Our Commitment

The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

HSBC recognises the increasing demand and expectation from its stakeholders, internal and external, to manage and measure success not just on the basis of profit but also across the 'triple bottom line' of economic, social and environmental performance. To manage the risks and opportunities associated with sustainable development, HSBC established a Group Sustainable Development team in 2005 to build on existing initiatives and ensure a focus on business development opportunities. The team is split into three focus areas:

Sustainable Business Development

Working on climate change and related low-carbon technologies, water infrastructure, and sustainable forestry, this includes:

• identifying business opportunities by geography, industry sector, and customer group, and supporting business units in taking advantage of those opportunities;
• evaluating customer referrals with the appropriate business unit;
• responsibility for the Group's microfinance strategy.

Sustainable Risk Management

Providing policy framework for the Group's social, environmental and ethical risks in relation to its lending and investment businesses.

Sustainable Development Advisory

Setting Group strategy and policies for the management of the environmental impacts of our corporate real estate portfolio, including:

• agreeing targets for energy, waste, water and carbon dioxide emissions with the Group's businesses, and monitoring and reporting on progress in achieving these;
• responsibility for co-ordinating sustainability initiatives in our supply chain, in conjunction with the purchasing, travel, and IT departments.

To read more about our approach to sustainable development, click through to our CR site.