The world's local bankHSBC Solidarity Institute – Brazil
HSBC in Brazil has supported education and environment projects over many years, in line with HSBC's global policy. To oversee these and future social investments, the HSBC Solidarity Institute (Institute) was launched in 2006. Working through this Institute allows HSBC in Brazil to increase synergies between local initiatives and organisations and to promote greater employee participation.
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, measured by both area and population, and has the greatest biodiversity in the world.
180,000,000 people; 56,000 identified plant species;3,000 freshwater fish species; 517 amphibious species; 1,677 bird species; 530 mammal species; and up to 10 million insects
As these species live in close proximity, conflicts of interest can arise and, recently, the ecosystems have been losing out. HSBC and its employees have made a commitment to spend 15% of total community funds per year on environmental initiatives. Below are some examples of the way in which HSBC is involved in its local community’s environmental issues.
Investing in Brazilian Nature
Launched in May 2006, this programme aims to raise staff awareness of environmental issues and trains them to act as social leaders in promoting environmental awareness and nature conservation. In 2006, the programme enabled 80 staff members to participate in an Atlantic Rain Forest nature conservation project already set up by the non-governmental organisation Eco-Guanhanhã.
Due to the success of the programme and the enthusiasm of the employees involved, it is being repeated in 2007.
Local Support
Recent research has indicated a rise in the rate of deforestation in Amazonia, causing changes to the landscape of this and other Brazilian biomes.
The HSBC Solidarity Institute set up a fund of US$162,000 per annum to support local projects in Amazonia, Cerrado, and the Transitional Forest. In 2005 the focus was on sustainable development; in 2006 it was on developing clean and renewable energy sources in disadvantaged communities. There is a limit of US$23,000 per project.
Clean-Up Day Brazil – 23 September, 2006
In addition to HSBC Brazil’s general investments in the environment and local communities, it also organised activities in which its employees participated in eleven cities on Clean-Up Day Brazil. Four hundred and ninety employees participated on the day.
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Cleaning up Sri Lanka's natural environment
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Reducing Paper Waste
New technologies and initiatives have helped to reduce paper waste.
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HSBC Solidarity Institute – Brazil
HSBC in Brazil has supported education and environment projects over many years, in line with HSBC's global policy
