LeftMenu

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
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
31 October 2022	Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme begins accepting eligible programme applications
28 October 2022	HKEX launches Core Climate, Hong Kong’s international carbon marketplace, supporting global transition to Net Zero
24 October 2022	ISSB reviews feedback on proposed standards
21 October 2022	Ethics considerations in sustainability reporting
12 October 2022	Cross-Agency Steering Group launches Sustainable Finance Internship Initiative to support capacity building
6 October 2022	Integrity Council’s public consultation on Core Carbon Principles demonstrates clear commitment to high integrity across all stakeholder groups
28 September 2022	The SBTi launches the world’s first standard method to cover land-related emissions and removals
26 September 2022	HKMA announces implementation details of Pilot Scheme on Training Subsidy for Fintech Practitioners
6 September 2022	Enrolments for ESG courses surge in Hong Kong amid exponential demand for staff with requisite skills

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 issue
January	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 issue

January

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 issue
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

2021 issue
December	Setting the right tone Awardees of this year’s Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards on creating long term value and maintaining resilience through sustainability
November	The impact of climate risk on corporate reporting Chris Joy, FCPA, the Institute’s Executive Director, on the profession’s role in providing transparency and insights on the financial impacts of climate change
September	The journey to net-zero What are companies doing to limit their carbon emissions for a net-zero future?
August	How to empower CFOs to drive climate action Sanjay Rughani, Chair of the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group writes on how CFOs can steer companies towards decarbonization
July	Second opinions How can common standards combat greenwashing?
June	Beyond the bottom line Experts from the Best Corporate Governance Awards' Organizing Committee and Review Panel discuss why ESG is now at the heart of every successful organization
April	Investing for a sustainable future How will the rise of green finance in Hong Kong elevate the city on the global stage?
January	Starting over How can businesses use the pandemic as a means for change and even long-term growth?

Other articles and reports

Date	Title
January 2023	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	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
August 2022	Investing for a just transition: Proposals for a just transition disclosure framework in China by SynTao Green Finance Better ESG data drives more impactful decision-making by companies by Financial Reporting Council ESG Analyst Survey 2022: Turning the tanker by Fidelity International
July 2022	Research report on the sustainability trends of Hong Kong listed companies by PwC Practical toolkits for SMEs and SMPs by ACCA Global The impact of climate related risks on statutory financial statements and auditors’ reports by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Why sustainability matters to finance leaders in growing companies from Forbes
June 2022	The A4S Sustainability Reporting Insights Series by Accounting for Sustainability Investing in ESG funds is the growing trend, but keep an eye out for ‘greenwashing’ from South China Morning Post A new era for corporate reporting in Europe and beyond by ICAEW Comparing sustainability reporting proposals from the ISSB, EFRAG and SEC Unlocking the potential of investor stewardship in China: Towards a more sustainable economy by PRI Association
May 2022	Global priorities for professional accountants in business and the public sector by IFAC Climate & voting: 2021 review and global trends by ISS Green Bond China Investor Survey 2022 by SynTao Green Finance Understanding Materiality: Lessons From Industries With High ESG Risk by Sustainalytics
April 2022	Asia’s net-zero transition: Opportunity and risk amid climate action by McKinsey Post-Issuance Reporting in China's Green Bond Market 2022 by Climate Bonds Initiative, SynTao Green Finance & UK PACT Green Bond China Investor Survey 2022 by Climate Bonds Initiative & SynTao Green Finance GSF Data Source Repository by Hong Kong Monetary Authority All the ESG Investing Terms, Explained from The Wall Street Journal Stakeholders are asking questions: How to tell them a credible ESG story by PwC
March 2022	Sustainable ESG for Hong Kong’s Post-Covid SMEs by HKTDC Carbon Market Opportunities for Hong Kong- Preliminary Feasibility Assessment by Carbon Market Workstream of the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group HSBC’s first global ESG sentiment survey by Wai Shin Chan, Global Head of ESG Research
February 2022	Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability by IPCC Working Group 2 New Horizons: Navigating ESG in 2022 – Global Edition by ISS ESG Getting Started with ESG: What Every Company Needs to Know by Sustainalytics Developing Hong Kong as a Leading Investment Fund Hub for Green and Sustainable Infrastructure Financing by HKGFA
January 2022	ESG White Paper: Asia’s Workforce Awakens to ESG by Mojodomo The Net-Zero Transition: What It Would Cost, What It Could Bring by McKinsey China’s Growing Sustainable Debt Market by Climate Bonds Initiative SMEs’ net-zero challenge by ACCA AFF 2022 HKTDC PwC Joint Pulse Survey ESG Investing: Challenges and Opportunities for Hong Kong by PwC

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.

Total: Bookmarks

Bookmark(s) Click icon to add bookmark(s) to my profile

User Profile Bookmark(s)