The sustainability challenge is bringing some unique business and R&D opportunities. As a strong game-changer, high global expectations from government and people have sparked an unprecedented “Race to Sustainability” that has become instrumental to business development, corporate strategy and overall scientific research.
To tackle this multi-faceted issue, HKUST and the Consulate General of France, in partnership with six leading French higher education institutions (EDHEC Business School, IESEG Business School, ISC Business School, Toulouse Business School, Polytechnique and UniLaSalle), organised three panels to discuss ESG and sustainable finance on Mar 17, 2021.
This event was part of a long-standing cooperation relationship, which has blossomed further with the creation in 2018 of the “France-HKUST Innovation Hub” and the recent joint celebration for the 5th Anniversary of Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Video | Welcome Speech by President of HKUST, Prof. Wei Shyy and Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mr. Alexandre Giorgini
Video | Green & Sustainable Finance: The New Normal?
Since 2007, when the first green bonds were issued to support the development of climate change solutions, the market has substantially grown. The panel discussion looked at the latest trends, such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) upcoming disclosure standards and soaring of “transition finance”, with a focus on related new jobs and skills.
Moderator:
- Prof. Véronique Lafon-Vinais, Associate Professor of Business Education, HKUST
Speakers:
- Mrs. Anne-Catherine Husson-Traore, CEO of Novethic, member of the High Level Group of Experts on Sustainable Finance at the European Commission
- Mrs. Victoria Land, Head of Sustainable Banking for APAC, Credit Agricole CIB
- Prof. Gianfranco Gianfrate, Associate Professor of finance at EDHEC Business School (sustainable finance specialist)
- Prof. J Robert Gibson, Adjunct Professor, Division of Environment and Sustainability, HKUST, Fellow of Civic Exchange
Video | Does Sustainability Create More Value? The Case of Textile & Fashion Industry
The discussion focused on how companies could successfully manage sustainability issues to make their businesses stronger, more relevant and more profitable, with an emphasis on textile & fashion industries in presence of business representatives from international brands and academics.
Moderator:
- Prof. Véronique Lafon-Vinais, Associate Professor of Business Education, HKUST
Speakers:
- Ms. Géraldine Vallejo, Sustainability Programmes Director, Kering group
- Ms. Pearl Leung, Sales Director, Esquel Textile Apparel
- Prof. Edwin Keh, CEO of the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, Adjunct Professor, HKUST
- Prof. François Maon, Head of the Management & Society Department, Professor of Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility, IESEG School of Management Lille
- Prof. Mike O’Rinel, Professor of CSR and Ethics & Sustainability in luxury, EM Normandie
Video | The Challenge of Decarbonisation: A Matter of Skills and Innovation
Sustainable development has become a key driver in the field of R&D thanks to the global growing demand. The panel focused on the main challenges in the transition to low-carbon economy, emerging “decarbonisation” job opportunities and key skills useful for engineers operating in this field.
Moderator:
- Prof. King Lun Yeung, Associate Director of Environmental Engineering Programme, Director of France-HKUST Innovation Hub
Speakers:
- Mr. Lenny Conil, in charge of innovation and digital projects at Veolia (Hong Kong & International)
- Prof. Davis Bookhart, Head of Sustainability Unit, HKUST
- Prof. Gilles Lafforgue, Professor of Economics at Toulouse Business School and associated researcher at Toulouse School of Economics (member of the Climate & Energy Center)
- Mr. Anthony Voisine, Head of International Promotion of UniLaSalle, with Ms. Janice Wong, HKUST Alumna, Scholarship Awardee of the French Government
- Prof. Daniel Suchet, Professor at the Physics department of École Polytechnique
