HLB's Chief Technology Officer William Streitberg receiving the Titanium+ Tier Certification from Green Climate Initiative's (GCI) Avis Tan, Head of Sustainability Committee (Asia & Middle East), flanked by Huawei Enterprise Business Group, Financial Services Industry Director G.T Tan

According to Domenic Fuda, Group Managing Director and CEO of HLB, climate change will remain the most profound generational challenge which the world faces today as well as a key emerging risk for financial institutions over the next few years, given the increased regulation, demands for transparency and the need for whole ecosystems to embrace the need for action now so that future impacts of climate change can be appropriately and effectively managed.

"We take both a short-term, as well as, a long-term view when it comes to addressing climate change by being steadfast in incorporating sustainability actions and policies into our daily operations and strategic initiatives. These initiatives and actions throughout our business are designed to create a positive impact across our customers, community and the environment, whether it's in business enablers like a data center or through our products and services that customers use. This certification from GCI is a testament to our commitment to putting sustainability at the core of our operations. We are proud to have the first Titanium+ tiered data facility in Malaysia," said Fuda.

Operationally, HLB has set the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% to 25% by 2026, achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 by 2030 and being carbon neutral by 2050. Some key initiatives that are aligned with these ESG commitments include:

• Business and Corporate Banking Credit Policy and ESG Assessment Framework which takes an inclusionary approach to transition customers in high-risk sectors to adopt lower-carbon economic activities.
• Developer End Financing Framework encourages property developers to adopt greener practices as those with green certifications for their development projects will be classified with low ESG risk profiles.
• Regional Wealth Management ESG Framework guides the creation of responsible wealth management products with integrated ESG considerations.
• Procurement Policy assesses the level of ESG adoption for its vendors across the entire value chain through the Bank's Vendor Sustainability Self-Assessment.
• Environmental Policy on Energy, Water and Waste Management monitors electricity and water consumption as well as manages waste and recycling measures. Accordingly, HLB has introduced bank-wide Energy Efficiency & Conservation (EE&C) initiatives to upgrade and retrofit its operational facilities.
• Ceased financing of any greenfield coal-fired power plants beginning 1st July 2021 and new financing of all coal-fired power plants effective 1st July 2026.
• Forest rehabilitation and conservation practices via its 15-hectare mangrove rehabilitation project in Kuala Selangor Nature Park, having so far planted over 40,000 trees, to offset carbon emissions, prevent soil erosion and assist the fishing ecosystem to help fishermen's livelihoods and the HLB Earth Hero initiative which nurtures an environmentally responsible younger generation, whilst replanting trees in a forest in Sabah.

Vice President of Digital Power Business Group of Huawei Malaysia, Chong Chern Peng said, "We are grateful that our customer Hong Leong Bank has received this certification and recognition for Huawei's Data Center Facility. In the pursuit of Next-Generation Data Centers, technological innovation will be a key force in ensuring sustainable development. Looking towards the future, Huawei will keep making breakthroughs in products and technologies through continuous investments in R&D and through extensive cooperation with customers, ecosystem partners, and industry organisations. Together, we can jointly usher in a new era of data center development".

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References

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