香港地球之友今天為環境作出承諾，未來將進行環保及負責任投資、向石化能源撤資及推動應對氣候變化的投資項目。
香港地球之友一直關注氣候變化與減碳議題。慈善，由環保團體自身做起，本會相信對可持續發展資金管理作出承諾，能有效緩和氣候變化。
本會希望為其他環保團體及非牟利機構樹立榜樣，凝聚同業認真考慮作出環境、社會及管治的投資。
香港地球之友主席吳方笑薇女士 BBS 致辭時提到：「減少傷害；多做好事。減碳慈善事業是回報善長慷慨捐贈的最好方法，也是為我們下一代維持健康生態環境的最佳途徑。地球是寬容的；年輕人卻等不及了！環境、社會及管治的投資，是消除社會和生態不平衡及衝突的補救措施。真正的社會和諧，需要透過復原性的經濟和生態社會企業去帶動才能達至。」
本會很榮幸能邀請投資推廣署助理署長蔣學禮博士作為主禮嘉賓，他表示：「有政府作強大後盾、有實力雄厚的金融和法律人才、有由一帶一路及大灣區發展而衍生的大量機遇，香港具備足夠條件成為不單是亞洲、更是國際的綠色金融中心。」
在今天舉行的「綠色金融與你同行」啟動儀式上，香港地球之友作出了公開承諾：
(1) 展示環境、社會與管治的投資及由環保團體帶動減碳
(2) 開展綠色金融相關研究
(3) 為香港培育綠色金融人力資本
「綠色金融 與你同行」啟動儀式代表本會綠色金融倡議路線圖正式開始。本會將定期舉行圓桌會議、與持分者對話和工作坊，匯聚持分者和商界對綠色金融的興趣與關注。
同時本會已推出綠色金融網誌，推動意見、資訊、最新動向、趨勢和案例的交流。
香港地球之友更將作出以下承諾：
(1) 承諾採用負責任的擁有權原則
本會承諾將全面採納證券及期貨事務監察委員會（證監會）於2016年發出的負責任的擁有權原則，並倡議所有資產擁有者、捐贈者、慈善機構和基金會檢視並確保旗下投資政策配合該原則。
(2) 擔當綠色及負責任投資的先導者和領導者
截至2019年6月，香港金融管理局是香港唯一承諾採用負責任的擁有權原則的資產擁有者。本會很榮幸能成為首個採用該等原則的非牟利機構。
(3) 培育綠色金融人力資本
本會將向業界倡議綠色金融及環境、社會與管治投資。本會又會與香港理工大學可持續經濟發展及創業金融中心合作，成立「環境、社會與管治投資教育承諾」計劃，培育本地綠色金融人才。
香港理工大學可持續經濟與創業金融中心總監鄭子云教授說：「『環境、社會與管治投資教育承諾』計劃充分展示了香港地球之友在本地非牟利機構界別中先行作出的財務承諾，並通過推動環境、社會與管治投資教育，促進可持續發展。此項計劃能有效指導理工大學會計及金融學院學生關於環境、社會與管治方面的知識，以及透過相關的投資研究，了解環境、社會與管治的重要性。」
理工大學會計及金融學院的學生，將在價值1,000萬港元的綠色及負責任投資組合（GRIP）支持下，進行學術研究。
香港地球之友很榮幸能夠獲得環球財富及資金經理──瑞士隆奧集團的支持和提供的專業服務，協助管理該項投資，並指導理工大學學生進行學術研究。
瑞士隆奧集團亞太區首席投資總監及香港區行政總裁Jean-Louis Nakamura先生表示：「可持續發展代表著瑞士隆奧本世紀最大的投資機遇。成立至今223年以來，我們一直以可持續的方向替顧客管理資產，堅持不斷思考我們的社會責任投資方法以及工具。今天我們能夠支持香港地球之友及香港理工大學可持續經濟發展及創業金融中心，推動以廣泛的方法管理資產，並加快營商行為的必然改變，促進重視可持續發展的營商模式，為此我們感到非常自豪。」
Friends of the Earth (HK) 【FoE (HK)】today pledges to Green and Responsible Investing, divest in fossil fuels and to promote climate responsive investing.
Climate Change and Decarbonisation are FoE (HK)’s major advocacy focus. Charity starts at home, FoE (HK) believes its pledge to sustainable treasury management is an effective response to mitigate climate change.
It also hopes to lead by example to catalyse other charities and NGOs to consider ESG (Environmental Social Governance) Investing.
“Do Less Harm. Do More Good. Decarbonise Philanthropy is the best way to repay the generosity of donors and to safeguard a resilient environment for our future generation. Earth is tolerant. Youth are impatient. ESG Investing could be a remedy to neutralise social and ecological imbalance and conflicts. Social harmony could be redeemed by restorative economy and eco-socio enterprise,” said Mrs. Mei Ng, Chairperson of FoE (HK).
FoE (HK) is also honoured to have Dr. Jimmy Chiang, Associate Director-General of InvestHK as our officiating guest. He said, “With strong government commitments, a great pool of finance and legal talents, as well as tremendous opportunities arising from the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, Hong Kong is well positioned to develop itself into a premier green finance hub not only in the region, but also in the world.”
At the “Green Finance Connect” launching ceremony today, FoE (HK) made an official pledge:
(1) Demonstrate ESG investing and decarbonise charity
(2) Conduct research on green finance
(3) Incubate green finance human capital for Hong Kong
“Green Finance Connect” launch kickstarted FoE (HK)’s Green Finance Advocacy Roadmap. Regular roundtables, dialogues and workshops will be organised to catalyse stakeholder and business sector interests.
A “Green Finance Blog” has been set up to facilitate sharing of insights, info, trends, ideas and case studies, about ‘everyone has the ability and option to invest in Green’.
FoE (HK) will commit to take the following actions:
- Pledge for Principles of Responsible Ownership adoption
FoE (HK) pledged to fully adopt the Principles of Responsible Ownership (“Principles”) issued by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in 2016, and would also advocate all asset owners, endowments, charities and foundations to align their investment policies with the Principles.
- FoE (HK) as a pioneer and leader in Green and Responsible Investing
As of June 2019, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is the only asset owner in Hong Kong pledged adoption of the Principles and FoE (HK) is proud to be the first NGO to do the same.
- Incubate Green Finance Human Capital
FoE (HK) would advocate industry practitioners about the importance of green finance and ESG investing. We would also work with Centre for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance (CESEF) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to incubate green finance human capital with the “ESG Investment Education Pledge”.
Professor Louis Cheng, Director of the CESEF of PolyU, told the audience, “This ESG Investment Education Pledge aims to show case FoE (HK)’s financial commitment among NGOs in Hong Kong and to push for sustainability through ESG investments education. Such a pledge helps School of Accounting and Finance at PolyU to educate its students about ESG and its importance through investment research for the Pledge.”
This will enable PolyU students at the School of Accounting and Finance to conduct research on the HK$10m Green and Responsible Investment Portfolio (GRIP).
FoE (HK) is pleased and honoured to enlist the professional support and service of the global wealth and asset manager Lombard Odier to manage the fund and to mentor the PolyU students in their research.
Jean-Louis Nakamura, Chief Investment Officer Asia and CEO Hong Kong, Lombard Odier, said, “Sustainability represents for Lombard Odier the biggest investment opportunity of our century. Throughout our 223-year history, Lombard Odier has embraced a sustainable approach in managing our clients’ money, consistently rethinking our socially responsible investment methodologies and tools. We are proud today to support FoE (HK) and CESEF in their efforts to promote an inclusive way to manage money, accelerate the necessary changes in business practices and value more sustainable business models.”
