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ESG Information Centre

The Institute has joined 13 other accounting bodies, all members of A4S ABN, in publicly committing to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within their own organizations, as well as provide an enabling environment for their membership to do the same. As part of our commitment, we have established this information centre to provides convenient access to the latest development, thought leadership as well as learning resources on ESG that are relevant to the accounting profession, in order to facilitate our members to stay ahead of the market.

Check out the latest news and developments regarding ESG.

Date	Title
4 June 2023	Hong Kong takes new step to promote ESG agenda to reluctant and wary small business owners
30 May 2023	HKMA launched the Prototype of a Green Classification Framework for Hong Kong
18 May 2023	ISSB update May 2023
4 May 2023	ISSB consultation on agenda priorities
24 April 2023	IAASB advances timeline for consultation for proposal on sustainability assurance
19 April 2023	ISSB update April 2023
14 April 2023	Exchange publishes consultation paper on enhancement of climate disclosure under its ESG framework
4 April 2023	Supplementary ISSB update April 2023
28 March 2023	TNFD releases fourth and final beta framework
16 March 2023	ISSB update March 2023
21 February 2023	Joint statement from the IESBA and IAASB Chairs on the ISSB’s progress toward inaugural International Sustainability Standards
16 February 2023	HKSAR Government’s Inaugural Tokenised Green Bond Offering
16 February 2023	ISSB update February 2023
17 January 2023	ISSB update January 2023
11 January 2023	HKEX published a research paper on the global carbon markets and opportunities for Hong Kong
22 December 2022	FSDC report on the State of ESG in Hong Kong
20 December 2022	Cross-Agency Steering Group announces collaboration with CDP to enhance data availability and sustainability reporting in Hong Kong
13 December 2022	Hong Kong Monetary Authority - Government launches Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme
6 December 2022	Results of the HKICPA's Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2022
25 November 2022	Exchange publishes findings of its latest review of issuers’ ESG disclosures
23 November 2022	What did COP27 accomplish and what actions can we expect as a result?
14 November 2022	COP27 news from week 1 and other top climate change stories
8 November 2022	ISSB at COP27: ISSB makes key announcements towards the implementation of climate-related disclosure standards in 2023
1 November 2022	ISSB confirms requirement to use climate-related scenario analysis

Read some selected ESG articles and thought leadership issued by the Institute and other local and global organizations that provide insights across

various aspects and issues in relation to ESG.

Articles from A Plus

2023 issues
Q2	ISSB exposure drafts and Link Asset Management Limited: case study for streamlining ESG KPIs Calvin Lee Kwan, Director of Sustainability and Risk Governance at Link Asset Management Limited, shares the entity’s experience in adopting proposed standards under the ISSB’s exposure drafts
Q1	Greenwash prevention – Why it matters and how to address it Grace Hui, Convenor of the Institute’s Greenwash Prevention Working Group, moderates an e-Seminar covering corporate greenwashing and what can be done to combat it Board oversight of sustainability and ESG Laura Leka, Principal at the International Federation of Accountants’ (IFAC) thought leadership team, on how boards today are effectively discharging their responsibility for sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) oversight Is embracing sustainability and green finance an option or prerequisite for CPAs? Experts chime in on the latest developments in business and accounting

2023 issues

ISSB exposure drafts and Link Asset Management Limited: case study for streamlining ESG KPIs

Calvin Lee Kwan, Director of Sustainability and Risk Governance at Link Asset Management Limited, shares the entity’s experience in adopting proposed standards under the ISSB’s exposure drafts

Greenwash prevention – Why it matters and how to address it

Grace Hui, Convenor of the Institute’s Greenwash Prevention Working Group, moderates an e-Seminar covering corporate greenwashing and what can be done to combat it

Board oversight of sustainability and ESG

Laura Leka, Principal at the International Federation of Accountants’ (IFAC) thought leadership team, on how boards today are effectively discharging their responsibility for sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) oversight

Is embracing sustainability and green finance an option or prerequisite for CPAs?

Experts chime in on the latest developments in business and accounting

2022 issues
October	A guide to navigating the evolving climate landscape for CFOs Ricky Cheng FCPA, Director, Head of Risk Advisory, BDO, and member of the Institute’s Sustainability Committee, on how chief financial officers should take the lead in helping organizations transition to a low-carbon business model
September	Cultivating harmony Ricky Chu, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission on fighting for equality in the city The centrality of ethics to sustainability Ken Siong CPA, Programme and Senior Director, International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants, on the essential role ethics and independence play in the reporting and assurance of sustainability
August	Walking the ESG talk: the time is now Pat Woo CPA (practising), the Partner and Head of ESG, Hong Kong at KPMG China and member of the Institute’s Sustainability Committee, on how corporates can eliminate greenwashing
July	Sustainability reporting assurance An overview of the Institute’s position for effective sustainability reporting assurance How CPAs can drive change and lead the way on sustainability Herbert Yung FCPA, the Institute’s Director, Member Engagement and Sustainability Lead, on how accountants can champion a company’s sustainability journey
May	A new standard of sustainability Emmanuel Faber, new Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board, on what new standards will mean for sustainability reporting Second opinions How will the International Sustainability Standards Board’s two proposed standards meet the needs of investors?
April	What does ESG assurance in Hong Kong look like? A look at the prevalence of ESG assurance among Hong Kong-listed companies, according to a study conducted by the institute.
March	Meet the speaker Herbert Yung, FCPA, the Institute’s Director, Member Engagement and Sustainability Lead, on what to expect from the e-Series on environmental, social and governance reporting
February	Closing the loop How accountants can help companies transition to a circular economy
January	Post-COP26 sustainability disclosure trend Simon Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Business Environment Council on how companies can embrace the sustainability disclosure trend to build climate resilience

Other articles and reports

Date	Title
June 2023	A deep dive into Sustainability Assurance Engagements by IFAC
May 2023	ESG integration in listed equity: A technical guide by PRI Greenwashing and how to avoid it: An introductory guide for Asia’s finance industry by ClientEarth ESG survey report for asset owners (2022) by SynTao Green Finance ESG thema #12 - Responsible investing in Asia: Outlook 2023 by Amundi Corporate Sustainability Reporting Playbook – How businesses can keep up and stay ahead by Richard Howitt
April 2023	From doom to bloom – Should organizations aim to be nature positive? by A4S How management accountants can guide companies on climate by IFAC Shifting Perceptions: ESG, Credit Risk and Ratings – Part 4: Deepening the dialogue between investors, issuers and CRAs by PRI AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 by IPCC
February - March 2023	2023 Global Climate Survey by Robeco How COSO’s new sustainability reporting guidance provides opportunities for the profession by IFAC Women on boards progress report 2022 by MSCI Are companies development credible climate transition plans by CDP The state of play in sustainability assurance (2019-2021 trends & analysis report) by IFAC
January 2023	Latest developments of green and sustainable finance (2nd half of 2022) by HKGFA Top 10 trends in responsible investment in China 2023 by China SIF and SynTao ESG and climate trends to watch for 2023 by MSCI ESG Research LLC The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and what it means for business by The World Economic Forum Unlocking value from ESG strategies in post-transaction integration by Deloitte
December 2022	2022 Analysis of ESG Practice Disclosure by HKEX Emissions gap report 2022 by UN Environment Programme Climate risk measurement: The existing landscape and developments in Hong Kong’s financial services industry by The Hong Kong Institute For Monetary And Financial Research Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2022 - Judges’ Report by Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
November 2022	Unleashing sustainable finance in Southeast Asia by The World Bank Guidance for integrating ESG information into equity analysis and research reports by CFA Institute Our journey: The accounting bodies’ road to net zero by Accounting for Sustainability Sustainability and Business – Environmental Issues brief: Accounting for nature by AICPA & CIMA Comparing European corporate governance models by Accountancy Europe Embracing sustainability: Actions for SMEs by Accounting for Sustainability Unlock value from ESG strategy in post merger integration (Chinese only) by Deloitte
October 2022	Ethics Considerations in Sustainability Reporting by IESBA 中國上市銀行綠色金融洞察與展望 (2022) by Deloitte A4s Essential Guide to Incentivizing Action along the Value Chain by Accounting for Sustainability Asset and wealth management revolution 2022: Exponential expectations for ESG by PwC Decarbonising Buildings in the Greater Bay Area: Policy Recommendations and the Role of Sustainable Finance by Hong Kong Green Finance Association 2022 Global Sustainable Investment Survey by FTSE Russell and the London Stock Exchange Group Business Closing the loop: Responsible investment and the circular economy by Principles for Responsible Investment
September 2022	A4S essential guide to incentivizing action along the value chain by Accounting for Sustainability What start-ups think about ESG and why it matters by World Economic Forum Sustainability-Linked Bond Progress Report by Sustainable Fitch

Our Sustainability Committee and Education and Training Department continue to identify areas of training in ESG, and have launched various programme across the spectrum of ESG to equip members with both essential knowledge and advanced insights on the subject. Explore the training through the dedicated webpage:

ESG guidance, standards and frameworks

The following is a non-exhaustive list of guidance, standards and frameworks that are commonly adopted by global and local organizations in relation to ESG reporting.

ESG certifications

The following is a non-exhaustive list of ESG certification programmes organized by various organizations:

Certificate in Sustainable Finance – HKGFA / HKUST
Certificate in ESG Investing – CFA Institute
Certified ESG Analyst – European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies
Sustainability and Climate Risk Certificate – Global Association of Risk Professionals
Certificate in Green and Sustainable Finance – The Chartered Banker Institute
GRI Professional Certification Program – Global Reporting Initiative

Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards

The Awards recognize that investors and other stakeholders are more and more interested in how listed companies and major public sector organizations are addressing issues such as climate change and other environment and social concerns that may affect their businesses and services.

The Best Corporate Governance Awards 2021 – Judges’ Report contains commentaries from the judges and reviewers on the CG and SSR performance of the winning companies and organizations, information on international and local developments in these areas, as well as background information on the Awards.

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