green scene
Championing a cause
HSBC is helping address the climate issue, by sending its employees to assist various environmental organisations. Sindhu Nair talks to their ‘Climate Champions’.
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rouped together in one of the meeting rooms at the brand new HSBC Qatar office headquarters, the three climate champions (of a total of five) – Cristiano Mayrink, Shalini Sharma and Ajay Joseph – clad in black t-shirts branded with the names of all the partners in the HSBC Climate Partnership, the trio are set to answer the queries about their programme.
The role
What do climate champions do? HSBC, Manager, CMB Sales – Payments and Cash Management Mayrink, replies, “As part of the HSBC Climate Partnership, Earthwatch has set up Regional Climate Centres around the world where scientists and HSBC staff are collecting vital data on the impact of climate change on the forests of the world. And as part of this partnership, Earthwatch is engaging HSBC employees on climate change issues.” HSBC, Manager, Communications,
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Cristiano Mayrink, Shalini Sharma and Ajay Joseph: The three Climate Champions
Greta Madgwick, who has joined us, puts the whole cause into perspective. She says, “Working with leading scientists, employees learn about the impact climate change is having on the environment. They are encouraged to bring their knowledge and experience back to the business and their communities, to inspire action for a more sustainable environment.” “The entire project was launched in 2007, in partnership with five environmental institutions, The Climate Group, Earthwatch, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and WWF and HSBC. The project aims to involve 350,000 HSBC staff in 86 countries. If every one of them gets involved and reaches out to their immediate families and friends and attempt to change mindsets the impact created would be enormous. “That is why a company like HSBC, which has nothing to do with the climate, can make a difference.” CSR Spiel? But the Champions are proof of the fact that what is claimed has been put into action. HSBC Qatar current-
ly has eight qualified climate champions of whom five have completed the trip. Janice Virginia Trindade, Corporate Sustainability, Sponsorship & Events Manager along with Dimitri Giokas, Chief Operating Officer are the other two climate champions.
The action
The five climate champions are back from a trip to Sirsi, Karnataka in India after assisting the Indian Institute of Sciences in collecting data about the existing forest in the area. Sirsi, explains Ajay Joseph, an IT Support Officer at HSBC, is a town surrounded by lush green forest and the primary crop grown in the villages is Arecanut making it one of the major trading centres for the nuts. “The nuts grown here are transported all over India and also exported abroad. The region is also popular for many other spices like cardamom, pepper, betel leaves and vanilla,” he explains. “Along with 15 volunteers, from other parts of the world, we helped in mapping the forests. The data collected
green scene were recorded and this will be revisited to note the impact of the changing environment on our natural resources,” says Shalini Sharma, Assistant Manager Corporate Banking, HSBC. The data collection, she says, is an ongoing process that will continue for 20 years, before any findings are revealed. “Results from this programme will enable forest managers, conservationists and communities to understand how forests are responding to climate change and how they can better manage them,” she says. This is just one of the initiatives of EarthWatch, says Mayrink. Others are ongoing in Brazil, USA and Mexico. “In Brazil, EarthWatch is working at Curitiba, in the GuaraqueÁaba Environmental Protection Area , a region
Lessons learnt
Joseph shares his experience at Sirsi, where he connected with the locals and found that, “they are heavily dependent on the surrounding natural resources.” “The small scale industries that exist in the area are the lifeline for the poor who live there. And most of the population of this district are below the poverty line.” “Sitting in our air-conditioned offices, we tend not to think of those directly affected by climate change. Out there, when we were with the locals, we started thinking,” says Sharma. For Mayrink, an educational video screened for the champions made an impact. “The future will be a lot worse than what we have been thinking. Some-
impending environmental hazards. What they have to do, though, is make a long-term commitment. “We intend to create awareness, through small steps, conserve electricity and water, work with family members and friends and try to spread the message of conservation. This will bringing about other such movements. Even at our work place we are constantly introducing new initiatives, small and big,” says Sharma. For Joseph, “Being in the region, any action on conservation, is a challenge. Gas is so cheap here and it is difficult to convince people even yourself. It takes an effort.” Mayrink, feels that corporations have to get moving, “and act”. But he sees change, though. “The Earth Hour was followed; many of the high-rise build-
cLIMAte cHAMPIoNS SAY: “Companies can play a major role in influencing its stakeholders (employees, business partners, clients and community) on the climate change cause, which as a consequence, may enhance its brand perception, longevity and profitability.”
Cristiano Mayrink Manager, CMB Sales – Payments and Cash Management, HSBC
“Every drop fills the ocean”, hence, if each one of us endeavours to take an extra step in reducing our carbon footprints we can preserve the environment for our future generations.” Shalini Sharma Assistant Manager Corporate Banking, HSBC that harbours some of the last remaining patches of the Atlantic Forest. This biodiversity ‘hotspot’ contains thousands of threatened species that have lost their habitat due to deforestation. More than 90% of the original vegetation has been destroyed,” he says.
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thing has to be done and done fast,” he asserts.
Carrying it forward
The small exercise of forest mapping was but the first step for the climate champions, a sort of awakening to the
“The trip helped me understand the need for each one of us to be responsible for the problems we face on Climate change.” Ajay Joseph IT Support Officer at HSBC
ings went dark at the appointed hour.” This, says Madgwick, is just the beginning for HSBC, in two years time she predicts that all their initiatives will show results to prove their proactive approach. HSBC is also the presenting partner of Qatar Today Green Awards ■