Hong Kong varsity, Friends of the Earth launch programme to help bridge green skills gap

Name: SCMP
Telephone: +852-2680-8888

Curriculum includes ESG trends and development, ESG integration, reporting, the carbon market, investment strategy in ESG, and data-driven ESG analysis

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Exterior view of the Lingnan University in Tuen Mun. Photo David Wong

Martin Choi

Published: 12:00pm, 10 Jun 2024

A Hong Kong university and a climate group have joined hands to train environmental, social and governance (ESG) practitioners so that they can integrate big data analysis in financial decision-making as corporations scramble to meet growing climate disclosure requirements.

The executive certificate in sustainable finance and ESG analytics, launched by the science unit of Hong Kong-based Lingnan University and Friends of the Earth, aims to provide a combination of sustainability content and artificial intelligence (AI) data analytics skills to bridge the green skills gap across industries, said Serena Mak, board governor and honorary secretary at Friends of the Earth (HK) in an interview.

“The amount and complexity of ESG data that needs to be collected and analysed is substantially increasing,” said Mak. “This programme equips participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate ESG factors into their decision-making processes.

“The recent enhancements to climate-related disclosures by the Hong Kong stock exchange, as well as the global push for more comprehensive non-financial data assurance services, have created a significant green skills gap that this programme aims to address.”

The partnership agreement signing ceremony. From left: Ms Sharon Fong, Senior Manager of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Prof Paulina Wong, Head of the Science Unit at Lingnan University, Prof Lau Chi-pang, Mr Plato Yip, Chairperson of FoE (HK), Dr Jeffrey Hung, Chief Executive Officer of FoE (HK), Dr Ir. Rosiah Ho, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Lingnan University. Photo: Lingnan University

In April, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) published conclusions to its consultation on enhancing climate-related disclosures under its ESG framework. The new requirements were introduced in alignment with climate standards from the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), which was set up during the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 to consolidate various reporting standards. The ISSB released its finalised standards in June last year.

“This will help investors and institutions incorporate smart ESG principles into their decision-making, and promote sustainable development, inclusive growth, and carbon neutrality with the aid of data and technology,” said Paulina Wong, head of the science unit at Lingnan University.