Hong Kong, 7 October 2026 – ESC has been recognised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as an External Reviewer and Sustainability Advisor under its Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme (GSF Grant Scheme), strengthening ESC’s ability to support clients pursuing green and sustainable financing in Hong Kong.
The recognition, effective from 28 September 2026, strengthens ESC’s capabilities as a sustainability consultancy in Hong Kong, leveraging on the firm’s extensive regional environmental and sustainability expertise across Asia Pacific. ESC supports organisations across the region with climate risk, greenhouse gas accounting and decarbonisation strategies, ESG strategy and disclosure, environmental and social due diligence, and broader environmental and sustainability advisory services.
The GSF Grant Scheme supports eligible green, social, sustainability, sustainability-linked and transition bonds and loans issued in Hong Kong. Eligible issuers and borrowers can receive subsidies towards certain costs associated with sustainable financing, including qualifying external review and sustainability advisory services. This can include financing for eligible activities in areas such as renewable energy and energy transition, low-carbon infrastructure, green buildings, energy efficiency, water and resource management, and other transition and decarbonisation initiatives.
As a recognised Sustainability Advisor, ESC delivers guidance to organisations in developing green and sustainable bond or loan frameworks. Our specialised capabilities include identifying eligible projects, establishing sustainability performance targets and key performance indicators, and developing transition plans and decarbonisation pathways.
In its role as a recognised External Reviewer, ESC provides independent reviews on eligible sustainable finance transactions and assess their alignment with applicable internationally recognised sustainable finance principles, standards and taxonomies.
Ben Ridley, Managing Director, Hong Kong and GBA at ESC and former APAC Head of ESG Financing & Advisory at Credit Suisse AG, said:
“This recognition complements our existing corporate sustainability and finance sector advisory services and demonstrate our commitment to supporting Hong Kong’s position as a leading global sustainable financial markets and service hub. As more organisations look to dovetail their sustainability ambitions and financing needs, they need practicable advice from experienced practitioners. This is where ESC is able to draw upon its experiences across Asia Pacific markets, sectors and supply chains to provide practical and technically grounded advice.”
ESC’s multidisciplinary teams combine experience across Asia Pacific with local knowledge in Hong Kong, enabling the firm to address the environmental, social and sustainability considerations that increasingly influence investment and financing decisions.
The HKMA recognition reinforces ESC’s local presence in Hong Kong and creates another way for the firm to support clients in turning sustainability objectives into credible, finance-ready debt instruments.
To learn more about ESC’s sustainability and climate change services or discuss support for green and sustainable financing, contact our Hong Kong team.