BEC Climate & Nature Theatre
Sustainable Finance in Action: Corporate Transition Planning for a Climate-Resilient Future
11 Sep (Thur) Day 1 : 14:50 – 15:50
This panel will concentrate on the pivotal role of corporate climate transition strategies and sustainable finance, aiming to enhance climate resilience in Hong Kong. As businesses face increasing pressures from climate change, developing comprehensive transition plans that integrate climate considerations into their business models for effective emissions reduction and resilience building is essential. This session will highlight best practices for aligning transition strategies with evolving regulatory frameworks, which emphasises the importance of climate risk management and the integration of financial implications into decision-making processes.
Key discussions will centre on utilising scenario analysis and climate risk stress testing assess potential impacts on financial performance and resilience. By presenting actionable approaches and success stories, this session aims to equip businesses with the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure their transition strategies are robust, financially sound, and aligned with the goal of fostering a climate-resilient future.
Learnings:
- Identify key components of corporate climate transition planning with a focus on sustainable finance integration
- Explore best practices for aligning transition strategies with regulatory frameworks, including climate risk management
- Understand how to assess climate risks and financial impacts using scenario analysis and stress testing
Post-event Actions:
- Develop actionable transition plans that incorporate sustainable finance practices to enhance climate resilience
- Utilise scenario analysis and stress testing to inform decision-making and planning for climate risk management
- Foster collaboration among financial institutions and corporates to share insights and best practices in climate transition strategies
Speakers
Moderator
Suki Han
Assistant Manager
Business Environment Council
Suki Han
Business Environment Council
Assistant Manager
Suki has 10 years of experience in sustainability consulting, stakeholder engagement, and policy research. Currently at BEC, Suki leads research initiatives related to climate change and energy transition, including BEC’s Climate Change Business Forum, Net-zero Carbon Charter and sectoral energy transition research projects.
Previously, Suki worked with a range of clients across different sectors on sustainability issues in the US and Hong Kong. Her responsibilities included researching international renewable energy policies and developing ESG strategies. She also worked in private equity and venture capital. She has actively participated in international climate change negotiations and policy development, such as COP21.
Suki holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University, and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
David von Eiff
Director, Global Industry Standards
CFA Institute
David von Eiff
CFA Institute
Director, Global Industry Standards
David von Eiff joined CFA Institute in 2021 as a sustainability specialist. David brings has a combined 13 years of experience in environmental compliance, research, and sustainability. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy at the City University of Hong Kong and his Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Public Policy at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. His main research areas address the economic, sustainability and climate change issues associated with water supply management decisions. He previously spent 8 years regulatory specialist in Environmental, Health & Safety Management Systems, having clients across a wide range of industries to improve their environmental programs and identified methods by which they could make their operations more sustainable, including process redesign, water and energy conservation, and developing environmental management systems.
My Sustainability Goals for 2025
I would like to see Hong Kong accelerates the adoption of a diversified water supply mix to reduce reliance on imported water from the Dongjiang River, which currently accounts for about 70-80% of the city’s freshwater. Incorporating water reclamation and desalination in a “fit-for-purpose” approach could lower carbon emissions compared to heavy reliance on desalination alone. In 2025, I’d like to see policy commitments to expand water reclamation significantly and integrate advanced technologies like smart water grids to enhance resilience against climate-driven water scarcity in the Pearl River Delta.
Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 sets a goal of carbon neutrality before 2050, with interim targets for 2035. In 2025, I hope to see accelerated investment in green infrastructure, such as a focus on retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency to cut emissions from electricity generation, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the city’s carbon footprint.
John Haffner
Deputy Director — Sustainability
Hang Lung Properties Limited
John Haffner
Hang Lung Properties Limited
Deputy Director — Sustainability
John Haffner is Deputy Director – Sustainability, Hang Lung Properties, where he is responsible for formulating the Group-wide sustainability strategy and driving its execution. John is also Co-Chair of the ULI Asia-Pacific Net Zero Council. He has more than two decades of experience in cleantech, infrastructure and sustainability in Asia and North America, and is proficient in Mandarin. John was a World Fellow at Yale University, and has more than 20 publications on various topics including the environment, energy and international affairs.
My Sustainability Goal for 2025
I hope Hong Kong will take initial steps towards developing and publishing a deep decarbonization model that would allow all stakeholders to compare transparently the abatement potential of various carbon reduction measures (including the technical feasibility and expected costs of such measures).
Supported by
Business Environment Council
Booth BEC6
Business Environment Council Limited (BEC) is an independent, charitable corporate membership organisation, established by the business sector in Hong Kong.
Since its establishment in 1992, BEC has been at the forefront of promoting environmental excellence by advocating the uptake of clean technologies and practices which reduce waste, conserve resources, prevent pollution and improve corporate environmental and social responsibility.
BEC offers sustainable solutions and professional services covering advisory, research, assessment, training and award programmes for government, business and the community, thus enabling environmental protection and contributing to the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
