ESG Library

Regulatory Bodies & Frameworks

• Securities and Futures Commission (SFC):
  Focuses on the regulation of securities and futures markets in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) ESG Reporting Guide:
  Provides guidelines for ESG reporting for listed companies.

Key ESG Reports & Indices

• Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index:
  Tracks the performance of Hong Kong companies in terms of sustainability.

Resources and Tools

• Hong Kong Green Finance Association:
  Promotes the development of green finance through various initiatives.

• Hong Kong World’s Sustainable Finance Hub:
  Hong Kong is establishing itself as a global hub for sustainable finance.
• Low Carbon Living Calculator:
  This calculator helps individuals assess their carbon emissions in various aspects such as clothing, food, living, and travel based on past year data.

Regulatory Bodies & Frameworks

• Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS):
  Oversees financial institutions with a strategic focus on advancing sustainable finance.

• Singapore Exchange (SGX) Mandatory Sustainability Reporting:
  Mandates annual sustainability reporting for all listed companies to ensure transparency and accountability.

Resources and Tools

• Singapore Institute of Directors (SID):
  Offers ESG-focused training and guidelines to enhance director competencies in sustainability governance.

Local Initiatives

• Singapore Green Plan 2030:
  A national initiative aimed at propelling Singapore towards a sustainable future with comprehensive environmental targets for 2030.
• MAS Sustainable Loan Grant Scheme
  The objective is to develop green and sustainable financial markets and products to support Asia’s transition to a low carbon future. Read more here. 

Regional Conferences and Policy Forums:

• These platforms facilitate cross-border discussions on ESG standards and practices.

Digital Platforms and Databases

• ESG Book
  A global digital platform providing access to comprehensive sustainability data and services, useful for stakeholders in both regions.

Selected for their direct impact on ESG practices in Hong Kong, Singapore and globally:

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI):
  Provides global standards for sustainability reporting.

• Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB):
  Offers industry-specific sustainability accounting standards globally.

• Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD):
  Encourages disclosure of climate-related financial information.

• Green House Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol):
  Offers global standards for greenhouse gas accounting to support organisations in their emission reporting. 

• EU Taxonomy:
  A classification system under the European Green Deal to identify environmentally sustainable investments and combat greenwashing.

• International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB):
  Sets global standards for sustainability reporting to ensure consistent and comparable data for investors.

• UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI):
  Promotes the integration of ESG factors in investment decisions, with over 4,900 financial institutions participating.

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs):
  A set of 17 goals established by the UN to achieve global peace and prosperity by 2030.

• Paris Climate Accord:
  An international treaty from 2015 aimed at limiting global temperature rise to below 2 °C, with a preference for 1.5 °C. [COP 21 in Paris]

• ESG Convergence Initiative:
  Aims to standardise ESG data reporting in private investments to enhance transparency and comparability.

• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi):
  Helps companies set science-aligned emission reduction targets and introduces a net zero standard in 2021. 

• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP Disclosure):
  Facilitates the disclosure of environmental impacts by companies and cities, encompassing a significant portion of global emissions.

• Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financial (PCAF):
  Provides methodologies for financial institutions to measure and report GHG emissions across multiple asset classes.