Environment
Environmental Giving
On May 30, 2007, HSBC announced a five-year, $100 million program to help reduce the impacts of climate change on the world's rivers, forests and cities. This ground-breaking initiative partners HSBC with four world-class environmental organizations—Earthwatch Institute, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and The Climate Group—to inspire global action by individuals, businesses and governments worldwide. For each of our partners, HSBC's contribution represents the largest ever single corporate donation.
Climate change is believed to be the most significant environmental challenge of this century and will have a major impact on our employees, customers, shareholders and communities. The HSBC Climate Partnership seeks to:
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protect rivers and the livelihoods of people who rely on them
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research the long-term effects of climate change on the world's forests
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create cleaner and greener cities
One of HSBC - North America's primary objectives is to support environmental initiatives that focus on climate change, freshwater (e.g. rivers), and terrestrial biodiversity (plants and animals). We do this through our support of organizations that focus on environmental policy development, public awareness-building, education of teachers or other adults (i.e. over 25), scientific research and projects to improve the sustainability or resilience of eco-systems.
HSBC Bank USA, N.A. extends grant support to nonprofit organizations' environmental programs in Bank communities. One example supported by the Bank includes:
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New York Cares-HSBC has title sponsorship of New York Cares' "Hands on New York Day" where 45,000 volunteers help revitalize parks, community gardens and other public spaces. New York Cares meets pressing community needs by mobilizing caring New Yorkers in volunteer service.
Environmental Performance
HSBC has been a climate-neutral company globally since November 2005. Through the use of green technologies and emission-offset trading, HSBC counteracts all CO2 emissions generated by its building operations and corporate travel. In 2011, over 90% of operations in North America will be offset by investments in Renewable Energy Certificates from wind power alone.
The United States EPA has recognized our commitment to renewable energy and combating Climate Change by presenting HSBC - North America with the Green Power Partner-of-the-Year award and the Climate Protection Award.
HSBC also invests in building green. In 2006, HSBC - North America was awarded LEED Gold Certification by the US Green Building Council for a retail eco-branch project in Upstate New York. Designed with rainwater harvesting, onsite solar energy-generation and geo-thermal heating & cooling, it serves as a model to evaluate standards for future building projects. In 2008, HSBC completed construction of its new North America corporate facility in Mettawa, IL and received LEED Gold certification. In 2010, the HSBC IT site in Burnaby, British Columbia was one of the first commercial buildings in Canada awarded the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) highest ranking 'Platinum' certification.
Additionally, HSBC cares for its employees and customers by utilizing a green cleaning standard in its buildings that focuses on improving indoor air quality, recycling and minimizing the use of raw materials and toxic products.
Environmental Reporting
HSBC - North America conducts a thorough analysis of its environmental impact performance in both the United States and Canada. Environmental metrics are fed into a global environmental reporting system that collects and analyzes data on the consumption of energy, water, production of waste, and CO2. By knowing our environmental footprint, we are able to set goals to reduce it.
