BEC Net-zero Carbon Charter | Business Environment Council

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.

With the support of business leaders and the Environment Bureau, the BEC Low Carbon Charter has been launched since 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.

Riding on the success of the BEC Low Carbon Charter, we has further developed the BEC Net-zero Charter, which aims at mobilising companies and organisations to collectively contribute towards Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation journey through their pledge to set targets and actions for a net-zero future.

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.

For the list of signatories of the BEC Low Carbon Charter, you may find the list via here.

BEC Net-zero Carbon Charter

BEC Net-zero Carbon Charter consists of two parts: Declaration and Commitment. Signatories can commit to either Action Signatory or Science-aligned Signatory under the Commitment section.

Remark: Related targets needed to be uploaded during the application process OR related targets should be submitted within the timeframe required by the category: 1 year for Action Signatory ; 2 years for Science-aligned Signatory.

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, to secure sustainable development and to collaborate for a net-zero future.

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

* SMART Targets stands for targets that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound, as also illustrated in HKEX’s Practical Net-Zero Guide for Business (p.19)

** For example: Near-term targets of Science Based Target initiative; Interim targets of ISO Net Zero Guidelines; Interim target of Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050; UN Emissions Gap Report 2022.

Updated on 4 November 2024

Action Signatories (62)		Science-aligned Signatories (22)
Active Energy Management Ltd		AECOM Asia Company Limited
Analogue Holdings Limited		Airport Authority Hong Kong
ASEL Consulting Company		Alliance Construction Materials Limited
AVISTA RISK ADVISORY LIMITED		AS Watson Retail (HK) Limited
BEAUSKIN Medical		Business Environment Council
Brooklines Group Limited		FUJIFILM Business Innovation Hong Kong Limited
Cathay Cargo Terminal		Gammon Construction Limited
Cathay Dining		Hang Lung Properties
Champion REIT		Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited		Hongkong Land
CityLinkers Group Limited		Jinchat Climaveneta Hong Kong Co. Ltd.
CLP Holdings Limited		New World Development Company Limited
CN Logistics International Holdings Limited		Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited
Computer And Technologies International Limited		PwC China
COSCO Shipping Ports		Ronald Lu & Partners
Crown Gas Stoves (Holdings) Company Limited		Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) Limited
Crown Logistics		Shell Hong Kong Limited
Dunwell Technology (Holdings) Limited		Sino Land Company Limited
ESG Hong Kong Limited		Swire Pacific Limited
Fook Tin Technologies Limited		Swire Properties Limited
FSE Lifestyle Services		Veolia Hong Kong Holding Limited
Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited		Worldwide Flight Services
Hang Seng Bank
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited
Hong Kong Airport Services Limited
Hong Kong Housing Society
Hong Yip Service Company Limited
Hysan Development Company Limited
Integrated Waste Solutions Group Holdings Limited
Kai Shing Management Services Limited
Konica Minolta Business Solutions (HK) Ltd.
Lan Kwai Fong Properties Limited
Lee Kee Group
Link Asset Management Limited
Linkers CPA Limited
Logicalis Hong Kong Limited
Meiriki Japan
Menzies CNAC Aviation Services Limited
Modern Terminals Limited
Nan Fung Property Management
NWS Holdings Limited
Ocean Park Hong Kong
Olympian City
Quam Plus International Fiancial Limited
SEM Holdings Limited
Shiu Wing Steel Ltd
Shun Tak Centre
Spare-it Limited
Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited
Sunta Chemical Limited
The Harbour School Limited
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd.
The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd.
The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd.
Tradeport Hong Kong Limited
TUV Rheinland Hong Kong Ltd
Vogue Laundry Service Limited
WeSpire Living Limited
Wharf Estates Limited
Wo Lee Steel Company Limited
Yau Lee Holdings Limited

Swire Properties – Green Performance Pledge ("GPP") Academy

In 2023, Business Environment Council (“BEC”) has been commissioned by Swire Properties Limited (“SPROPS”) to develop and implement a three-year capacity building programme for its Green Performance Pledge (“GPP”) tenants. The programme, called “GPP Academy”, will enable office tenants to tap extensive industry knowledge, network and share best practices from other companies.

BEC conducted a series of pre-programme surveys and interviews to understand GPP tenants’ training needs and sustainability goals, and used the results to design quarterly capacity building events for the GPP Academy. These events include seminars, building tours and workshops, with the aim of enhancing tenants’ sustainability capabilities.

Commencing in Q3 2023, the Academy will empower GPP tenants to take practical and impactful actions to elevate their sustainability performance by reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption, water usage and waste generation.

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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 and the rebranded BEC Net-zero 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.

Global Connect Initiative

Supported by We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), BEC carried out the Global Connect Initiative between 2021 and 2022 to strengthen the then BEC Low Carbon Charter by linking it and its signatories to international
initiatives and/or campaigns on climate action. WMBC continues to provide grant support to the rebranded BEC Net-zero Carbon Charter in 2023 and 2024, and BEC will offer signatories access to international best practices and the opportunities to participate in initiatives outside Hong Kong.