Climate Change and Environment

HSBC Climate Partnership (HCP):
HCP is a five-year global programme worth US$100 million in which HSBC partners with four world-class environmental organisations. The programme was launched with the aim to raise the awareness of staff, equip them with basic knowledge about the phenomenon in order 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 can initiate action. Futher than that, each and every staff taking part in the cause can champion activities to lead change in their workplace and local communities later on.

HSBC Vietnam takes part in the programme through sending a group of employees for two weeks' training at the Regional Climate Centre in the HSBC Climate Partnership Programme to become HSBC Climate Champions. When they return to their office they share their knowledge with other colleagues and lead internal and/or external environmental projects for HSBC Vietnam. In 2010 we selected three members of staff for the training programme, bringing the total number of Climate Champions in Vietnam to 23.

HSBC WWF Climate Camp:
In response to climate change, in 2010 HSBC Vietnam and WWF Vietnam worked together to launch the "HSBC and WWF take action against Climate Change Programme", or "Climate Camp", to raise awareness of the impact of climate change in Vietnam among HSBC staff. This programme was implemented through lectures and interactive exercises. The focus of the programme was field trips to the most vulnerable areas to climate change like Ben Tre and Dong Thap.

Action plans resulting from the Climate Camp including CO2 Reduction Day, HSBC Reforestation Programme and the Water Management Training Programme have been sponsored by the bank to be executed since 2010.

World Environment Day:
We not only followed Group directives by switching off computer monitors not in use, particularly at lunchtime, but we also asked staff to consume less plastic, print on both sides, exploring green transportation like walking, bicycling, busing, and sharing transportation to work. Almost all of our staff, 92%, supported the initiative.

Green support activities were also organized at all HSBC outlets nationwide to raise the awareness of not only the bank staff but also the customers visiting the outlets on the day.

Water Management Training Programme:
On 6 December 2010, HSBC Vietnam in partnership with the Office of Education and Training of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, launched a water saving campaign at eight primary schools in District 1. The campaign comprised of a three-month Water Saving Heroes competition starting with a Water Saving Heroes Day.

Around 8,300 students and more than 700 teachers of eight primary schools in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, participated in the three-month project, which aimed to raise awareness of the importance of water and dangers of water scarcity, as well as encouraged good water saving practices in the local community. Each student was also presented a Water Saving Diary so that they could keep track of or share initiatives of their water saving activities during the three-month campaign. Students' parents were encouraged to participate by saving water at home and sending their monthly water bill to school for a family competition during the project's implementation.

Tree Planting Project:
HSBC Vietnam has entered the partnership with Cat Tien National Park to begin a long-term reforestation project. Over three years since 2010, the Bank will contribute nearly VND 900 million towards the planting of a total of 10,000 trees in an area of land covering 22.5 hectares. Three hundred HSBC staff members will participate in three field trips every year to implement the project.

In addition to the bank's investment and staff participation, HSBC customers have taken actions and got involved in the programme. HSBC credit card holders could either register for or switch from paper to e-statement or redeem their rewards points for trees that would have been planted in the area.

Earth Hour:
HSBC Vietnam, together with other offices in 60 countries and territories across the globe participated in the big switch off by turning off all sky signages, electronic signages and non-essential lights at all outlets for that hour. Bank employees showed their personal support by signing up to the campaign at www.earthhour.org and running various awareness-raising events for both colleagues and customers such as environmental quizzes, Earth Hour pledges and photo competitions. Colleagues were also encouraged to 'go beyond the hour' by committing to longer-term actions that will benefit the environment.

Paper reduction:
In Vietnam, HSBC implemented different projects to minimise paper consumption
• Default setup of all printers to print on both sides.
• Suppress internal report printing through usage of electronic reports on demand.
• Stop welcome packs/letters for new non-Premier customers.
• Convert marketing promotional materials from paper to email.
• Convert paper statements or paper advice for Personal Financial Services customers into electronic documents.
• Ecards have been sent to customers on occasions instead of print card. The saving cost was then donated to charity organizations to fund for their annual operation.