HSBC provided US$54bn of sustainable finance in the first half of 2025

Despite a recent retreat from certain climate initiatives, HSBC says it provided and facilitated a total of US$54.1 billion of sustainable finance and investments in the first half of 2025.

The bank has an ambition to provide between US$750 billion and US$1 trillion of sustainable finance by 2030. The amount provided since 2020 stands at US$447.7 billion.

However, HSBC has not shared a breakdown of its sustainable finance activities – which it broadly defines as “any form of financial service that integrates ESG criteria into business or investment decisions”. (Other banks – such as Barclays – have been criticised in the past for channeling funds labelled ‘sustainable’ to fossil fuel companies.)

HSBC reviewing financed emissions targets

Since the appointment of new CEO Georges Elhedery last July, HSBC has overhauled much of its strategy – including the way it approaches sustainability. In the past year, the bank has appointed a new Chief Sustainability Officer who no longer forms part of the executive committee, lowered the weighting of ESG criteria in executive remuneration – and most importantly, delayed its operational net zero target by 20 years.

The bank has maintained its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 but recently left the Net Zero Banking Alliance, leading some green economy companies to take their business elsewhere.

In its interim results, HSBC writes: “Supporting the transition to net zero is a key priority for HSBC. We seek to do this against a backdrop of increasing global demand for energy and increasing focus on energy security, resilience and affordability, alongside diverging national agendas and the more complex regulatory environment in which we operate.”

The bank is now conducting a review of our 2030 interim financed emission targets and associated policies – which it aims to finalise in the second half of 2025.

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