Leading companies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions received on May 30 a prestigious award, the 2013 CarbonCare^® Label, from the hands of Christine Loh, Under-Secretary for the Environment. A total of 25 awardees, ranging from listed and large companies, SMEs to social enterprises and NGOs, made the rank this year by undertaking a sophisticated process of measuring, reducing and offsetting their carbon emissions.

The CarbonCare^® Label, developed by Carbon Care Asia (“CCA”) and overseen by a panel of eminent scholars, is one of the major initiatives to engage the private sector in promoting a low-carbon economy in Hong Kong.

In presenting the award, Under-Secretary Christine Loh remarked, “I congratulate all the awardees today as they play an important role in helping Hong Kong achieve its goal of carbon emissions reduction. The government is working hard on its climate change response strategy. These pioneering companies today have set a good example for the private sector.”

Bernard Chan, Executive Councillor also addressed the awardees, “As the Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development, the quest for an optimal strategy to respond to the global challenge of climate change is dear to my heart. I fully support the initiative of CarbonCare^® Label. In fact, my company Asia Insurance is one of the few who attained the Label in 2011 and, as a result, becomes the first insurance company to have achieved a carbon neutral status in Greater China.”

Albert Lai, CEO of Carbon Care Asia, added, “The CarbonCare^® Label not only gives the awardees the recognition they deserve, but by laying the groundwork for a comprehensive carbon strategy, also enables them to benefit from cutting costs, reducing risks and creating new business models through sustainability innovation. These pioneers are well-placed to meet the regulatory trends in carbon disclosure, thus giving them a competitive edge among their peers. ”

In his welcoming remarks, CCA Chairman Chong Chan Yau, highlighted the mission of Carbon Care Asia in combating the climate change challenge, and retraced the history of the social business which was set up in 2008 after its co-founders had led a Hong Kong civil society delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007.

Opening remark by Mr Bernard Chan,
Executive Councillor and Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development

Photo captions:

1. Representatives from 25 CarbonCare^® Label Awardees gathered for a group photo with Ms Christine Loh, Under-Secretary for the Environment (7^th from right, back row) and Mr Chong Chan Yau, Chairman of Carbon Care Asia (8^th from right, back row).
2. Ms Christine Loh, Under-Secretary for the Environment, commended all CarbonCare^® Label awardees for playing an important role in helping Hong Kong achieve its goal of carbon emissions reduction.
3. Ms Alexamaria Rathbonebarker welcomed nearly 100 awardee representatives and guests on behalf of Bloomberg, the event’s venue sponsor.
4. In his welcoming remark, CCA Chairman Mr Chong Chan Yau emphasized that the company’s mission is to promote and facilitate proactive response to the climate change challenge within the private sector.
5. Awardee representatives from 6 non-government organizations and social enterprises pictured with Ms Christine Loh and Mr Chong Chan Yau (middle) — (from left ) The Good Lab, The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Friends of the Earth (HK); (from right) Chinese YMCA, Kau Yan Church and Education for Good.
6. Awardee representatives from 6 SMEs pictured with Ms Christine Loh and Mr Chong Chan Yau (middle) — (from left ) Easy Organic Farming, EP Venture Co. Ltd and The Star Printing Co. Ltd; (from right) Hip Shing Hong Group of Companies, King of Ceramic Tiles (HK) Holdings Ltd and SSID.
7. Awardee representatives from 7 hotels and organizations of the hospitality industry pictured with Ms Christine Loh and Mr Chong Chan Yau (middle) — (from left )The Cityview, Bistro 1979 and Hotel ICON; (from right) Regal iClub Hotel, Madera Residences, Madera Hotel and AsiaWorld-Expo.
8. Awardee representatives from 6 listed companies and large organizations pictured with Ms Christine Loh and Mr Chong Chan Yau (middle) — (from left )Jebsen & Co. Ltd, Samson Paper Co. Ltd, Hongkong Electric Co. Ltd; (from right) Asia Insurance Co Ltd, CLP Holdings Ltd and Hong Kong Housing Authority.
9. (From left) CCA Advisor Ir Dr Michael Leung, CCA Executive Director Dr Trini Leung, CarbonCare^® Label Panel Advisor Prof K C Ho, Ms Frances Liu, ESG Specialist of Bloomberg and CCA Chairman Mr Chong Chan Yau pictured with Ms Christine Loh, Under-Secretary for the Environment. They were joined by (from right) Mr James Wong, Director of KPMG, one of our event sponsors, CCA Director Ms Rosanna Wong and CCA CEO Ir Albert Lai.
10. In his seminar presentation, Ir Albert Lai, CEO of CCA, highlighted the importance of innovative approach for corporations to achieve new and sustainable business models.
11. Ms Frances Liu, ESG Specialist of Bloomberg, analyzed what value corporations can get out of carbon disclosure.
12. Ir Dr Michael Leung, Associate Professor & Associate Dean of the School of Energy & Environment, City University, pointed out how carbon reporting and benchmarking can help corporations successfully devise their own carbon strategy.
13. CCA Executive Director Dr Trini Leung (1^st right) moderated for the panel discussion after the seminar. Prof KC Ho (2^nd left), CarbonCare^® Label Panel Advisor and Dean of School of Science & Technology, The Open University of Hong Kong, was invited to share his views with the audiences on how to promote carbon management.