Language : English
Financial institutions play a crucial role in allocating capital towards climate-resilient development and facilitating the transition to a net-zero economy. Despite significant growth in green finance over the past decade, investments in high-carbon sectors for transitioning purposes have fallen short due to the lack of common standards and accountability mechanisms. Financial institutions also face mounting pressure from stakeholders and market competition to prioritize lending to environmentally friendly, sustainable, and socially responsible projects, while divesting from industries engaged in carbon-intensive activities. To bridge this gap, transition finance emerged to support the whole-of-economy transition, in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), towards lower and net-zero emissions and climate resilience.
In Hong Kong, transition finance has been identified by the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group as a priority for 2024 to solidify the city’s position as a leading sustainable finance hub. Integrating transition considerations in the promotion of sustainable finance development will be a key part of the policy strategy.
Programme
2:30pm-2:35pm
Welcoming Remarks
Mr Plato Yip, Chairperson, Friends of the Earth (HK)
2:35pm-2:40pm
Officiating Remarks
Mr Daniel R Fung, SBS, SC, KC, JP, FCIArb
Vice Chairman, Financial Services Development Council
2:40pm-2:50pm
Keynote Speech
Unlocking Hong Kong's Financial Potential for a Low-Carbon Future
The Honourable Paul CHAN Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP
Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
2:50pm-3:00pm
Keynote Speech
Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Disclosure through ISSB standards
Mr. JingDong Hua, Vice-Chair, International Sustainability Standards Board
3:00pm-3:45pm
Panel 1: How to manage transition risks and ensure robust climate-related financial disclosure?
Moderator: Mr Anthony Cheung CESGA, EFFAS Representative, Asia Pacific, Member of EFFAS CESGA Expert Team
Panellists:
1. Dr Stan Ho, Chief Representative, SynTao Green Finance International Limited
2. Ms Christine Kung, Senior Director and Head of International Affairs and Sustainable Finance, Securities and Futures Commission
3. Ms Valerie Kwan, Director, Stewardship & Corporate Engagement, Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC)
4. Mr Roy Leung, President, Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
5. Ms Diana Parusheva-Lowery, Managing Director, Head of Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA)
3:45pm-3:55pm
Message from Guest of Honour
Ms Zhang Li, Chief Executive, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd. Hong Kong Branch
3:55pm-4:40pm
Panel 2: How to develop innovative and reliable financial products for a finance transition?
Moderator: Dr King Au, Executive Director, Financial Services Development Council
Panellists:
1. Mr Shehab Alyassi, Business Development Director, Ajyal Holding
2. Mr Rong Fan, Head of Financial Institutions Department, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.
3. Ms Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals and Mining, Sustainability Bloomberg L.P.
4. Ms Georgina Lok, Head (Market Development), Hong Kong Monetary Authority
5. Dr Shelley Zhou, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Hang Seng Bank
4:40pm-4:45pm
Closing Remarks
Dr Peiyuan Guo, Chairman of China Sustainable Investment Forum; China Advisor of United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
