To prepare business for the future carbon risk and the opportunities of climate change, the Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF) in partnership with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) has produced this practical guide that outlines the steps businesses need to take to reduce emissions. The guide also highlights the available technologies and opportunities and includes relevant CCBF case studies. I encourage all members of the business community to implement emissions management strategies and work together to reduce Hong Kong emissions.

Hon. Mr CY Leung, JP

Chairman of DTZ North Asia

Patron Chair, Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF)

Companies in Hong Kong need to understand that economic growth and protecting our environment go hand in-hand. Opportunities abound for large, small and medium-sized enterprises to respond to emission reduction, changing consumer demands for environmentally-friendly products and government demands for improved business practices. Businesses can gain a competitive advantage by responding early to low carbon business opportunities. Late adopters, by contrast, run the risk of falling behind. Progressive companies can also help influence and shape policy development and thereby have a measure of control over their future business environment.

Mr .Tony Tyler

CEO, Cathay Pacific

Executive Chair, Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF)

Through Project CLEAN AIR we successfully engaged the Government, business and the community into a collective clean air effort. The HKGCC's partnership with the Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF) with this Guide takes this one step further by detailing how to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs), highlighting the business opportunities and specific solutions. I believe that businesses will find this Guide very useful when devising their own emission management programmes.

Mr. Alex Fong

CEO, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC)

Companies need to recognize the importance of reducing their carbon footprint before there is government regulation. They need define new strategies and adapt their business models. This Guide helps business develop robust strategies, consider best practice and see what savings can be made. It also highlights what the government is doing and so all-in-all it is very useful and compliment CCBF's ongoing 'Whats Your Story?' campaign that creatively enables companies to communicate their different emission reduction stories.

Mr. Andrew Thomson

CEO, Business Environment Council (BEC)

Addressing the problems associated with CO2 emissions requires a collective effort from all sectors around the world. But business cannot act alone. We look to governments and other stakeholders to create a policy environment - both locally and internationally - that encourages and supports the development and deployment of low-carbon technology to address the challenges of climate change. This guide adds value to this effort.

Mr. Andrew Brandler

Chief Executive Officer, CLP Holdings Ltd.

Most Hong Kong companies realise that they must address the growing challenge of climate change. Investors, customers and employees are becoming increasingly concerned about corporate social responsibility, particularly environmental care. Every business in every industry must proactively work to reduce harmful emissions, and business leaders should encourage sustainable economic development through innovative and voluntary measures. However, many companies simply do not know where or how to start. This guide provides a comprehensive starting point and excellent information source on the challenges we are all facing, and provides real-life case studies on how leading Hong Kong businesses are meeting these challenges.

Mr. Andy Tung

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of OOCL Group

We are continuing to see sustainability gain further momentum in both the corporate and public sectors. Growing public and consumer awareness has fueled greater political commitment to position climate change as a leading issue of our time. Making sense out of the sustainability agenda can be complex, and I believe that the publication of this Guide will provide much valued insight for senior executives and others working to embed sustainability throughout their businesses.

Mark Whitehead

Executive Director of Hongkong Land Ltd.

A carbon-constrained future will be our reality. Every company needs to realize that small steps help and not be intimidated by the complexity of climate change. The important thing is to start and to do that with simple things like energy and fuel bills. This guide is useful to inform our subcontractors and suppliers because it is written in a user friendly style that inspires a "small-step" approach, which is where every company needs to start.

Mr Colin Frazer Smith

Director, HSEQ, Gammon Construction Ltd.

Renewable energy technologies will play an important role in the energy transition to a low carbon economy. It is good to see that this guide also includes renewable solutions for Hong Kong. Hong Kong is ideally positioned to leverage its financial expertise to become a world leader in the development of renewables.

Mr. Charles Alexander

Regional Head of Origination and Client Coverage,

Standard Chartered Bank Ltd

Long-term success is derived from sustainable business practices. Business has a key role to play, not only in ensuring the efficient use of resources, but more importantly in realising a low-carbon economy through their business decisions and operational practices. As climate change is a critical concern that will influence policy and economic activity, whether you invest in long-term solutions, or take low-cost immediate actions, there are real and tangible business benefits from reducing emissions that do good for the community and support sustainable development. The business sector in Hong Kong will find this guidebook useful as it highlights what companies are doing to promote sustainability.

Ms Teresa Au

Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region,

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd.

Many large corporations in Hong Kong have embraced the global trend objective of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to combat the risks of climate change. However, the local business sector is made up by a majority of small and medium enterprises which largely do not have the necessary in-house resources and expertise. This Guide will no doubt become one of the most invaluable reference materials for them to integrate climate change into their corporate strategies and business decision for sustainable operation as we shift to low-carbon economy.

Mr. C.T. Wan

Director of Engineering (Planning & Development)

The Hongkong Electric Co Ltd.

Businesses need to consider the risk and costs of damage to assets as a result of extreme weather events. Businesses also need to factor in the possibility of stranded assets - particularly of fossil-fuel power stations and other high-emission industrial infrastructure - as a result of tighter national and international emission caps and more expensive loans (because of the higher risk associated with high emission assets). This guide will help companies understand the business case for emission reduction.

Dr. Glenn Frommer

Head of Sustainable Development at MTR Corporation

BPC Chair, Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF)