James Tam’s Post

Today, we celebrate an extraordinary collaboration between HSBC, Cathay Pacific, and EcoCeres marking a major step forward in our shared mission to make flying more sustainable. Together, we’re driving the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Hong Kong International Airport, proving that meaningful change is possible when leaders unite. This partnership brings together Hong Kong’s flagship airline, its largest financial institution, and a leading SAF producer to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: decarbonizing aviation. It’s not just a testament to innovation but also a call to action for the industry. We hope this collaboration inspires other companies and airlines to join us in building a resilient SAF ecosystem that will pave the way for a greener future—not only for Hong Kong but for aviation globally. A heartfelt thank you to the HSBC team, the Cathay Pacific team, and the amazing people at EcoCeres who made this vision a reality. Together, we’re setting a new benchmark for sustainable progress. Let’s keep challenging the status quo and aim for a cleaner and brighter future. #Sustainability #SAF #Collaboration #Aviation #Decarbonization #EcoCeres #CathayPacific #HSBC #HongKong

Exciting news! HSBC has teamed up with Cathay Pacific and EcoCeres to boost the uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Hong Kong. We’ve agreed to a one-time purchase of approximately 3,400 metric tonnes of SAF produced by EcoCeres, for Cathay Pacific flights departing from the Hong Kong International Airport – the equivalent of 10,000 single passenger, round trips on Economy from Hong Kong to London. EcoCeres’ SAF is derived from 100% waste-based biomass feedstock, offering up to 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. This tri-party collaboration is significant in many ways. It marks HSBC’s biggest SAF purchase to date. It exemplifies the potential of private partnerships in supporting Hong Kong’s use of innovative decarbonisation technologies. It brings together Hong Kong’s largest bank, home airline, and a green tech unicorn to inspire global efforts towards decarbonising the aviation sector. As a bank, the most important role we can play is in helping our clients’ transition. We want to help our clients adopt new technologies, like SAF, and foster more sustainable business models. But faster SAF adoption will need both policy support and private sector initiatives to scale. HSBC was a launch member when Cathay introduced their corporate SAF programme in 2022 as it is important to signal corporate user support. I’m optimistic that this Hong Kong-led pilot could help pave the way for broader implementation. Thank you Ronald S.P. Lam and Matti Lievonen for partnering with us on this journey. #HSBC #CathayPacific #EcoCeres #SAF #Sustainability Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA9W8hWA

Could this partnership shape the future of sustainable aviation in Hong Kong? HSBC Hong Kong has announced a landmark agreement to purchase approximately 3,400 metric tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from EcoCeres for use in Cathay Pacific flights departing from Hong Kong International Airport. This initiative represents HSBC’s largest SAF purchase to date and aims to serve as a pilot program for broader adoption.  This collaboration brings together key players—Hong Kong’s largest bank, its flagship airline, and a leading SAF producer—to foster a local SAF ecosystem and support long-term decarbonization of air travel. The project has received backing from the Hong Kong SAR Government, with Lam Sai-hung, Secretary for Transport and Logistics, highlighting the alignment with the government’s vision to establish SAF usage targets by next year.  EcoCeres, certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), produces SAF from 100% waste-based biomass feedstock, including traceable used cooking oil. Earlier this year, Cathay Pacific, alongside 13 firms, launched the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition (HKSAFC) to drive decarbonization in aviation.  How will this collaboration influence sustainable aviation in Hong Kong and beyond? Visit our blog to explore the full story and its implications for the industry: https://lnkd.in/g5tKiz6r #AvfoilNews #SustainableAviation #SAF #CathayPacific #EcoCeres #HSBC #AviationDecarbonisation #AviationNews #SAFCoalition #SustainabilityInAviation #HongKongInnovation #AviationPartnerships 

🌿🌍 OTP banka d.d. Croatia on Greencajt Festival: fostering collective efforts towards a more sustainable and responsible future 🌍🌿 Greencajt, one of the foremost gatherings dedicated to sustainability and the green transition, attracted as many as 3,500 visitors in Zagreb over three days filled with lectures, panels, and inspirational stories from more than 70 speakers, experts from the ESG sector from the region and around the world. 🔹 Stjepan Čolak, Senior Director of Corporate Analysis and Documentation Directorate of OTP banka Croatia, contributed valuable insights on the panel "Is Green Financial Transition the New Business as Usual?". The discussion delved into how financial institutions can seamlessly integrate green transition into their daily operations and the necessary changes to make green investments a standard practice. 🔹 Ines Borčić, Director of the Sustainable Development Department in OTP banka Croatia, shared her expertise on the panel "It's Hard. It's Challenging. It's Costly. But Keep Going…". The speakers highlighted the real-world challenges companies and institutions face when implementing sustainable practices, such as high initial costs and the need for a cultural shift, and provided strategies to overcome these obstacles. 🌟 Key Takeaways: •  Greencajt festival has once again underscored the inevitability and necessity of the green transition for our future. •  The financial sector plays a crucial role in this transition, and @OTP group is committed to leading the way. We are proud of our team's contributions and the shared commitment to sustainability. Let's continue to champion the green transition and drive meaningful change in our industry! 🌱🚀 #otpbank #otpgroup #sustainability #greentransition 

Huge demand for #SAF. DHL Express and UOB (a leading bank in ASEAN) co-invest in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for UOB's international parcel deliveries. Through this program, UOB anticipates an estimated annual reduction of approximately 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions¹. The GoGreen Plus service, launched in February 2023, has helped over 40,000 customers in the Asia Pacific region reduce their carbon emissions using SAF. Compared to traditional jet fuel, SAF can cut lifecycle emissions by around 80%¹. Source: (1) DHL Express and UOB Partner to Reduce Carbon Footprint of UOB’s .... https://lnkd.in/gX4PZh2S. (2) DHL Express | UOB Business Banking. https://lnkd.in/g4e3z8W4. (3) DHL Express and UOB partner to reduce carbon footprint of UOB's .... https://lnkd.in/gfDcVPcg. #innovation DHL UOB

Pleased to share our largest #SustainableAviationFuel (SAF) purchase to date - a one-time purchase from EcoCeres for around 3,400 metric tonnes of SAF. This purchase is equivalent to nearly 10,000 single passenger round trips between HSBC’s two home locations of Hong Kong and London. For one of the hardest-to-abate sectors like aviation, scaling the use of SAFs in place of conventional jet fuel will be critical to decarbonisation. According to EcoCeres the SAF has the potential to deliver an estimated 90% #GHG emissions reduction compared to conventional jet fuel. Demand-side sustainable aviation fuel purchasing collaborations like this one with Cathay Pacific can help support the much needed investment into SAFs across the aviation industry. Not only will it help reduce our own business travel emissions, it will help stimulate a commercially viable SAF market. Congratulations to Luanne Lim and the HSBC Hong Kong team for driving this partnership. #SustainableAviation #SAF #HSBC #CathayPacific #HSBC #EcoCeres https://lnkd.in/dmbtPY4v

The SMU Sustainable Investment Club (SMU SI) is pleased to announce the release of the fourth edition in our SI Digest series, titled "What Does It Take for Singapore to Meet Its SAF Targets?" This detailed analysis provides an in-depth look into Singapore's strategic blueprint for integrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), following the ambitious targets set forth in February by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).  This in-depth piece evaluates Singapore's capabilities to reduce aviation emissions, focusing on the medium and long-term goals set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) through its comprehensive sustainability initiatives. We explore the supply side analysis of SAF production possibilities including Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), Fischer-Tropsch (FT), and Power-to-Liquid (PtL) pathways.     The article also highlights the gaps that various stakeholders need to address to accelerate SAF adoption, from supply-based incentives to innovative financing structures.     We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Research Directors, Clive Tan, Adele Lim and Lam Ting Kang for their invaluable insights and enthusiasm in bringing this piece to life!     Click the link below to access the full piece and join the conversation by sharing your perspectives. Stay connected with our LinkedIn page for more insightful articles in our SI Digest series, exploring the latest trends in sustainable finance. Link to the piece: https://lnkd.in/gbar7dyd     #SMUSustainableInvestment #SAFTargets #SustainableAviation #SingaporeGreenPlan #SustainabilityEfforts #SIDigest #SMUSI #EcoFriendlySkies 

Opening new routes in #blue #finance is strategic for Fórum Oceano members access diversified sources of revenue for their business internationalization. At #OeirasBluetechOceanForum the MoU between Fórum Oceano, Yacooba Labs and Hong Kong Virtual Asset Exchange (HKVAX) will pioneer new ways for #trading #digital #esg #blue #assets. This is walking the talk of #OeirasBluetechOceanForum: mobilize pragmatic solutions for making the #sustainable #monetization of #ocean a reality! Carlos Costa Pina Maurício Marques Anthony Ng Ambrose So

When I returned to Singapore from Hong Kong earlier last month, flights were delayed due to heavy rain. Dubai was recently hit by its worst storm in 75 years. Every day, we can feel the impact of climate change. Recently, I delivered a keynote address at the WWF Earth Hour Summit and spoke about how banks like OCBC can be catalysts in fighting global warming. Focusing on transition finance, I noted that Asia in particular, is where this has immense potential in meeting global climate ambitions. Asia produces 85 percent of its energy from fossil fuels, and accounts for 50 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonising emissions-intensive industries through transition finance is hence critical. However, transition finance is still in the nascent stage in the region, taking place in tandem with economic development and population growth. This brings with it complex challenges, to which there are no cut and paste solutions. How can we ensure a just and orderly transition, without dislocating populations or causing social instability? I have seen some initiatives that give me hope. These come in the form of recently established taxonomies, that serve as guideposts in setting the regulatory standards for transition finance. I have also noticed more governments in the region taking more concrete actions, and the political will is important in shaping and driving the narrative. On OCBC’s part, sustainability is integrated into our strategy and business. We take action for our own operations and are well-positioned across our businesses to seize the growth opportunities that emerge from sustainability. The bulk of our efforts come from collaborating with others as it magnifies the impact of our individual actions. Take for example our partnership with WWF. Bank of Singapore, Asia's Global Private Bank, our private banking subsidiary, supports WWF’s conservation efforts at the Bukit Tigapuluh (Thirty Hills) Ecosystem Restoration Concession – a project aimed at restoring and protecting over 38,000 hectares of rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Thank you to WWF for inviting me to speak on a topic close to my heart. In Singapore, we are all familiar with the 5Cs - cash, car, credit card, condominium, country club. Let us embrace these other 5Cs instead: With Commitment and Courage, we can Collaborate with each other, and be a Catalyst for Change to build a sustainable future.

Speaking to TradeWinds, Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, VP, Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV, discussed the important role that classification societies will play in accelerating the decarbonization of the maritime sector. She said: “The industry has already talked a lot. It’s about piloting now, testing and showcasing what the industry needs. And from the class societies, what they need is assurance that, from the safety standpoint, whatever solution you are adopting or testing can be viable.” The article also highlighted Singapore’s role as an innovator and driving force in the shipping sector’s sustainability journey. Read more here: https://dnv.social/55B #Maritime #Singapore #Decarbonization