HSBC in unique move to support Earth Hour today

HSBC will join millions of businesses and homes worldwide in switching off building lights during Earth Hour on Saturday, 26 March 2011 from 8.30 p.m – 9.30 p.m. In addition, the bank switched off all non essential lights and power off lifts on Friday, 25 March from 3 p.m to 4 p.m to support Earth Hour.

The bank further promotes this cause by encouraging all employees and customers to action Earth Hour at their homes by switching off non essential lights and household appliances on Saturday, 26 March from 8.30 p.m to 9.30 p.m.

Earth Hour is an annual international event started by WWF in 2007, held on the last Saturday of March which engages businesses and households to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour. The symbolic “lights out” initiative echoes the objective of the HSBC Climate Partnership to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.  

“HSBC will again support Earth Hour by switching off lights in most offices around the world. This symbolic act is a way of increasing awareness among our employees, customers and the wider public of the continued importance of consuming our resources responsibly.  Climate change remains a clear challenge to society and it is vital that we all play our part in responding to that challenge,” states, Simon Martin, Head of Group Corporate Sustainability.

This Group wide initiative will be rolled out at HSBC offices in more than 50 countries and in Sri Lanka; where all HSBC buildings inclusive of 15 branches, head office and the operations building in Slave Island will partake.    Nilantha Bastian, Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability at HSBC, further commented, “Earth Hour is a symbolic act to raise awareness about over-consumption of the world’s resources.

As HSBC employees, getting involved in Earth Hour and thinking about their longer term actions, will help staff understand the many effects of climate change and be conscious of their actions. If we take home the low-carbon message and get our families involved with the rest of the world, the impact of the Earth Hour will be much greater than 60 minutes.”  HSBC has a longstanding commitment to the environment.  In addition to the HSBC Climate Partnership, which aims to encourage individuals, businesses and governments worldwide to act on climate change, HSBC is committed to making sure all its buildings use as few of the earth’s resources as possible. This is currently being practiced locally at the HSBC’s Premier Centre and Maldives branch that were recently certified green offices having received the ISO 14001:2004 environment certificate.