Most emissions were from energy use (718,000), followed by business travel (179,000). 

Most growth in total emissions (up from 813,000 in 2006), came from emissions generated by energy use (total and per person) and, geographically, in total emissions in the Asia Pacific region.

Total emissions per person were up 1.8%, but in North America fell by 14%.

Significant reductions over 2006 levels were achieved in emissions per person from business travel, and geographically, in total emissions in North America.

• Carbon neutral since 2005 (the first major bank and first FTSE 100 company to achieve this). HSBC’s carbon neutral strategy prioritises reduced emissions (reduced energy consumption, sourcing renewable energy where possible, and - finally - offsetting remaining emissions through high quality verified emissions reductions.
• Global Environmental Efficiency Programme(GEEP) launched in 2007 to promote innovative projects within HSBC including the use of low carbon technologies.

HSBC addresses climate change as strategic issue that poses threats and opportunities to its business:
• Appointment of Lord Stern as ‘Special Adviser on Economic Development and Climate Change to the Group Chairman’.
• Commitment of $100m to, and active participation in, the HSBC Climate Partnership.
• Programme to involve over 100,000 HSBC employees in climate change learning (through the HSBC Climate Partnership).
• Research and analysis :
- HSBC Climate Confidence Index (July 2007)
- Establishment of the HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence in2007.
• Investing in climate change: the HSBC Global Climate Change Benchmark and the HSBC Investable Climate Indices help investors and providers of finance to measure low carbon and climate-protection investment opportunities.  The HSBC Climate Change Fund is benchmarked to the index and invests in companies that are considered best placed to benefit from developing solutions to the challenges of climate change.

• Reduce CO{2} emissions per employee (full-time equivalent) by 6% from 2008 to 2011.
• ‘LEED’ gold certification of 50 major buildings by 2011.