Our Approach
We aim to run a sustainable business for the long term. This is about achieving sustainable profits for our shareholders, building long-lasting relationships with customers, valuing our highly committed employees, respecting environmental limits and investing in communities.
The current financial crisis has highlighted how important it is to look ahead to the challenges of the future. We believe that by doing this, we can provide shared value for our shareholders and the wider economy, the environment and society.
As a bank, we manage risk and identify business opportunities every day. We seek to embed social and environmental issues into what we do. Climate change and globalisation are critical trends shaping the way we do business in the future. These trends will affect the world's poorest people most significantly. We aim to mitigate the risks and maximise the opportunities associated with these shifts.
Comment and opinion
HSBC has shown leadership in its response and commitment to tackling climate change. With a long-term horizon and a global outlook, HSBC continues to analyse carefully policy options, risks and opportunities linked to climate change, and is pushing forward to develop products and policies in a challenging economic environment.
The HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence's substantive research has made an important contribution to policy analysis and, by engaging in the public debate on climate change in developed and developing countries, HSBC is playing an important role in identifying key drivers for low-carbon economies.
Lord Stern, Special Adviser to HSBC's Group Chairman on Economic Development and Climate Change.
International Commitments
We have voluntarily agreed to abide by a number of external codes of conduct, some of which are listed here:
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
HSBC has expressed its support for the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 2004.
UNEP Finance Initiative
HSBC is one of the founder signatories of the UNEP Finance Initiative, a global partnership between UNEP and the financial sector working to understand the impacts of environmental and social considerations on financial performance.
UN Global Compact
HSBC is a corporate supporter of The Global Compact. The Compact challenges companies to demonstrate progress in supporting and advancing key principles in four fields: labour standards, human rights, environmental responsibility and anti-corruption. Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, a non-executive Director on the Board of HSBC Holdings plc, is a co-vice-chair of the Global Compact Board.
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS
Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) is a coalition of more than 220 companies united to keep the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria a global priority.
Global Sullivan Principles
HSBC is a corporate supporter of The Global Sullivan Principles. The principles address economic, social and political justice issues, such as human rights and equal opportunities in employment.
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
HSBC follows the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which promote business conduct in the area of sustainability.
Equator Principles
The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary guidelines which provide a common framework to address the environmental and social issues that arise in financing projects.
Downloads
Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need to download the free Adobe Reader
List of external websites
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- UNEP Finance Initiative
- The UN Global Compact
- Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC)
- The Global Sullivan Principles
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
HSBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
