HSBC
works in the community in India in the areas of financial inclusion,
environment and sustainability. Our financial inclusion initiatives
support education of children from underprivileged communities,
life skills training for disadvantaged youth and financial literacy
and entrepreneurship capacity building for rural women in marginalised
communities. HSBC’s environmental initiatives support water
harvesting, habitat and biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods
and climate change awareness.
HSBC globally has launched a number of climate change initiatives
such as the HSBC Climate Partnership, HSBC Climate Confidence Index,
HSBC Global Environment Efficiency Programme, HSBC Global Climate
Change Benchmark Index and HSBC Climate Change Fund.
HSBC Climate Partnership was launched in India in January 2008 and
supports Earthwatch, WWF, The Climate Group and Smithsonian Tropical
Research Institute, who collaborate with research institutions,
businesses and individuals to combat the impact of climate change
on forests, freshwater, cities and people. HSBC India also supports
water harvesting and drought proofing projects as an essential measure
to reduce climate stress on agriculture. HSBC India’s Young
Rangers Programme, presently launched in Mumbai and Pune, helps
children understand the need to protect the environment and take
small steps to combat climate change in their schools and homes.
HSBC India launched Earth Sciences Forum, the first ever Public
Private Partnership between HSBC and the Ministry of Science and
Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India to
find solutions to climate change in April 2008. The forum aims to
provide solutions through adaptation and mitigation strategies,
recommending policy changes, showcasing innovative research and
industry best practices and informing people.
HSBC has partnered with Sadguru Foundation for a programme that
links rural livelihoods to climate change. Covering 5 villages in
Dahod, Gujarat and benefiting 400 households initially, the focus
of the project is on agro-forestry, floriculture, vermi- composting
and microfinance through self help groups.
HSBC also views volunteering as a key driver to employee engagement
and an important contribution to the community. In 2008 alone, HSBC
in India clocked 41,200 hours of volunteering by employees across
India. HSBC is creating opportunity for rural communities to meet
their energy needs by providing access to clean energy sources.
In partnership with Spandana, a microfinance institution and MicroEnergy
Credits (MEC).
HSBC is ranked 4th in Accountability Ranking 2007, is a member
of the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index 2007, Dow Jones Sustainability
Indexes - World Index Market 2007 and FTSE4Good Environmental Leaders
Europe 40 Index 2006. Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and
Country Head, HSBC India, was awarded the prestigious Green Globe
Award in the business enterprise category for her commitment to
environment sustainability at the Delhi Sustainable Development
Summit on 5 February 2009.
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