HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s largest bank, has abandoned its plans to establish a carbon credits trading desk, per a Bloomberg report. The decision reflects mounting concerns about the voluntary carbon market (VCM), which has been plagued by greenwashing allegations and declining corporate confidence.
Originally intended to trade credits and finance project developers, HSBC’s carbon credit desk initiative was short-lived, with the team now reassigned to other roles.
From Pledges to Pivots: HSBC Rethinks Carbon Market Role
HSBC unveiled its HSBC Infrastructure Finance (HIF) last July, a new business unit dedicated to infrastructure financing and project advisory for low-carbon initiatives. The unit seeks to capture significant deals in major markets with expertise from the bank’s Global Banking Real Asset Finance.
This move aligns with HSBC’s broader climate strategy, including its 2050 net-zero target and Net Zero Transition Plan. During the launch, HIF underscores HSBC’s commitment to supporting the low-carbon economy through sustainable financing and risk management initiatives. But only four months later, the unit had to stop operating.
HSBC Net Zero Pathway
HSBC’s operational and supply chain emissions are modest compared to its financed emissions. Still, cutting these emissions is vital to its net zero goals.
The bank aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 through 100% renewable electricity and minimized environmental impacts. Key measures include reducing emissions from energy use, travel, and supply chains.
HSBC also pledged $1 billion last year to accelerate global climate technology advancements, particularly in the following areas:
- Carbon dioxide removal,
- EV charging,
- Battery storage,
- Sustainable agriculture, and
- Carbon capture solutions.
This is part of HSBC’s broader commitment to achieving 2050 net-zero emissions across its financed portfolio.
The funding builds on HSBC’s existing climate initiatives, including HSBC Innovation Banking and Climate Tech Venture Capital. Both are designed to advance cleantech sectors like energy and transportation.
Additionally, HSBC invested $100 million in Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Fund, further supporting green projects and scaling climate-focused innovations.
Earlier this year, the bank teamed up with Google Cloud to support companies driving climate innovation via the Google Cloud Ready-Sustainability (GCR-Sustainability) program. This initiative aids businesses in reducing carbon emissions, improving supply chain sustainability, and managing ESG data to address climate risks.
Through this collaboration, HSBC will provide financial backing to selected companies, aligning with its $1 billion commitment to climate tech ventures in areas such as EVs, battery storage, and sustainable food systems by 2030.
However, its recent decision to drop its carbon credit trading desk speaks of a sudden shift in the financier’s strategy. It sent shockwaves in the VCM, showing how corporates are taking market issues into account.
Why Pull Back From the VCM?
The voluntary carbon market, which peaked a few years ago, experienced a sharp contraction in 2023, shrinking by nearly 25% to an estimated $1 billion.
Concerns about the market’s integrity have driven major companies to scale back their reliance on offsets. These include Google, Delta Air Lines, and EasyJet. They are now prioritizing direct emission reductions over purchasing credits, reflecting a broader trend across industries.
One major issue undermining the VCM’s credibility is the over-issuance of carbon credits. Some of these credits, intended to represent the avoidance or removal of one metric ton of CO₂, fail to deliver the promised climate benefits as reported by studies. This has led to a loss of trust among buyers and a corresponding decline in market activity.
HSBC’s decision follows a similar move by Shell Plc, which recently announced plans to divest a majority stake in its nature-based carbon projects. Despite being the largest publicly disclosed buyer of carbon credits last year, Shell is reevaluating its approach amid market uncertainties.
Banks like Bank of America have also exercised caution toward the VCM due to its lack of liquidity. Abyd Karmali, Bank of America’s environmental business advisory lead, described the past two years as challenging for the market, which has seen declining participation and interest.
Shifting Priorities: HSBC Targets Cleantech
HSBC’s decision aligns with the vision of its new CEO, George Elhedery, who assumed the role in September. The new leadership has since focused on streamlining the organization.
While HSBC steps back from direct involvement in carbon credit trading, it remains committed to addressing emissions. The bank’s latest transition plan emphasizes purchasing credits to address residual emissions and supporting Climate Asset Management, its joint venture with Pollination, to develop new carbon credit pipelines.
The regulatory landscape is also evolving, with COP29 negotiators advancing Article 6.4. It is a framework that allows countries and corporations to trade carbon reductions. This development, along with new quality standards from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market, aims to restore confidence and liquidity in the market.
HSBC’s retreat from carbon credit trading underscores the challenges facing the VCM as it struggles with integrity issues and waning demand. Europe’s largest bank pivot reflects a broader trend of recalibrating strategies to align with evolving market and regulatory conditions.