Enhanced Competency Framework on Green and Sustainable Finance (Professional Level)

Guide to
Enhanced Competency Framework on Green and Sustainable Finance Hong Kong Monetary Authority 21 November 2024 (This latest version replaces the previous version of July 2023. Updates are shown in blue.)

Table of Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3
2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 5
3 Scope of Application .......................................................................................................... 7
4 Competency Standards ..................................................................................................... 11
5 Qualification Standards and Certification ........................................................................ 13
6 Training Programmes and Examinations ......................................................................... 17
7 Grandfathering .................................................................................................................. 17
8 Modular Exemption .......................................................................................................... 20
9 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ................................................................. 25
10 Maintenance of Relevant Records .................................................................................... 27
11 Governance and Administration ....................................................................................... 27
12 Accreditation .................................................................................................................... 28
Annex 1 – ECF-GSF: Key Roles and Tasks for Relevant Practitioners................................... 30
Annex 2 – ECF-GSF: Competency Framework ....................................................................... 45
Annex 3 – ECF-GSF: Learning Outcomes and Topics ............................................................ 48
Annex 4 – ECF-GSF: Accreditation Mechanism ..................................................................... 58

1 Introduction
1.1 The Enhanced Competency Framework (ECF) is a collaborative effort of the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) with the banking sector and relevant professional bodies in establishing a set of common and transparent competency standards for different professional areas in the banking industry and where talent shortages are more apparent. The development of a set of competency standards will enable more effective training for new entrants and facilitate the professional development of existing banking practitioners, which will contribute to maintaining the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. To date, the HKMA has launched ten ECF modules, namely Private Wealth Management, Anti-money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), Cybersecurity, Treasury Management, Retail Wealth Management, Credit Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, Fintech, Compliance, and Green and Sustainable Finance (Core Level).
1.2 In recent years, sustainability issues have gained much attention in the
international community. International standard-setting bodies, such as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), have issued principles to help improve both banks’ management and supervisors’ practices on climate-related financial risks. Moreover, the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), which comprises central banks and financial supervisors, shares best practices on environmental and climate risk management in the financial sector. Meanwhile, the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF) was launched as a forum for dialogue between policymakers, with the aim of increasing the amount of private capital being channelled towards environmentally sustainable investments. In June 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its first set of sustainability disclosure standards as the global baseline for corporate disclosure of climate and sustainability-related information. Moreover, the BCBS issued the public consultation on a Pillar 3 disclosure framework for climate-related financial risks in November 2023. The consultation has closed and BCBS is considering the feedback received and aims to publish a final proposal by the end of 2024.

1.3 In line with these international developments, the HKMA and the Securities and
Futures Commission co-initiated the Green and Sustainable Finance CrossAgency Steering Group (CASG) 1 in May 2020 with the aim of coordinating the management of climate and environmental risks to the financial sector, accelerating the growth of green and sustainable finance (GSF) in Hong Kong, and supporting the Government’s climate strategies. The CASG continues to make progress on its key priorities, including sustainability disclosures, ecosystem enhancement, transition finance and green fintech.
1.4 Meanwhile, the HKMA also set out in December 2021 its supervisory
expectations for authorized institutions (AIs) to incorporate climate risk considerations into their strategies and frameworks in the Supervisory Policy Manual (SPM) module GS-1 on “Climate Risk Management” and issued a set of high-level principles in August 2023 to assist banks in maintaining safety and soundness in the net-zero transition. In addition, the HKMA issued a circular to share with the banking industry some sound practices that support the transition to carbon neutrality and completed a pilot climate risk stress test (CRST) exercise to assess the climate resilience of the banking sector. Building on the above work, the HKMA developed a two-year plan to weave climate risk considerations into its supervisory processes in June 2022 and has delivered the relevant initiatives accordingly. Based on its supervisory activities, the HKMA shared with the banking industry good practices on the due diligence processes for green and sustainable products in December 2022, and on climate-related risk governance in August 2024. The HKMA also enhanced the CRST framework and launched the second round of the CRST in June 2023 as part of the regular supervisordriven stress test.
1.5 Banks in Hong Kong have also made progress on their sustainability journey.
Some banks that are more advanced have developed comprehensive sustainability strategies and targets, a sound climate risk management framework, and can offer a wide range of GSF products to meet the growing market demand. Meanwhile, other banks that have simpler operations have also started to develop an approach for addressing climate-related risks and issues.

Members include the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Insurance Authority, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, and the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council.

1.6 In order to support the development of GSF in Hong Kong, there is a pressing
need to facilitate the build-up of GSF talents in Hong Kong by providing industry-recognised training and certification on GSF. Against such a background, the HKMA has developed, in collaboration with the banking industry and relevant professional bodies, a new module on Green and Sustainable Finance under the Enhanced Competency Framework (hereafter referred to as “ECF-GSF”), which provides a set of common and transparent competency standards required of GSF-related job roles in the banking sector and a qualification framework for recognising the practitioners who have completed the necessary training and assessment, and/or have acquired the relevant work experience.
1.7 Given that GSF is still a new and emerging area in the banking industry at this
stage, the HKMA launched the ECF-GSF in two phases:
(a) Phase One: Core Level, which lays a solid foundation on the knowledge and application of GSF; and (b) Phase Two: Professional Level, which focuses on specialised domain areas covering upcoming market developments and regulatory trends. 2 Objectives
2.1 The ECF-GSF is a non-statutory framework which sets out the common core
competencies and capabilities required of practitioners who are performing functions related to GSF in the banking industry in Hong Kong. The objectives of the ECF-GSF are twofold:
(a) to develop a sustainable pool of GSF talents for the banking industry; and (b) to raise the professional competence of practitioners who are performing functions related to GSF in the banking industry.
2.2 Although the ECF-GSF is not a mandatory licensing regime, AIs are strongly
encouraged to adopt it for purposes including but not limited to:

(a) serving as a benchmark for assessing and enhancing the core competence of relevant practitioners; (b) supporting relevant employees to attend the required trainings and assessments in order to obtain the certifications under the ECF-GSF; (c) supporting the continuing professional development of individual employees; and (d) promoting the ECF-GSF as an industry-recognised qualification, including for recruitment purposes.
2.3 The ECF-GSF is designed to cover practitioners who are working in functions
related to GSF within AIs, including corporate sustainability strategy, green and sustainable product development and investing/financing activities, sustainability and climate-related risk management, as well as sustainability disclosures and reporting.
2.4 The design of the ECF-GSF comprises the following two elements:
 Competency standards
These standards are derived from the job skills and competencies required of banking practitioners who are working in functions that are related to GSF.  Qualification standards These standards are the requirements for qualifying GSF practitioners, including certification requirements, grandfathering requirements and continuing professional development for the required qualifications.

3 Scope of Application
3.1 The Core Level of the ECF-GSF aims to develop professional competencies for
entry-level and junior-level banking practitioners who are working in functions related to GSF in the banking industry with an all-rounded competency framework. It covers essential principles and concepts of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), sustainability and sustainable finance, with a further deep dive into sustainability strategy, sustainable finance products and services, and sustainability risk and compliance for “Relevant Practitioners” (RPs). The Professional Level aims to develop professional competencies for middlelevel and senior-level banking practitioners who are working in functions related to GSF in the banking industry with an all-rounded competency framework. It covers in-depth and specialised knowledge of ESG, sustainability and sustainable finance, with an emphasis on (i) the key principles and guidelines related to sustainability; (ii) sustainable product development; (iii) sustainable investment/financing activities; (iv) sustainability and climate-related risk management; and (v) sustainability disclosures and reporting.
3.2 The definition of RPs recognises differences among AIs in how practitioners
performing functions related to GSF are assigned within their organisational structure and job design (e.g., as a centralised sustainability team or as part of a more comprehensive strategy, product, investment, risk and compliance function). Functional roles rather than the functional titles of staff members should be essential in considering whether the definition of RPs is met. Specifically, it is aimed at RPs located in the Hong Kong office of an AI who perform the job roles listed in Table 1 below. To facilitate the determination of whether a staff member falls under the scope of RPs, the key tasks of different job roles are specified in
Annex 1 as a reference.

Table 1 - Job roles of the ECF-GSF
Job Roles
Role Description
(Core Level)
Role Description
(Professional Level)
Role 1 – Green and Sustainable
Finance Product and Servicing

Support the research,
analysis, design, development, execution, distribution, and client engagement of green and sustainable investment/finance products and services.
Supervise the design and
structuring of green and sustainable finance products;
Develop and implement
ESG investment strategies to support portfolio management/investment decisions;
Manage the development
and distribution of green and sustainable finance products;
Foster the establishment and
implementation of a robust data strategy for GSF;
Share expertise, knowledge
and advice with internal and external stakeholders.
Role 2 –
Sustainability/
Climate Risk
Management
Support the analysis,
development and execution of sustainability/climate risk management framework, guidelines, policies and procedures.
Supervise the sustainability
risk governance activities;
Provide oversight on the
development and roll-out of sustainability risk management framework and policies.

Job Roles
Role Description
(Core Level)
Role Description
(Professional Level)
Role 3 –
Sustainability
Disclosures and
Reporting

Work with crossfunctional teams and
support GSF-related performance measurement, data disclosures and reporting.
Supervise the development
and delivery of the overall
GSF-related disclosure strategy and approach;
Collaborate with crossfunctional teams to align
disclosures across core internal and external reporting channels;
Continuously monitor and
analyse GSF trends and regulatory developments, integrating them into the bank's sustainability and GSF reporting framework to ensure alignment with the relevant developments. Role 4 – Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control
Support the development
and implementation of sustainability strategy and framework that align with the short-term and longterm sustainability targets.
Supervise the design,
implementation and monitoring of high-level sustainability strategic initiatives that are in line with the overall corporate strategy;
Keep abreast of the latest
regulatory developments related to greenwashing and coordinate with internal stakeholders to implement measures to mitigate greenwashing risks;
Serve as sustainability expert
internally and externally on thematic subjects (such as regulatory frameworks, supervisory manuals, climate change, impact analysis, etc).

3.3 AIs are responsible for ensuring that RPs who perform duties related to GSF in
offshore offices and subsidiaries are competent and have the capability as required under the ECF-GSF. However, we understand that RPs’ qualifications outside Hong Kong may be different from those required under the ECF-GSF. To allow flexibility to implement the ECF-GSF, AIs may exercise sound judgment in evaluating whether or not their staff possess equivalent qualifications.
3.4 The ECF-GSF does not capture staff who are not required to perform the key
roles specified above, including:
 Staff performing functions related to sustainability within an AI but are not involved in GSF (e.g. corporate affairs);  Staff working in functions related to GSF within an AI but are performing solely clerical and administrative duties (e.g. for the Professional Level, senior managers in the human resources department, training and development department, operations department, facility management department, etc. who are in charge of maintaining and providing GSF data and records to relevant GSF teams/department for disclosure and reporting purposes) or other incidental functions; and  Staff with minimal exposure to tasks involving GSF.  Senior management or risk committee members other than the manager or person-in-charge of GSF-related risk areas of an AI (if any). Such persons may choose to acquire the ECF certification(s) which is (are) of interest and relevance to them.
3.5 It is common for banks to have employees assuming multiple job roles that could
cut across several job roles under the ECF-GSF. In such a case, AIs will have the flexibility to determine which job role a staff member falls within for the purpose of ECF-GSF by assessing which role accounts for the majority of the staff member’s job responsibility. AIs should also take into consideration the staff member’s preferred track to ECF certification based on their preferred career development path.

3.6 For the avoidance of doubt, a staff member is not required to work full time in
GSF-related functions or perform all the key tasks specified in Table 1 above to be classified as an RP. As long as a staff member is required to have GSF-related knowledge and skills in order to perform the job responsibility effectively, such staff member should be considered in scope for the ECF-GSF. 4 Competency Standards
4.1 Competency standards are set at two levels:
(a) Core Level
This level is applicable to entry-level and junior-level banking practitioners who are working in functions related to GSF in the banking industry. (b) Professional Level This level is applicable to middle-level and senior-level banking practitioners who are working in functions related to GSF in the banking industry.
4.2 Skills critical for the future of the banking workforce revolve not only around
knowledge on GSF, but also the ability to apply such knowledge to specific business areas within the banking industry and to adapt to the evolving GSF landscape, changing customer preferences, market and regulatory developments.
4.3 In particular, the ECF-GSF is not intended to cover the broader category of
“Sustainability” and “ESG”, but rather will focus on capturing the job tasks performed by RPs that are specifically related to the following GSF domains:
 Climate risk: As part of sustainability risk, climate risk refers to risks posed by the exposure of financial institutions and/or the financial sector to physical or transition risks caused by or related to climate change;

 Environmental risk: It refers to risks posed by the exposure of financial institutions and/or the financial sector to (a) activities that may potentially cause or be affected by environmental degradation and the loss of ecosystem services; and (b) misalignment with actions aimed at protecting or restoring nature;

 Sustainability disclosures and reporting: It refers to the reporting of an organisation’s sustainability-related and climate-related risks and opportunities, including information about its governance, strategy, risk management and related metrics and targets. Examples may include, but not limited to, disclosures in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations and the ISSB Standards, green bond reports, sustainable finance impact reports, or relevant sections in the sustainability report, annual report or other reports;  Sustainable finance (including green finance): Financial activities that take into account broad environmental, social, and governance factors; and  Sustainability risk: It refers to risks posed by environmental, social and/or governance events or conditions which, if they occur, could lead to a material negative impact on an organisation’s financial and investment activities.
4.4 Eight clusters of skills are captured under the ECF-GSF competency framework:
 Data and Quantification;
 Disclosures and Reporting;
 Environmental and Climate Science;
 Social and Governance Aspects;
 Products and Markets;
 Regulatory Compliance;
 Risk Management; and
 Strategy

4.5 The competency framework for the Core Level and Professional Level of the
ECF-GSF with details on the key tasks, qualifications required and continuing professional development requirement for each job role of an RP is included in
Annex 2.
5 Qualification Standards and Certification
5.1 Qualifications are set in accordance with the following competency standards for
the Core Level:
(a) Core Level
 GSF Product and Servicing Track - Applicable to Role 1 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 1 - Introduction to Sustainability and Module 2 - Fundamentals of Green and Sustainable Finance of the ECF-GSF training programme.  Sustainability/Climate Risk Management Track - Applicable to Role 2 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 1 - Introduction to Sustainability and Module 3 - Sustainability Risks in Banking of the ECFGSF training programme.  Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting Track - Applicable to Role 3 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 1 - Introduction to Sustainability and Module 4 - ESG/Sustainability Strategy, Disclosures and Reporting of the ECF-GSF training programme.  Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control Track - Applicable to Role 4 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 1 - Introduction to Sustainability and Module 4 - ESG/Sustainability Strategy, Disclosures and Reporting of the ECF-GSF training programme. (b) Professional Level  GSF Product and Servicing Track - Applicable to Role 1 Given the different nature of work performed by RPs under Role 1, this qualification will be divided into two streams as below:

Stream (a) - Green and Sustainable Finance Product This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 5 – ESG Essential and Module 6 – Green and Sustainable Finance Product of the ECF-GSF training programme, and having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1. Stream (b) - Green and Sustainable Finance Investment This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 5 – ESG Essential and Module 7 – Green and Sustainable Finance Investment of the ECF-GSF training programme, and having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1.  Sustainability/Climate Risk Management Track - Applicable to Role 2 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 5 – ESG Essential and Module 8 – Sustainability Risk Management of the ECF-GSF training programme, and having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1.  Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting Track - Applicable to Role 3 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 5 – ESG Essential and Module 9 – ESG/Sustainability Reporting and Disclosures of the ECF-GSF training programme, and having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in
Annex 1.
 Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control Track - Applicable to Role 4 This level of qualification can be met by completing Module 5 – ESG Essential and Module 10 – Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control of the ECF-GSF training programme, and having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in
Annex 1.

5.2 Upon attaining the qualifications, RPs may apply to the administrator of the ECFGSF, the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB), for the following certifications:
(a) Core Level
 Associate Green Finance Professional (Product and Servicing) Successful completion of the Core Level training programme or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Associate Green Finance Professional (Climate Risk Management) Successful completion of the Core Level training programme or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting) Successful completion of the Core Level training programme or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control) Successful completion of the Core Level training programme or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7. (b) Professional Level  Certified Green Finance Professional (Green and Sustainable Finance Product) Successful completion of the Professional Level training programme plus 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1; or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Certified Green Finance Professional (Green and Sustainable Finance Investment) Successful completion of the Professional Level training programme plus 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1; or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.

 Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Risk Management) Successful completion of the Professional Level training programme plus 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1; or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting) Successful completion of the Professional Level training programme plus 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1; or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.  Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control) Successful completion of the Professional Level training programme plus 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1; or grandfathered pursuant to Section 7.
5.3 Details of the qualification requirements and the learning topics are set out in
Annex 2 and Annex 3 respectively.
5.4 The ECF-GSF certification is subject to annual renewal by the HKIB and the
renewal of the certificate holder’s membership of the HKIB. An RP is required to:
(a) complete the annual continuing professional development requirement; and (b) pay an annual certification fee to renew his/her ECF-GSF certificate.

5.5 The ECF-GSF is referenced to the Qualifications Framework (QF), with the Core
Level and Professional Level training programmes mapped at QF Level 4 (i.e., equivalent to associate degree or higher diploma level) and QF Level 5 (i.e., equivalent to bachelor’s degree level) respectively. 6 Training Programmes and Examinations
6.1 RPs can meet the ECF-GSF benchmark by:
(a) undertaking training programmes offered by the HKIB or other accredited training programmes; and (b) passing certification examinations hosted by the HKIB or other relevant institutions. 7 Grandfathering
7.1 An RP may be grandfathered on a one-off basis based on his or her years of
qualifying work experience. Such work experience need not be continuous. The detailed grandfathering requirements are as follows:
(a) Core Level
 At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Core Level job roles in any of the functions as specified in Annex 1; and  Employed by an AI at the time of application. (b) Professional Level  At least 5 years of total relevant work experience in any of the functions as specified in Annex 1, of which 2 years must be from Professional Level job roles; and  Employed by an AI at the time of application.

7.2 In general, the HKIB will consider whether the nature of work experience is
substantially similar to that described in the GSF roles 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Annex 1. Relevant work experience may be obtained from AIs and/or non-bank financial institutions. As for work experiences related to GSF that are gained from other industries, such as consultancy services for the environmental industry, they will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
7.3 The majority of work experience gained from different job roles will affect the
certification title upon grandfathering. For example, RPs with a majority of work experience gained from Core Level Role 3 – Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting will be granted the Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting) certification, while RPs with a majority of work experience gained from Core Level Role 4 – Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control will be granted the Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control) certification.
7.4 The work experience gained from performing multiple job roles can be used for
fulfilling the work experience requirements for two or more job roles (e.g. an RP with 5 years in Role 2 of which 2 years are in Professional Level job roles and 5 years in Role 4 of which 2 years are in Professional Level job roles will be granted both the Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Risk Management) and Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control)). However, RPs will have to demonstrate that the accumulated work experience is sufficient to meet the certification requirement of each track under the ECF-GSF.

Existing RPs meeting the above criteria can submit their grandfathering applications to the HKIB from 1 December 2023 to 31 May 2024 (for Core Level) and from 1 March 2025 to 31 August 2025 (for Professional Level). A one-off grandfathering fee will apply for each level.

7.5 The HKIB will offer a streamlined process for grandfathering applications
submitted by RPs who have already been granted the relevant certification for the Core Level of the ECF-GSF via grandfathering. Moreover, the administration fee will be discounted for such grandfathering applications. Detailed information on the application procedures and administration fee will be made available on the HKIB’s website (https://www.hkib.org/) in due course.
7.6 For other individuals who have the relevant work experience but are not working
in an AI or those staff of an AI who are not performing functions related to GSF during the grandfathering period, they may submit their applications to the HKIB for grandfathering within three months from the date of joining the functions related to GSF at an AI and becoming RPs. However, they should have met all the applicable grandfathering criteria on or before the prescribed deadline of the application period.
7.7 Applications for grandfathering are handled and assessed by the HKIB. The
HKIB may request the applicant to provide employment records or additional information to substantiate the application for grandfathering. Late application will not be accepted.
7.8 Upon grandfathering, the RP is required to apply for the relevant certification of
the ECF-GSF and to renew the relevant certification annually with the HKIB.

8 Modular Exemption
8.1 An RP may be exempted from specific modules based on completion of eligible
training programmes. Please note that the lists of eligible training programmes below are not meant to be exhaustive. Other training programmes that cover syllabus with significant overlap with that of the ECF-GSF can also be considered for modular exemption on a case-by-case basis 2 . The detailed modular exemption requirements are as follows:
(a) Module 1 - Introduction to Sustainability (Core Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption from Module 1 of the ECF-GSF Core Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Certificate in Green and Sustainable
Finance
Chartered Banker
EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst The European Federation of Financial Analysis Societies (EFFAS) Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) Certificate in ESG Investing CFA Institute Specialist Certificate in Green Finance and Sustainability The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) Certified ESG Planner (CEP®) (ESG Series: Sustainable Banking and Finance) School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUSCS)

The HKMA will update the modular exemption list from time to time to take into account latest market developments and the updated list will be made available on the HKMA’s website. For instance, we are aware that the Global Association of Risk Professionals will be updating the training syllabus of the Sustainability and Climate Risk certificate in late 2024. As such, we will conduct a review of its updated syllabus once it becomes available.

Training Programme Training Provider
Certified ESG Planner (CEP®)
(Executive Certificate in ESG Investment) Lingnan Institute of Further Education Certified ESG Planner (CEP®) (Executive Certificate in ESG Planning) Hong Kong Management Association ESG Investing (Online): Building and Managing a Sustainable Global Portfolio Columbia Business School, Columbia University Sustainable Finance Online Course Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Executive Certificate in ESG Analysis & Green Finance Valuation Friends of the Earth (HK) HKGFA-HKUST Certificate in Sustainable Finance (Applicable to the May-June 2024 cohort and subsequent cohorts) Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) & The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST Business School) Professional Certificate in Sustainable Investment Management and ESG Integration The Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK) Advanced Certificate of Sustainability The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (APIB), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Certificate in Sustainability for Finance Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance and ESG Analytics Lingnan University & Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Limited Introduction to Sustainable Finance in Hong Kong The Hong Kong Association of Financial Advisors Limited

(b) Module 2 - Fundamentals of Green and Sustainable Finance (Core Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption from Module 2 of the ECF-GSF Core Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Certificate in Green and Sustainable
Finance
Chartered Banker
Certificate in ESG Investing CFA Institute Specialist Certificate in Green Finance and Sustainability HKIB Certified ESG Planner (CEP®) (ESG Series: Sustainable Banking and Finance) CUSCS HKGFA-HKUST Certificate in Sustainable Finance The Hong Kong Green Finance Association & The School of Business and Management of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Executive Certificate in Sustainable Finance and ESG Analytics Lingnan University & Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Limited EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst (Applicable to syllabus version November 2023 and subsequent versions) The European Federation of Financial Analysis Societies (EFFAS) (c) Module 3 - Sustainability Risks in Banking (Core Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption from Module 3 of the ECF-GSF Core Level training programme:

Training Programme Training Provider
Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR)
Certificate
GARP
Environmental & Social Risk Analysis
(ESRA)
UN Environment
Programme Finance
Initiative
(d) Module 4 - ESG/Sustainability Strategy, Disclosures and Reporting (Core Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption from Module 4 of the ECF-GSF Core Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
ESG Reporting Certification Course The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute (HKCGI) Advanced Certificate in Practical Development and Implementation of ESG Framework for Business Success The Hong Kong Management Association The ESG Certified Professional Examination (ESGCP) The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies (CHKLC) (e) Module 6 – Green and Sustainable Finance Product (Professional Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 6 of the ECF-GSF Professional Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Sustainable Bond Certificate International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing Certificate CFA Institute

(f) Module 7 – Green and Sustainable Finance Investment (Professional Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 7 of the ECF-GSF Professional Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing
Certificate
CFA Institute
EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst
(Applicable to syllabus version November 2023 and subsequent versions) The European Federation of Financial Analysis Societies (EFFAS) (g) Module 8 – Sustainability Risk Management (Professional Level) An RP who has passed the following training programme is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 8 of the ECF-GSF Professional Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Certificate in Climate Risk
Chartered Banker Institute
(CBI)
(h) Module 9 – ESG/Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting (Professional Level) An RP who has passed any of the following training programme(s) is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 9 of the ECF-GSF Professional Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation GRI Professional Certification Program Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

(i) Module 10 – Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control (Professional Level) An RP who has passed the following training programme is eligible to apply for exemption on Module 10 of the ECF-GSF Professional Level training programme:
Training Programme Training Provider
Business and Climate Change: Towards
Net Zero Emissions
University of Cambridge
(Institute of Sustainable
Leadership)
8.2 If an RP has completed an in-house training programme organised by an AI with
substantially overlapping syllabus coverage with that of the ECF-GSF and would like to be exempted from the relevant module(s) under the ECF-GSF, he/she will be required to obtain a pass in the examination(s) of the relevant training modules(s) organised by the HKIB in order to be eligible for the exemption.
8.3 Existing RPs who meet the above criteria can submit their exemption applications
to the HKIB. Modular exemption fee(s) and examination fee(s) will apply where applicable. 9 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
9.1 For both the Core Level and Professional Level qualifications, a minimum of 12
CPD hours is required for each calendar year (ending 31 December), of which at least 5 hours should be on topics related to GSF.
9.2 Any excess CPD hours accumulated within a particular year cannot be carried
forward to the following year.
9.3 CPD activities should be of significant intellectual and practical content that
involve interaction with other individuals or fulfilment of assignments and examinations. Activities that qualify for CPD include:

(a) Attending seminars, courses, workshops and talks (both online and in-person) provided by AIs, financial services regulators, recognised professional bodies, academic and training institutions, and the HKIB; (b) Taking professional examinations; and (c) Delivering training and speeches. Topics that qualify for CPD include:
(a) Compliance, code of conduct, professional ethics or risk management; (b) Banking and financial knowledge, including GSF, ESG reporting, ESG trends and ESG data management; (c) Economics; (d) Accounting; (e) Legal principles; (f) Business and people management; (g) Language and information technology; and (h) Subject areas covered in the HKIB’s professional examinations.
9.4 The annual CPD requirements are also applicable to RPs who meet the ECF-GSF
benchmark through the grandfathering route.
9.5 The CPD requirements will be waived for the first calendar year (ending 31
December) of certification and grandfathering.
9.6 RPs are required to self-declare their CPD compliance to the HKIB at the time of
certification renewal. Documentary evidence should be kept for random audit by the HKIB.

9.7 The minimum CPD requirements will be subject to periodic review in light of the
development in the banking sector. For details, please refer to the HKIB's website (https://www.hkib.org/).
9.8 For the avoidance of doubt, RPs who are captured under multiple ECFs are only
required to fulfil the CPD hours for one of his/her certifications per year (i.e., whichever is greater). 10 Maintenance of Relevant Records
10.1 AIs should keep proper training, examination and CPD records of RPs for
monitoring purposes. AIs that are current employers of RPs are expected to keep and confirm relevant information of their relevant staff to facilitate the HKIB’s processing of the applications for grandfathering and certification. Regarding information related to an RP’s previous employment(s), the current employer of the RP is expected to confirm whether such information is consistent with its records (e.g., curriculum vitae provided by the RP at the time of job application). 11 Governance and Administration
11.1 The HKIB is the administrator of the ECF-GSF and will be tasked with certifying
the qualification required under the ECF-GSF, ensuring that applicants are satisfactorily certified under the specified qualification requirements. The HKIB will also be administering the CPD requirements for ECF-GSF certification holders. For details, please refer to the HKIB’s website (https://www.hkib.org/).
11.2 The HKMA will, as part of its ongoing supervisory process, conduct regular
surveys to monitor the progress of AIs’ effort in implementing the ECF-GSF as one of the benchmarks for enhancing relevant employees’ competence level and on-going professional development.

12 Accreditation
12.1 The ECF accreditation mechanism is established for interested AIs or
education/training institutes to have their learning programmes accredited as meeting the ECF standards (including but not limited to the QF Standards) of this ECF module.
12.2 The general criteria for ECF accreditation are as follows:
(a) The learning programme meeting the required standards of individual ECF modules including programme objectives and learning outcomes, programme content and structure, and trainer qualifications and learning mode; (b) Accreditation of the learning programme at corresponding QF Levels; and (c) Endorsement by the ECF Steering Committee.
12.3 In order to satisfy criteria 12.2 (a) and (b) outlined above,
(a) For self-accrediting institutions (e.g. institutions funded by the University Grants Committee, including their continuing education arms)/institutions with Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status in related programme areas, they are required to: (i) complete internal quality assurance processes for meeting the relevant ECF standards and the corresponding QF Level and (ii) be assessed by HKCAAVQ as fulfilling the ECF training objectives; and (b) For other institutions, they are required to complete the accreditation by HKCAAVQ to confirm that their learning programmes can meet the ECF training objectives and the corresponding QF Level.
12.4 HKCAAVQ will accept applications for ECF accreditation for the Core Level
and Professional Level starting 1 August 2023 and 2 January 2025 respectively.

12.5 Based on the relevant accreditation or assessment report submitted by the
applicant, the ECF Steering Committee will confirm whether the training programme is or is not successful in qualifying as an ECF accredited programme. The route for ECF accreditation mechanism is illustrated at Annex 4.

Annex 1 – ECF-GSF: Key Roles and Tasks for Relevant Practitioners
(a) Core Level
Core Level
Role 1
Green and
Sustainable Finance
Product and Servicing
Examples of functional titles:

Client Engagement and Relationship Management:
Relationship Officer, ESG Advisory Analyst
Green and Sustainable Investment: Sustainable Investing
Analyst, Trader/Dealer
Green and Sustainable Finance Product Development:
Sustainable Finance Product Specialist, Research Analyst
Green and Sustainable Finance Underwriting: ESG Credit
Officer
Green and Sustainable Finance Data and Quantification:
GSF Data Analyst, GSF Business Analyst
Key Tasks:
Client Engagement and Relationship Management
1. Keep abreast of local, regional and global GSF trends,
markets and development.
2. Support the research and analysis of corporates on ESG
strategy, management, data and performances.
3. Support internal teams in collecting ESG data and
information from clients and communicating bank-wide sustainability strategies and policies to clients.
4. Assist in selling of GSF products and offering advice to
clients on matters including but not limited to ESG objectives, integration, readiness and sustainability strategies.
5. Promote GSF products and explain product features to
clients.
6. Perform due diligence for GSF products and customers.
7. Work with internal teams to develop marketing materials
that create interest in GSF products and develop new business opportunities.
8. Work with internal teams to develop, collect and analyse
GSF-related data and information for internal and external reporting purposes.
9. Act ethically and ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines.

10. Assist in providing training to staff on selling and advisory
of GSF products.
Green and Sustainable Investment
1. Monitor, analyse and keep abreast of local, regional and
global GSF trends, markets and development.
2. Conduct research on sustainability topics and perform
quantitative and qualitative analysis on ESG information and performance of portfolio companies and markets, integrating findings into investment decisions.
3. Prepare client pitch, discussion and marketing materials for
GSF business opportunities.
4. Assist in executing different sustainable investing strategies
and approaches, including but not limited to ESG screening, ESG integration, thematic investing and impact investing.
5. Work with internal teams to develop, collect and analyse
GSF-related data and information for internal and external reporting purposes.
6. Assist in stewardship activities including engagements and
proxy voting.
7. Participate in GSF-related communications with internal
and external stakeholders, including governments, regulators, industry associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), rating agencies and relevant business units.
8. Assist in providing GSF-related guidance and trainings to
staff (including portfolio managers and analysts) on GSF investment.
9. Ensure the financial market transactions are in compliance
with regulatory requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Finance Product Development
1. Monitor, analyse and keep abreast of local, regional and
global GSF trends, markets and development.
2. Assist in developing and implementing internal GSF
frameworks and strategies.
3. Gather and analyse ESG data and information on sectors
and corporates that are covered.
4. Conduct research on sustainability topics and analyse ESG
information and performance of clients and markets,

integrating findings into financing decisions and research reports.
5. Support the origination, structuring of GSF products and
solutions (i.e. financing proposals, term sheet, due diligence, documentation, etc.) by leveraging ESG data, regulatory and analytical expertise.
6. Liaise with frontline teams to explore and execute green and
sustainable financing opportunities and deals.
7. Support the development, quality assurance and
maintenance of the library of GSF communication materials to raise awareness of internal and external stakeholders.
8. Work with internal teams to collect and document GSFrelated information for reporting purposes.
9. Support GSF-related engagements with internal and
external stakeholders, including governments, regulators, industry associations, NGOs.
10. Assist in providing GSF guidance and trainings to staff
(including relationship managers) on GSF/sustainability products.
11. Act ethically and ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Finance Underwriting

Support the credit underwriting of GSF transactions
originated by other business units.
Assist in conducting qualitative analysis on issuers’ ESG
risks and monitoring credit risk exposures and utilise quantitative techniques for ESG risk assessment to overlay an ESG view within the credit appraisal process, e.g. develop quantitative ESG score from proprietary framework that aggregates metrics from primary and secondary data sources.
Act ethically and ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines.
Assist in providing training to staff on GSF risks related to
underwriting.

Green and Sustainable Finance Data and Quantification
1. Assist in developing, collating and analysing GSF
data/databases.
2. Assist in developing and providing technology and data
solutions for GSF data processing and analytics.
3. Liaise with ESG data vendors and suppliers to onboard and
test new data sources.
4. Provide support to the internal teams during GSF-related
system implementation phases.
5. Assist in providing training to staff on GSF data processing
and analytics.
Role 2
Sustainability/Climate
Risk Management
Examples of functional titles:

Sustainability/Climate Risk Management: Climate Risk
Strategy Analyst, Climate Risk Modelling Analyst, Climate Risk Analyst Key Tasks:
1. Assist in the development, enhancement and execution of
an appropriate sustainability/ESG risk (including climaterelated risks) management framework, and integration into the bank’s existing risk management processes.
2. Support the setting of risk appetite and control measures for
sustainability/ESG and climate risk management, and monitoring sustainability/ESG and climate risk exposure.
3. Support in communicating with the risk owners on risk
identification and assessment, and provide advice on control and mitigation.
4. Conduct research and monitor global trends and regulations
on sustainability/ESG risks (including climate-related risks), keep abreast of latest industry standards to ensure existing practices remain effective and relevant.
5. Collaborate with related control functions and businesses on
regulatory/legal entity risk management matters and sustainability/ESG risks (including climate-related risks and greenwashing risks) management.
6. Assist in the development of scenario-based modelling to
understand the impact of climate-related risks (physical and transition risks).
7. Assist in the development, validation, execution and
monitoring of climate risk related models.

8. Perform climate risk stress testing and scenario analysis in
accordance with international and local regulatory requirements and industry practice.
9. Engage with business units on sustainability/ESG risks
(including climate-related risks) to implement the sustainability risk management framework.
10. Assist in providing training to staff on sustainability/ESG
and climate risk management.
11. Act ethically and ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Role 3 Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting Examples of functional titles:
Sustainability Reporting: Sustainability Reporting Associate Key Tasks:
1. Monitor, analyse and keep abreast of local, regional and
global GSF trends, markets and development and incorporate them into the bank’s sustainability and GSF reporting frameworks.
2. Support the bank’s sustainability reporting efforts, including
developing the data reporting framework, collecting sustainability data, drafting and improving data reporting procedures.
3. Support the implementation of current and emerging ESG
disclosure frameworks, including the implementation of GSF-related parts of TCFD and ISSB reporting.
4. Coordinate with different departments to evaluate the
performance of GSF activities for sustainability/ESG data disclosures and reporting.
5. Support the collection, disclosures and reporting of green
and sustainable finance products, sustainability/ESG and climate risk related data.
6. Collect and analyse sustainability-related data using data
collection templates/data collection systems to report and evaluate the bank’s sustainability performance.
7. Support the bank’s submissions on sustainability/ESG
ratings, surveys and awards.
8. Coordinate internal and external assurance of sustainability
reports.
9. Assist in providing training to staff on sustainability
disclosures and reporting.

Role 4
Sustainability
Strategy,
Compliance &
Control
Examples of functional titles:

General Sustainability: Sustainability Officer
Sustainability Strategy: Strategy Officer (Sustainable Finance)
Sustainability Compliance: ESG Legal & Compliance Officer
Internal Control: Internal Audit Officer
Advisory on Sustainability/climate-related issues: Associate
(Sustainability and Climate Change)
Key Tasks:
Sustainability Strategy
1. Monitor, analyse and keep abreast of local, regional and global
GSF and ESG/sustainability trends, markets and development and incorporate them into the bank’s sustainability strategy.
2. Support the development, implementation, execution and
management of the bank’s sustainability strategy, targets and action plans.
3. Collaborate and maintain relationships with internal and external
stakeholders to promote and drive the bank’s sustainability strategy.
4. Support training, upskilling and ongoing engagement of staff on
key aspects of GSF and ESG/sustainability.
5. Maintain effective communication with internal and external
stakeholders and relevant parties on matters related to GSF and ESG/sustainability. Sustainability Compliance
1. Maintain a thorough and up-to-date understanding of legislative
and regulatory developments on GSF and ESG/sustainability issues.
2. Assist in evaluating the impact of GSF and ESG/sustainability
related regulatory developments, support regulatory change management efforts, and provide regulatory updates to the internal teams.
3. Provide advice on applicable GSF and ESG/sustainability related
compliance and regulatory matters to business personnel and support functions.
4. Support the implementation of enhancement of policies,
procedures, and programmes to effectively address GSF and ESG/sustainability related compliance and regulatory risks.
5. Assist in providing training to staff on GSF and
ESG/sustainability compliance.

6. Act ethically and ensure compliance with regulatory
requirements and internal GSF and sustainability frameworks, policies and guidelines. Internal Control
1. Monitor, analyse and keep abreast of local, regional and global
GSF and ESG/sustainability trends, markets and development, and assist in advising on the bank’s broader risk management capabilities.
2. Support the development and implementation of integrating GSF
and ESG/sustainability related risks and compliance considerations into the bank’s audit strategy, framework and programmes.
3. Support the development, execution, documentation and testing
of internal controls and risks related to GSF and ESG/sustainability and validating risk mitigation activities.
4. Setting up appropriate audit programmes to focus on material
risks to an AI’s sustainability risk identification and management.
5. Constructively challenging and adding value to an AI’s climate
risk and sustainable finance work and ESG/sustainability disclosures.
6. Assist in auditing the performance measurement, data disclosures
and reporting of sustainability related risks.
7. Assist in providing training to staff on internal controls related to
GSF.
Advisory on Sustainability and Climate Related Issues
1. Conduct research on sustainability and climate related issues,
including material issues related to sectoral markets, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental and social issues.
2. Provide advice on sustainability and climate related issues.
3. Assist in providing training to staff on advisory on sustainability
and climate related issues.

(b) Professional Level
Professional Level
Role 1
Green and
Sustainable Finance
Product and Servicing
Examples of functional titles:

Client Engagement and Relationship Management: Senior
Relationship Manager, Senior ESG Advisory Specialist
Green and Sustainable Investment: Carbon/GSF Trader,
Investment Strategist, Senior Manager in Investment Products/Treasury
Green and Sustainable Finance Product Development:
Sustainable Finance Senior Manager, Senior Manager in Loan Syndication
Green and Sustainable Finance Underwriting: ESG Credit
Risk Manager
Green and Sustainable Finance Data and Quantification:
GSF Data Architect
Key Tasks:
Client Engagement and Relationship Management (Stream a)
1. Execute ESG strategies and solutions to drive sustainable
impact.
2. Keep abreast of local, regional and global ESG trends,
market developments and emerging opportunities.
3. Conduct research on corporates' ESG strategy, management
practices, data and performance metrics.
4. Acquire and analyse ESG data and information from clients,
disseminate and align organisation-wide sustainability strategies and policies with client objectives.
5. Provide expert guidance and strategic counsel to clients on
ESG objectives, integration strategies, readiness assessments and sustainable practices.
6. Advocate for and promote GSF products, which include
demonstrating their features and how they can align with clients’ needs and sustainability goals.
7. Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Finance Product Development (Stream a)
1. Supervise the development and implementation of internal
GSF product frameworks and strategies.

2. Oversee research efforts on sustainability topics and conduct
in-depth analysis on ESG information and performance of clients and markets.
3. Drive the origination and structuring of GSF products and
solutions.
4. Collaborate closely with frontline teams to identify, explore,
and execute green and sustainable financing opportunities and deals.
5. Develop and maintain the quality of information on GSF
products in accordance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
6. Drive GSF-related engagements with internal and external
stakeholders, including governments, regulators, industry associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
7. Serve as subject matter experts in the field of GSF and
represent the organisation at industry conferences and forums.
8. Provide expert guidance and deliver comprehensive trainings
on GSF to relationship managers to equip them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the GSF landscape.
9. Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Finance Underwriting (Stream a)
1. Supervise the development and implementation of advanced
underwriting frameworks and methodologies that integrate ESG considerations into credit risk assessments.
2. Provide expert guidance and strategic oversight to
underwriting teams and drive consistent and effective credit decision-making processes.
3. Perform comprehensive analysis on issuers' ESG risks,
monitor credit risk exposures and apply advanced quantitative techniques for ESG risk assessment.
4. Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Investment (Stream b)
1. Develop and refine the overall green and sustainable
investment strategy.

2. Evaluate the emerging sustainable investment frameworks,
methodologies and tools and drive the continuous enhancement of investment practices and performance.
3. Oversee research efforts on sustainability topics and conduct
quantitative and qualitative analysis on ESG information and performance of portfolio companies and markets.
4. Supervise the preparation of clients' pitches, discussions and
marketing materials for GSF business opportunities.
5. Drive the implementation of diverse sustainable investing
strategies and approaches, which include ESG screening, ESG integration, thematic investing and impact investing.
6. Foster effective GSF-related communications including
stewardship activities with internal and external stakeholders.
7. Provide expert guidance and deliver training on GSF
principles and practices to portfolio managers and analysts to enhance their understanding and proficiency in the field.
8. Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements and internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Green and Sustainable Finance Data and Quantification (Stream a/Stream b)
1. Develop and execute a robust data strategy for GSF, which
includes data governance, data quality management and datadriven insights to support strategic decision-making processes.
2. Supervise cross-functional teams in the design and
implementation of advanced data models, algorithms and predictive analytics techniques.
3. Collaborate with senior leadership to shape the organisation's
overall data and quantification framework for GSF to align it with industry best practices and emerging trends.
4. Manage the development and implementation of technology
and data solutions for seamless GSF data processing and advanced analytics.
5. Oversee the strategic collaborations and partnerships with
ESG data vendors and suppliers and oversee the onboarding and rigorous testing of new data sources.

Role 2
Sustainability/Climate
Risk Management
Examples of functional titles:

Sustainability/Climate Risk Management: Climate Risk
Senior Manager, Senior Manager in Climate Risk Modeling, Environmental and Social Risk Senior Manager Key Tasks:

Work closely with senior leadership and board members and
provide strategic guidance on sustainability/climate risk management to align it with the organisation's overall risk appetite and business strategies.
Develop and implement sustainability/climate risk
assessment methodologies.
Supervise the development, refinement, integration and
implementation of a robust sustainability/climate risk management framework.
Conduct extensive research and actively monitor global
trends and regulations related to sustainability/climate risks.
Drive the development and implementation of scenariobased modeling methodologies to comprehensively assess
the impact of climate-related risks.
Monitor climate risk stress testing and scenario analysis
outcomes and ensure compliance with international and local regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Provide oversight and guidance on engaging with business
units and relevant control functions to implement the sustainability/climate risk management framework.
Develop and deliver training sessions on GSF risk
management to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to effectively identify, assess and manage sustainability risks.
Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements, as well as internal GSF frameworks, policies and guidelines. Role 3 Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting Examples of functional titles:

Sustainability Reporting: Senior Sustainability Reporting
Manager, Senior Climate Disclosures Manager
Carbon Accounting: Carbon Accounting Expert

Key Tasks:
Sustainability Reporting
1. Develop and execute a sustainability reporting strategy to
align it with the organisation's overall sustainability goals and objectives and integrate it into the organisation's broader reporting framework.
2. Collaborate with key stakeholders, including senior
leadership, ESG experts and external partners, to establish robust metrics and methodologies for measuring and reporting the organisation's sustainability performance.
3. Supervise the development of reporting frameworks,
including the collection and curation of content, drafting of reports, and enhancement of reporting capabilities and procedures.
4. Continuously monitor and analyse GSF trends and regulatory
developments, integrating them into the bank's sustainability and GSF reporting framework to ensure alignment with the relevant developments.
5. Provide leadership and expert advice on the implementation
of current and emerging ESG disclosure frameworks.
6. Oversee the collection, analysis and submission of
sustainability-related data.
7. Coordinate both internal and external assurance processes for
sustainability reports.
Carbon Accounting
1. Develop and implement a carbon accounting framework to
accurately measure and track the organisation's carbon emissions across all business activities.
2. Conduct carbon footprint assessments and analyses to
identify emission sources, quantify their impact and identify areas for emission reduction and mitigation.
3. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gather data on
energy consumption, transportation, supply chain and other relevant factors.
4. Apply data analytics techniques to analyse carbon data,
identify trends and patterns and provide insights for strategic decision-making and goal-setting processes.
5. Design and implement carbon reduction strategies and
initiatives.

6. Provide expert guidance and recommendations on carbon
accounting methodologies, standards and reporting frameworks.
7. Monitor the organisation's carbon emissions data and
conduct regular audits.
8. Collaborate with external stakeholders, such as carbon
exchanges, industry associations and sustainability organisations, to stay updated on emerging trends and regulations on carbon accounting and contribute to industrywide initiatives.
9. Educate and train employees on carbon accounting
principles, methodologies and the importance of carbon reduction.
10. Engage with clients and stakeholders to provide guidance
and assistance on carbon accounting.
Role 4
Sustainability
Strategy, Compliance and Control
Examples of functional titles:

General Sustainability: Sustainability Senior Manager
Strategy: Chief Risk Officer, Strategy Senior Manager
(Sustainable Finance)
Regulatory Compliance: ESG Legal & Compliance
Internal Control: Internal Audit Manager
Key Tasks:
General Sustainability
1. Develop and execute a sustainability strategy to drive the
organisation's ESG performance and long-term sustainable development goals.
2. Collaborate with senior leadership, different departments and
business units to integrate sustainability considerations into the organisation's overall business strategy.
3. Identify and prioritise key sustainability risks and
opportunities, and conduct assessments and analyses to inform decision-making and drive sustainable business practices.
4. Establish and maintain relationships with internal and
external stakeholders, which include clients, regulators, industry partners and sustainability organisations, to promote collaboration and drive sustainability initiatives.
5. Monitor and evaluate the organisation’s sustainability
performance, which include setting targets, tracking progress and implementing corrective actions.

6. Conduct comprehensive stakeholder engagement activities,
which include performing environmental and social impact assessments.
7. Foster a culture of sustainability throughout the organisation
and provide employees with training, education and awareness programmes. Sustainability Strategy
1. Work closely with senior leadership and the board of
directors to set the strategic direction of the organisation’s sustainability efforts and align the sustainability strategy with the organisation's long-term goals and objectives.
2. Engage with industry associations, regulatory bodies and
other external stakeholders to shape the development and evolution of sustainability standards, frameworks and policies.
3. Oversee research initiatives on sustainability and climaterelated issues, which include in-depth analysis of material
issues specific to sectoral markets, greenhouse gas emissions and other relevant environmental and social factors.
4. Provide expert advice and guidance on sustainability and
climate-related issues.
5. Supervise the development, implementation, execution, and
management of the organisation's holistic sustainability strategy, as well as define clear targets and action plans to drive sustainable practices and positive impact.
6. Develop and execute internal and external communication
strategies to effectively communicate the organisation's sustainability initiatives, progress and achievements to various stakeholders.
7. Drive GSF training and development initiatives and design
comprehensive training programmes and resources to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of employees. Sustainability Compliance
1. Manage the development, implementation and enhancement
of a robust compliance monitoring and testing framework specific to GSF and ESG/sustainability.
2. Provide strategic guidance and expert advice on the
integration of GSF and ESG/sustainability compliance

considerations into the organisation's overall risk management framework.
3. Continuously monitor, evaluate and assess regulatory
developments pertaining to GSF and ESG/sustainability issues.
4. Keep abreast of the latest regulatory developments related to
greenwashing and coordinate with internal stakeholders to implement measures to mitigate greenwashing risks.
5. Oversee and facilitate comprehensive training programmes
for employees on GSF and ESG/sustainability compliance.
6. Uphold ethical standards and ensure compliance with
regulatory requirements, as well as internal GSF and sustainability frameworks, policies and guidelines. Internal Control

Establish and maintain robust internal controls specific to
ESG and foster a culture of sustainability ownership and accountability throughout the organisation.
Supervise the development, execution, documentation and
testing of internal controls and risk management procedures pertaining to GSF and ESG/sustainability, and validate the effectiveness of risk mitigation activities.
Develop appropriate audit programmes that focus on
material risks related to sustainability risk identification and management.
Actively challenge and add value to an organisation's climate
risk and sustainable finance work and ESG/sustainability disclosures.
Take responsibility for auditing the performance
measurement, data disclosure and reporting of sustainabilityrelated risks.
Develop and execute GSF training and development
initiatives, which include designing comprehensive training programmes and resources to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of employees.

Annex 2 – ECF-GSF: Competency Framework
Role 1 – Green and Sustainable
Finance Product and Servicing
Role 2 –
Sustainability/Climate
Risk Management
Role 3 –
Sustainability
Disclosures and
Reporting
Role 4 –
Sustainability
Strategy,
Compliance &
Control
Core Level
Qualification - For Role 1: passing Module 1 and Module 2 of the ECF on GSF training programme

For Role 2: passing Module 1 and Module 3 of the ECF on GSF training programme
For Role 3 and Role 4: passing Module 1 and Module 4 of the ECF on GSF training
programme
Certification Associate Green Finance Professional (Product and Servicing) (AGFP(PS)) or Associate Green Finance Professional (Climate Risk Management) (AGFP(ClimRM)) or Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting) (AGFP(SDR)) or Associate Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control) (AGFP(SSCC)) CPD requirements Minimum 12 hours in each calendar year, of which at least 5 CPD hours should be on topics related to GSF;
Qualified CPD activities include:
(a) Attending seminars or courses (both online and in-person) provided by AIs, financial services regulators, recognised professional bodies, academic and training institutions, and the HKIB; (b) Taking professional examinations; and (c) Delivering training and speeches.
For the avoidance of doubt, RPs who are captured under multiple ECFs is only required
to fulfil the CPD hours for one of his/her certifications per year (i.e., whichever is greater).

Role 1 – Green and Sustainable
Finance Product and Servicing
Role 2 –
Sustainability/Climate
Risk Management
Role 3 –
Sustainability
Disclosures and
Reporting
Role 4 –
Sustainability
Strategy,
Compliance and
Control
Professional Level
Qualification (1) Completing the relevant training modules:

For Role 1 (Stream a) – Green and Sustainable Finance Product: passing Module 5 and
Module 6 of the ECF on GSF training programme
For Role 1 (Stream b) – Green and Sustainable Finance Investment: passing Module 5
and Module 7 of the ECF on GSF training programme
For Role 2: passing Module 5 and Module 8 of the ECF on GSF training programme
For Role 3: passing Module 5 and Module 9 of the ECF on GSF training programme
For Role 4: passing Module 5 and Module 10 of the ECF on GSF training programme
(2) Having at least 2 years of relevant work experience in any of the Professional Level functions as specified in Annex 1 Certification Certified Green Finance Professional (Green and Sustainable Finance Product) (CGFP(GSF-P)) or Certified Green Finance Professional (Green and Sustainable Finance Investment) (CGFP(GSF-I)) or Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Risk Management) (CGFP(SRM)) or Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting) (CGFP(SDR)) or Certified Green Finance Professional (Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control) (CGFP(SSCC)) CPD requirements Minimum 12 hours in each calendar year, of which at least 5 CPD hours should be on topics related to GSF;
Qualified CPD activities include:
(a) Attending seminars, courses, workshops and talks (both online and in-person) provided by AIs, financial services regulators, recognised professional bodies, academic and training institutions, and the HKIB; (b) Taking professional examinations; and (c) Delivering training and speeches.
For the avoidance of doubt, RPs who are captured under multiple ECFs is only required
to fulfil the CPD hours for one of his/her certifications per year (i.e., whichever is greater).

Annex 3 – ECF-GSF: Learning Outcomes and Topics
I. Core Level
Programme Outcome and Programme Intended Learning Outcome (PILO) This programme is developed to foster a broad and sustainable pool of entry-level and junior-level Green and Sustainable Finance talents for the banking industry. Learners will be equipped with professional knowledge on Green and Sustainable Finance (GSF) to facilitate the adoption of GSF amongst banks in Hong Kong. PILO a: Develop a broad understanding of ESG, sustainability and climate change in the context of the banking and financial services industry. PILO b: Understand the current landscape of GSF from the local, regional and international perspectives. PILO c: Understand how banking strategy, products and services can support the development of GSF. PILO d: Familiarise and apply the GSF standards, principles, and policies to daily banking operations. PILO e: Integrate and apply data and technology solutions to facilitate banking operations related to GSF. PILO f: Develop in-depth knowledge on climate, environmental and other emerging sustainability risks and regulatory frameworks for GSF governing banking and financial services in Hong Kong. PILO g: Examine the nature and importance of sustainability risks and how they may be managed and disclosed. Learning Topics and Module Intended Learning Outcome (MILO) Module 1: Introduction to Sustainability MILO a: Define and summarise fundamental concepts and taxonomy related to sustainability. MILO b: Recognise the latest trends and developments in GSF and the impact on banks. MILO c: Understand the methodology and approaches to monitor, measure and report GSF or sustainability impacts and outcomes. MILO d: Understand the risks posed by the exposure of financial institutions/sector to activities that are caused by environmental, social, governance, and climate events.

1.1 Overview of Sustainability

Fundamentals of Sustainability, ESG, Climate Change, and Green &
Sustainable Finance
Basic science of environmental risk, climate change and the impact of climate
change on the banking industry
How the banking industry can contribute to the transition to a sustainable and
low-carbon economy
1.2 Green and Sustainable Finance Trends and Developments
Key players involved in the green and sustainable finance system
Key initiatives, standards, principles, policies and frameworks on sustainability
from international to local scale
Evaluate the influences of GSF trends and developments on the banking
industry and how they impact the banking industry’s sustainability strategy and business practices
1.3 Taxonomy, Data and Disclosures
Sustainability reporting (e.g. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, Value Reporting Foundation (VRF) standards)
Climate-related disclosures (Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Climate
Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB), IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures, TCFD)
Green and sustainable finance product related disclosures, GSF taxonomy
Module 2: Fundamentals of Green and Sustainable Finance MILO a: Understand how banks can align the investment and lending decisions with sustainability strategy and objectives. MILO b: Understand the fundamentals and applications of GSF products and services. MILO c: Understand the fundamentals and applications of green and sustainable investment and approaches. MILO d: Understand the carbon markets, carbon management and the latest developments.
2.1 GSF Markets and Trends in HK, the Greater Bay Area and around the World
Existing and emerging approaches to defining sustainable and green finance
Introduction of green and sustainable finance market and latest industry trends

2.2 Green and Sustainable Products and Instruments

Different types of green and sustainable finance products and instruments, such
as bonds, loans, project and trade financing, and international guiding principles, standards and framework
Assessment of the rationale (i.e. relevance and materiality) of the selection of
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ambition level of Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) for green and sustainable products
2.3 Green and Sustainable Investing
Introduction of green and sustainable investment strategy, products, concepts,
approaches and applications.
Data and technology solutions to analysis & integration and the associated
challenges
2.4 Carbon Market
International and regional carbon market landscape and opportunities
Development of voluntary and compliance carbon markets, and the impact on
financial institutions and corporates
Module 3: Sustainability Risks in Banking MILO a: Understand the types, importance and impact of sustainability risks (including climate and environmental risks). MILO b: Examine the approaches to identify, manage, analyse and disclose these risks.
3.1 Overview of Sustainability Risks
Nature and importance of key sustainability risks
Evaluation of the impact of sustainability risks on the banking sector, and
strategies that banks can develop to identify, measure and manage the sustainability risks in the banking industry or manifest opportunities
3.2 Climate Risk Management
Different types of climate-related risks and best practice in climate risk strategy,
governance and management
Introduction of data, technology tools, and analytics frameworks and metrics
for measuring physical and transition risks

3.3 Climate Models and Scenario Analysis

Fundamental climate modelling approaches by banking and financial industry
and the development of skillsets for climate scenario analysis and data literacy Module 4: ESG/Sustainability Strategy, Disclosures and Reporting MILO a: Understand the concept of sustainability strategy and policy for banks (with a focus on governance, targets, risk, and products), and the importance of monitoring, measuring, and reporting impacts, outcomes, and alignment/flows of finance. MILO b: Understand the methodologies used to prepare GSF-related disclosures (including Sustainability Report, TCFD report, GSF Products Allocation and Impact Report, Sustainable Investment Disclosures) in line with regulatory requirements and international best practice and principles by utilising standards and techniques such as stakeholder engagement and materiality assessment, emissions and impact measurement/accounting.
4.1 Green and Sustainable Banking Strategy
Development and implementation of a comprehensive sustainability strategy
that embeds sustainability into banks’ plans, measures, operations, risk, capital management, etc.
Ways of streamlining the reporting framework, processes, and data to align with
the strategic targets and goals
4.2 ESG/Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting
ESG compliance and regulation in Hong Kong
Common practices in preparing GSF-related disclosures in accordance with
local regulatory requirements and international best practice
Emissions and impact measurement/accounting methodology
II. Professional Level
Programme Outcome and Programme Intended Learning Outcome (PILO) This programme is developed to foster a broad and sustainable talent workforce of middle-level and senior-level Green and Sustainable Finance practitioners for the banking industry. Learners will be equipped with specialised domain knowledge related to GSF, depending on the track that they choose.

PILO a: Develop a comprehensive understanding of advanced and critical knowhow in green and sustainable finance product landscape and instruments, sustainability risk management, sustainability reporting and disclosures, and sustainability strategy, compliance and control. PILO b: Supervise the design and development of green and sustainable finance products. PILO c: Identify and evaluate investment opportunities in green and sustainable finance, including assessing risks and returns. PILO d: Analyse and develop affiliated risk strategies, policies, models and assessments and implement sustainability risk management frameworks to identify and manage sustainability risks effectively. PILO f: Prepare applicable sustainability reports in compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards, ensuring accurate and transparent disclosure of sustainability-related information. PILO g: Implement effective governance frameworks and control mechanisms to incorporate sustainability into organisational strategies, policies, and decision-making processes. Learning Topics and Module Intended Learning Outcome (MILO) Module 5: ESG Essential MILO a: Evaluate key challenges on the transition to a low-carbon and climateresilient economy with a view to making recommendations for banks to realise carbon market opportunities and achieve a net-zero economy in compliance with its own policy; MILO b: Analyse different global climate risk management governing structures and propose a suitable mechanism for banks to formulate the decision-making mechanism regarding climate risk management; MILO c: Evaluate different GSF taxonomies and recommend good practices for GSF reporting and disclosure which can mitigate different GSF risks including greenwashing.
5.1 Decarbonisation Pathway by Sectors and Transition Finance

Understand the implications of the transition to a low-carbon and climateresilient economy, and the role of the banking sector in this transition
Analyse the key drivers, challenges, and strategies associated with the transition
to a net-zero economy for banks
Evaluate the impact of net-zero policies and initiatives on various sectors and
industries and the role of bank
Analyse and develop comprehensive plans and roadmaps for organisations to
achieve net-zero emissions targets through case studies and critically evaluate

the potential social, economic, and environmental implications
5.2 Carbon Market Opportunities

Differentiate related instruments and infrastructure within the carbon market.
Identify standard-setting bodies and key players within the carbon market
Explore strategies to effectively navigate and leverage carbon markets to
achieve emission reduction goals. Assess the financial, environmental, and social implications of engaging in carbon market opportunities
Identify roles of the bank and identify synergies and collaboration on work tasks
between functions such as sustainability, finance, and operations in developing and executing net-zero and carbon market strategies
5.3 GSF Risk and Valuation
Analyse the global climate risk management trend and corresponding guidelines
to govern climate risk management
Explain the methodologies for measuring and assessing climate risks
Develop strategies to integrate GSF risk management considerations into
decision-making processes such as corporate performance, valuation, investment and transaction due diligence
5.4 Greenwashing
Understand the concept of greenwashing and its implications for organisations,
consumers, and the environment
Analyse regulatory frameworks and industry standards related to greenwashing
and sustainability claims
Evaluate the role of consumer awareness and education in detecting and
combating greenwashing practices
Develop strategies to enhance GSF disclosure practices to build trust and
credibility and mitigate the risk of greenwashing
5.5 GSF Disclosures, Reporting, and Taxonomies
Differentiate key disclosure and reporting standards on GSF
Introduce GSF data types, analytical tools, and their sources for disclosure,
reporting and surveys by ESG rating agencies (if applicable)
Evaluate the role of GSF taxonomies in providing consistent and comparable
data for other GSF topics like net-zero, carbon market, and greenwashing for purposes of reporting and analysis

Module 6: Green and Sustainable Finance Product MILO a: Develop proficiency in the practical application of relevant Principles, Guidelines and Handbooks to structure and innovate green and sustainable finance products. MILO b: Differentiate and analyse the core components and building blocks of credit and debt products in the context of green and sustainable finance, such as green, social and sustainability bond/loan, sustainability-linked bond/loan, and green securitisation. MILO c: Incorporate industry best practices and regulatory guidelines to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of green and sustainable finance products.
6.1 Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds and Loans

Understand and apply relevant best practices in Principles, Guidelines and
Handbooks to assess, structure and innovate green, social, and sustainable bonds and loans
Understand the role of various stakeholders involved in the issuance of GSF
products, including companies, financial institutions and governments
Possess the knowledge of pre-issuance considerations and apply key steps
involved in the structuring and issuance process and post-issuance process
Familiarise with practices surrounding the issuance of the GSF products, such
as the measurement of ESG factors and evaluations
Analyse the risks associated with greenwashing that could arise from the
issuance of sustainable finance products
6.2 Sustainability-linked Bonds and Loans
Understand and apply relevant best practices in Principles, Guidelines and
Handbooks to assess, structure and innovate sustainability-linked bonds and loans
Understand the role of various stakeholders involved in the issuance of GSF
products, including companies, financial institutions and governments
Possess the knowledge of pre-issuance considerations and apply key steps
involved in the structuring and issuance process and post-issuance process
Familiarise with practices surrounding the issuance of the GSF products, such
as the measurement of ESG factors and evaluations
Analyse the risks associated with greenwashing that could arise from the
issuance of sustainable finance products
6.3 Other GSF Products and Trends
Understand and apply relevant best practices in the structuring of blue finance
products, transition finance products and green mortgages
Explore emerging trends and industry-specific innovations in green and
sustainable finance products
Analyse the potential of new GSF-related financial instruments, such as green
insurance, sustainable infrastructure funds and nature-based solutions bonds

Module 7: Green and Sustainable Finance Investment MILO a: Apply the understanding of green and sustainable finance products to investing and financing decision-making processes. MILO b: Apply a rigorous evaluation framework to compare and select appropriate investment strategies based on their financial performance, risk management capabilities, and potential for positive environmental and social impact. MILO c: Design and implement investment stewardship strategies that promote sustainability and drive positive environmental and social change within investment portfolios.
7.1 Investment Analysis and Decision Process

Evaluate the approaches for a comprehensive analysis of investing in relation to
climate change and design mechanisms to keep track of the investment/portfolio performance
Explain how quantitative analysis (including tools and metrics) can accelerate
the investment process chain
7.2 Portfolio Construction, Management, and Stewardship
Analyse and practically apply methodologies, climate-related data and metrics
of green and sustainable factors in the portfolio construction, management and monitoring, stewardship and engagement, and reporting
7.3 ESG Funds and other GSF Products
Understand sustainability funds, green funds and other GSF products, including
Venture Capital and Private Equity
Farmiliarise with reporting and disclosure requirements and best practices
Evaluate the implications of SFC regulations on ESG funds and GSF products
in terms of investor protection, market integrity, and the promotion of sustainable finance principles Module 8: Sustainability Risk Management MILO a: Differentiate between different sustainability risks and apply related concepts to optimise the risk management strategies and activities in banks. MILO b: Analyse how sustainability impacts all risk-related functions in banks.
8.1 Climate Risk Management
Apply the approaches to conduct climate risk assessments in the banking sector.

Based on the outcome and risk appetites, design and implement relevant risk strategies and governance guidelines to manage the climate and environmental risks

Analyse local specific climate risks and corresponding impacts on the banking
industry
8.2 Climate Scenario Analysis and Stress Testing
Apply the methodologies of conducting scenario analysis. Explain the
approaches to facilitate the formulation of a solid risk model and analysis approach for assessment purposes
Describe the global reference scenarios, their scenario parameters, outcomes
and applications
8.3 Environmental, Social and Governance Risk
Analyse and develop the approaches to conduct ESG risk assessments in the
banking sector. Based on the assessment outcome and risk appetites, design and implement relevant risk strategies and governance guidelines to manage the risks Module 9: ESG/Sustainability Reporting and Disclosures MILO a: Apply advanced ESG reporting frameworks (ISSB, GRI, TCFD, integrated reporting) to assess an organisation's ESG performance and collect relevant data for comprehensive reporting and disclosure purposes. MILO b: Utilise greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation methodologies and tools to accurately quantify organisational and industry-wide GHG emissions, identifying key sources and opportunities for reduction or mitigation. MILO c: Drive continuous improvement in ESG reporting and disclosures, integrating emerging standards, technologies, and stakeholder expectations to enhance transparency, accountability, and decision-making processes.
9.1 ESG/Sustainability Reporting and Disclosures
Develop robust ESG/Sustainability reporting frameworks to achieve practical
implementation and apply critical thinking to assess an organisation's ESG performance and collect and process relevant data for reporting
Integrate sustainability reporting practices with recognised industry standards
to ensure accuracy, consistency, and relevance
Determine the internal banking processes that involve climate risk assessment
and reporting, and how to overcome common implementation challenges
9.2 GHG Emissions and Measurement
Establish the overall process for calculating corporate GHG emissions, as well

as applying the necessary tools and performing basic calculations

Apply various calculation methodologies and tools to quantify greenhouse gas
emissions from different sectors and activities, enabling accurate and reliable carbon footprint assessments for scope 3
Analyse and interpret GHG data to identify significant emission sources, trends,
and opportunities for emissions reduction or mitigation, considering both organisational and industry-wide perspectives Module 10: Sustainability Strategy, Compliance and Control MILO a: Collaborate with stakeholders across sectors to drive systemic change, fostering partnerships and exploring new business opportunities in the transition to a net-zero economy. MILO b: Develop corporate strategy, governance and performance management systems that integrate ESG considerations.
10.1 Net-Zero Transition and Target Setting
Develop net-zero strategies and create and implement effective net-zero
strategies tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of their organisation.
Set meaningful and achievable targets aligned with net-zero transition goals,
considering regulatory and compliance requirements and stakeholder expectations
Establish robust monitoring and reporting systems to track progress against netzero targets
10.2 ESG Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Develop effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders, including
clients, employees, and regulators, on climate and environmental issues and sustainable finance initiatives
Develop strategies for engaging with stakeholders and raising awareness about
climate issues
Engage in policy advocacy to promote sustainable finance practices
10.3 Climate Governance and Policy
Understand the importance of climate regulations and policies
Identify the opportunities and challenges in integrating sustainable practices
into banking activities
Stay updated with the latest developments in climate policies and regulations,
climate governance initiative guidelines
Develop and implement climate governance frameworks and policies for banks

Annex 4 – ECF-GSF: Accreditation Mechanism

For the detailed application procedures, please visit the “ECF Accreditation Mechanism” subsection under the “Enhanced Competency Framework” section on HKMA’s website
(https://www.hkma.gov.hk)

Enclosure - Guide to Enhanced Competency Framework on Green and Sustainable Finance

Subject to re-accreditation/re-assessment by HKCAAVQ