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HSBC launches Asia-Pacific's China Climate Centre
HSBC and the Earthwatch Institute have launched Asia-Pacific Region - China Climate Centre in Eastern China's Zhejiang Province in September 2009 as part of the HSBC Climate Partnership programme. The Centre will conduct extensive forest research and involve HSBC employees in tackling the impacts of climate change.
Research work at the China Climate Centre will be jointly undertaken by scientists from the Earthwatch Institute and the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Science. In the next three years, HSBC will send about 400 employees, known as HSBC Climate Champions from around Asia-Pacific to the China Climate Centre to assist scientists in their research.
"Opening the doors of the final regional climate centre in China is a proud moment in Earthwatch history. We are very excited to work with scientists in China to help preserve a portion of evergreen broad-leaf forest in the region, and to collect the data necessary to understand how to manage forests in a sustainable manner."
Ed Wilson
President and CEO of Earthwatch
"China has one of the largest subtropical forests in the world, but research on how such forests respond to climate change has barely begun. The Asia-Pacific Region - China Climate Centre will provide a more complete understanding of the interaction between humans and forests and allow us to maximise the biological benefits of China's reforestation efforts and expanded forest coverage."
Professor Ma Keping
Director, Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Science
- Located in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve northwest of Kaihua County in Zhejiang Province.
- The fifth Regional Climate Centre in the HSBC Climate Partnership Programme
- Scientists will focus their studies on subjects including:
- carbon sequestration capacities of different types of forest
- relationships between forest carbon sequestration capacity and forest structure
- impacts of global climate change on different forest structures and carbon sequestration capacity
- measures adopted for forests to respond to global climate change.
Simon Martin (3rd from right), Head of Group Corporate Sustainability HSBC Holdings plc, Teresa Au (2nd from right), HSBC's Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region, Helen Wong (right), Deputy CEO of HSBC Bank (China) pledged for joint and proactive efforts tackling climate change at the launch ceremony of Climate Centre with partners of the HSBC Climate Partnership programme.
Teresa Au (right) Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia-Pacific Region, Eve Carpenter (centre), International Director of Engagement and Learning, Earthwatch Institute and Professor Ma Keping (left), Director General of the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled the plague of Asia-Pacific Region - China Climate Centre.
Officiating guests, partners of HSBC Climate Partnership celebrated the launch of the China Climate Centre with the green taskforce of HSBC employees, known as Climate Champions who will act as "citizen scientists" to assist scientists with the forest research.
HSBC's Climate Champions pledged for green action and being the changing agent to lead change in HSBC's businesses and workplace.
Simon Martin, Head of Group Corporate Sustainability HSBC Holdings plc, participated in the field research.
Teresa Au, HSBC's Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region, assisted scientists to collect forest data.
Helen Wong, Deputy CEO of HSBC Bank conducted tree growth measurement with dendrometer for carbon storage data.
The Climate Champions assisted scientists to analyse the materials collected from forest in the laboratory.
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As the world's first bank to become carbon neutral, HSBC believes that managing the challenges of climate change will be one of the greatest tasks this century. We aim to build a green taskforce of employees who will work with customers to identify ways in which they can adapt green policies as well as to seek out business opportunities arising from climate change. They will also champion activities to lead change in their workplace and local communities.
Teresa Au
Head of Corporate Sustainability
Asia Pacific Region
