BEC Low Carbon Charter

Background
The Charter
Charter Support Projects
Resources
Contact & Acknowledgement

Background and Timeline

Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges of our time, posing unprecedented threats to the well-being of people, communities, and businesses. Through the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the global community commits to limit global average temperature rise this century well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5°C. Hong Kong has acceded to the Paris Agreement and hence has an obligation to develop a long-term decarbonisation strategy. Being a key player in society, the business community also has a key role to play in Hong Kong’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. Targets are key for facilitating and operationalising a business’ decarbonisation by providing companies with a defined pathway to future-proof growth. To support businesses with their decarbonisation journeys, BEC kickstarted the Low Carbon Hong Kong Initiative in 2017 by publishing the Low Carbon Hong Kong: Supporting Business to Set Targets report, which puts forward the business case for setting decarbonisation targets and the target setting process. This is followed by a phase of research and engagement with stakeholders in the property and construction sector, given a significant portion of Hong Kong’s greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to buildings.

With the support of business leaders and the Environment Bureau, the BEC Low Carbon Charter was launched in March 2019 to mobilise companies in the property and construction value chain to collectively contribute towards Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation through their pledge to set and achieve carbon reduction targets. The Charter has expanded since the beginning of 2020 to welcome companies from all sectors.

BEC will organise events regularly to support signatories and businesses in setting, operationalising, and achieving their emission reduction targets. Signatories will be invited to share their insights and experience in these co-learning activities. Besides, signatories are required to self-report their progress and achievements through a standard form once a year.

The BEC Low Carbon Charter

The BEC Low Carbon Charter consists of two parts: Declaration and Commitment. Signatories can commit to either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2 under the Commitment section.

Declaration

As leading businesses in Hong Kong, we recognise that climate change poses an urgent and unprecedented threat to the well-being of people, communities, and businesses. Given such a threat, we firmly believe that Hong Kong must transition to a low-carbon economy aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement to reduce climate-related risks and to secure sustainable development.

We recognise that setting targets and strategies to achieve them will be key in businesses’ decarbonisation journeys, to facilitate and operationalise action contributing towards Hong Kong’s transformation. Leadership in target setting and low-carbon practices represents opportunities to cut costs, drive innovation, and improve resilience. We recognise the importance for us to take swift, bold and collaborative climate action.

In support of this, we the undersigned, voluntarily pledge to step up our decarbonisation endeavours by committing to the actions set out below. We also call for the Government to take leadership, and all sectors to take joined-up action.

Commitment

Pathway 1

Work towards setting decarbonisation target(s) consistent with the direction of transitioning towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Implement strategic action towards achieving the target(s).
Disclose annually progress of setting/achieving target(s).
Advocate setting decarbonisation targets and implementing low carbon practices to stakeholders.

Each company is at different stages of their decarbonisation journeys. Regardless of where a company is at, Pathway 1 is an invitation to join the journey, noting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Pathway 2

Work towards setting decarbonisation target(s) aligned with climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement by committing to the Science Based Targets initiative.
Implement strategic action towards achieving the target(s).
Disclose annually progress of setting/achieving target(s).
Advocate setting decarbonisation targets and implementing low carbon practices to stakeholders.

Pathway 2 is a commitment to work towards decarbonisation targets aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is a commitment to submit the commitment letter to the Science Based Targets initiative.

List of Signatories

(in alphabetical order)

(as of Sep 2022)

More information about the signatories can be downloaded here.

Power Up Coalition

In September 2020, the Development Bureau announced that all public work contracts tendered after February 2021 must apply for temporary electricity and water supply during the detailed design phase to ensure completion of the connections before construction starts. This would reduce the use of diesel generators and could facilitate the use of other electric plant, equipment and vehicles.

Riding on the policy change, BEC and Gammon Construction Limited co-launched the Power Up Coalition in 2021 to encourage the timely electrification of non-public works construction sites in Hong Kong and to promote zero-emission construction sites. BEC invites private and semi-private project proponents and their partners, such as power suppliers, architects, consultants, contractors, engineers, professional bodies, and other companies or organisations who are interested in promoting, supporting and achieving zero-emission construction sites in a long run to join as members.

Carbon Disclosure Programme

Since the launch of the BEC Low Carbon Charter in March 2019, BEC has been increasing effort to enhance our support to the signatories in their decarbonisation journey. A new initiative under the Charter - the Carbon Disclosure Programme in partnership with CDP and with support from HSBC has been launched in 2022 to support signatories' commitment to set carbon reduction targets and to disclose climate information, contributing to increased transparency of Hong Kong companies, improved climate stewardship in the global supply chain, and mitigation of climate risks.

Hong Kong International Airport Carbon Capacity Building Programme (HKIA CCBP)

BEC has been commissioned by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in 2022 to develop a comprehensive 3-year Carbon Capacity Building Programme for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), aiming to identify and address the training needs of airport business partners, supporting them to achieve the HKIA 2050 Net Zero Carbon Pledge.

Leveraging the strong foundation of the BEC Low Carbon Charter, BEC will design and deliver appropriate workshops, training and events which will enhance the capacity of the business partners to progress through the different stages of the decarbonisation process.

Low Carbon Charter: Global Connect Initiative

Supported by We Mean Business Coalition, BEC carried out the Global Connect Initiative between 2021 and 2022 to strengthen the BEC Low Carbon Charter by linking it and its signatories to international initiatives and/or campaigns on climate action. In doing so, the Charter will be further enhanced by making connection with other global players in addition to local peers in Hong Kong, and will offer signatories access to international best practices and the opportunities to participate in initiatives outside Hong Kong.