HSBC Group Chairman Stephen Green, who is in Malta on a three-day visit, planted a tree today at the site known as Taħt Chambray in Gozo, marking the launch of an afforestation project jointly supported by HSBC and the Maltese government. The site, spreading over 80,000 sqm, is one of the four sites designated as part of Gozo's afforestation programme in the eco-Gozo project.
The Taħt Chambray afforestation project will cost €200,000 and it will be equally financed by the HSBC Foundation and the government.
"When I was invited here to demonstrate how actively involved HSBC is in the Eco-Gozo Project, I had little idea just how active I would have to be," said Mr Green. "Over the next few years, this tree will be joined by 4,000 more to create an orchard which will help prevent soil erosion, and help to preserve the natural landscape in this area for the benefit of this beautiful island and its people.
"It is a privilege to be part of this project, working alongside our partners, the Maltese government. This is a small but important step in helping to achieve a stable and healthy environment for the next generation of Gozo," he said.
Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono explained how the ministry is in the process of implementing a series of initiatives that will focus on making Gozo an eco-island. This process will take a holistic approach regarding various socio-economic sectors concerning the island, mainly the economy, society, cultural identity and the environment.
"We are honoured that HSBC Group has agreed to support one of the very first significant initiatives that will be taken up by the Ministry for Gozo in this regard," said the minister.
HSBC has been a supporter of the afforestation project in Malta from the start, and so far HSBC has planted over 25,000 trees as part of this national programme.
Mr Green said HSBC's commitment to supporting ecological projects is part of a wide responsibility the group feels it has towards the communities it serves. HSBC was the first major bank to go carbon neutral back in 2005 and today it is working with four leading global organisations (WWF, Earthwatch Institute, Climate Group, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute), through the HSBC Climate Partnership, a US$100 million community investment initiative in climate change research.
So far over a 1,000 HSBC employees, including 35 in Malta, have trained to become Climate Champions.
Quoting the Maltese lateral thinking originator Edward de Bono, Mr Green said: "Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." Nowhere is this more applicable than the subject of climate change, which will need every ounce of man's ingenuity, to find solutions to the problems we have created, he said.