Episode 5: Joining forces to achieve sustainable goals

Based at HSBC in Hong Kong, Wai-Shin Chan is proudly “the geek on the team” advising on ESG integration for the bank and also for businesses, economies, and societies more broadly. He is Global Head of the HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence and Global Co-Head of ESG Research. Chan discusses how investors, corporations and regulators need to work in tandem to implement sustainable goals – and communicate their plans so that stakeholders understand what this means for them. He also emphasises that ESG must be embedded deeply within corporate and investor decision-making. “It’s all very well having a pledge, but implementing that pledge is much more difficult,” says Chan. “We’ve seen a lot of net zero plans from corporates and countries that actually don’t come with any details at all.” In this illuminating episode, Chan also reflects on carbon offsets, the accuracy of carbon accounting, avoiding greenwashing and rainbow washing, and how business is entering “the phase of climate integrity” where targets and results are scrutinised more than ever before. This is the fifth episode in our 30 For Net Zero 30 series. In each episode, Ashurst partner Anna-Marie Slot speaks with climate action champions across the globe about real steps to take now towards 2030 goals. Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.