BEC Low Carbon Charter Marks the First Anniversary Garners Support From 30 New Signatories in Hong Kong’s Decarbonisation Journey

Hong Kong, 15 May 2020 - To mark the first anniversary of Business Environment Council (“BEC”)’s Low Carbon Charter, a webinar was organised today to celebrate the progress and achievements of the initial group of signatories and introduce new signatories who have agreed to join us in the decarbonisation journey. 

Mr C.W. Tse, Under Secretary for the Environment, was the webinar’s guest-of-honour.  “In any city combating climate change is a challenging task which cannot be tackled by the Government alone.  Contributions from the entire community are instrumental to achieving this important goal.  I would like to express my sincere appreciation to BEC for the efforts in expanding the Low Carbon Charter to cover all business sectors.  I would also like to congratulate all signatories for successfully taking one step forward to decarbonisation.  Let’s work together to develop Hong Kong into a responsible and livable low-carbon city.”

Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges of our time.  As a corporate membership organisation with a mission to drive Hong Kong’s transition to a low carbon economy, BEC successfully launched the BEC Low Carbon Charter last year, an initiative which dovetailed with the Government’s effort to develop Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation strategy.  The Charter demonstrates business leadership in driving and implementing concrete actions to tackle global warming.  It stands out from past initiatives of its kind as it responds specifically to the call for action of the Paris Agreement, encouraging signatories to set decarbonisation targets supported by comprehensive action plans.

“From a business perspective, taking action to reduce carbon emissions is a responsible way of reducing risks that climate change can bring to businesses. There are also opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce cost and enhance resilience of organisations.  To walk the talk and lead by example, BEC also signed onto the Charter and will join force with other signatories to decarbonise.” Mr Adam Koo, CEO of Business Environment Council said.

By signing on the BEC Low Carbon Charter, signatories can choose and commit to one of the two pathways towards decarbonisation consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, that is, to keep 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.  Pathway 1 is a commitment to acknowledge and work towards the goals of the Paris Agreement by setting decarbonisation targets, while Pathway 2 is committing to set and achieve decarbonisation targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative.

This Charter received support from the Environment Bureau as well as other business organisations.  During the first year, 34 companies from the property and construction value chain signed on to the Charter.  Since the beginning of 2020, the Charter has expanded to welcome companies across all sectors.  As of today, 30 new signatories have joined the Charter, bringing the total number to 64. 

List of New Signatories (in alphabetical order):

  1. Acuity Sustainability Consulting Limited
  2. Acumen Environmental Engineering & Technologies Co. Ltd.
  3. Business Environment Council Limited
  4. CLP Holdings
  5. Deutsche Post DHL Group
  6. Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Ltd
  7. Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong) Limited
  8. Fung Group
  9. Harbour City Estates Limited
  10. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
  11. Jinchat Climaveneta Hong Kong Company Limited
  12. Kum Shing Holdings Limited
  13. Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited
  14. Modern Terminals Limited
  15. Nature & Technologies (HK) Ltd.
  16. NWS Holdings
  17. Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited
  18. Plaza Hollywood Limited
  19. Pura Vida Limited
  20. Scania (Hong Kong) Limited
  21. Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited
  22. Siemens Limited
  23. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
  24. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
  25. The Hongkong Electric Company Limited
  26. Times Square Limited
  27. Tony Ip Green Architects Limited
  28. Tradeport Hong Kong Limited
  29. TÜV Rheinland Hong Kong Ltd.
  30. Wheelock Properties

 

List of Initial Signatories (in alphabetical order):

  1. AECOM Asia Company Limited
  2. Agile Group Holdings Limited
  3. Airport Authority Hong Kong
  4. Alliance Construction Materials Limited
  5. Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited
  6. China Harbour Engineering Company Limited
  7. Chinachem Group
  8. CITIC Tower Property Management Company Limited
  9. Cundall Hong Kong Limited
  10. Gammon Construction Limited
  11. Goodwill Management Limited
  12. Green Island Cement Company Limited
  13. Grosvenor Limited
  14. Hang Lung Properties Limited
  15. Harriman Property Management Limited
  16. Hong Kong Housing Society
  17. Hong Yip Service Company Limited
  18. Hongkong Land Limited
  19. Hysan Development Company Limited
  20. Kerry Properties Limited
  21. Lan Kwai Fong Properties Limited
  22. Leigh & Orange Limited
  23. Link Asset Management Limited
  24. Nan Fung Property Management
  25. New World China Land Limited
  26. New World Development Company Limited
  27. Ocean Park Hong Kong
  28. Ronald Lu & Partners (Hong Kong) Limited
  29. Shiu Wing Steel Limited
  30. Sino Land Company Limited
  31. Swire Properties Limited
  32. The Jardine Engineering Corporation, Limited
  33. Wo Lee Steel Company Limited
  34. Yau Lee Holdings Limited

 

The BEC Low Carbon Charter is an initiative supported by the BEC Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group Steering Committee.

 

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