HKGFA; Head of Global Banking Sustainability, APAC, HSBC; Mr. Donald Choi, Executive Director and CEO, Chinachem Group; Dr. Vincent Cheng, Fellow, Director of Climate & Sustainability Services, East Asia, Arup; and Mr. Jim Taylor, Senior Director, Planning & Development, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited. Key highlights of the panel:
- Opportunities come forward in unlocking financing in innovation and driving advancements in new industries with job opportunities. Cross collaboration across various sectors and industries is key to bringing together subject expertise to tackle climate issues.
- There is a huge demand for transitioning but would require more financially robust projects that are up to scale and mature enough to solve various climate challenges.
- Focuses should also be directed to climate adaptation to generate further appetite for emerging technologies to refine and upscale the ecosystem.
