Think about the natural resources you used today. Perhaps you used water to bathe or texted on a cell phone with copper, zinc, and other precious metals inside. Everything we use comes from natural resources. However, many resources are being depleted faster than they can be replaced. Sustainability is the practice of using natural resources responsibly, so they can support both present and future generations. The world population is expected to increase from 7.6 to 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. Especially as the human population grows, it is critical that we reduce our depletion of forests, precious metals, and other natural resources.
The Challenge
In April and May 2025, 240 HSBC colleagues will trek 100 km within the majestic southern Himalayas in India. With no access to typical facilities like hot showers, WiFi and a comfortable bed, everyone will be carrying their own personal equipment and camping gear for 5 days, sleeping rough in the middle of nowhere, in order to raise funds for Sustainability. This trek will take the team through untamed land, some of which is untouched by humans.
From ancient kingdoms to majestic mountain vistas, the team will be challenged both mentally and physically on this five day trek in the breathtaking Indian Himalayas. Trek to a 17th century fort, a look-out point for the Maharaja’s kingdom, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the area, and visit the impressive Sherabling Monastery with its 3-story high gold-plated Buddha.
The HSBC x WaterAid project
With a large population, high levels of inequality and poverty and a unique geo-climatic condition, India is highly vulnerable to climate change. As a direct result of climate change, millions of Indians face exceptional water shortages in the summer months, while disasters induced by climate change curtail usability and sustainability of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure, affecting the quality of drinking water, and presenting an environmental risk and compromising access to essential services in the long run.
Bihar and Utter Pradesh are the third and first most populated states in India and both suffer water stress as a result of floods and pollution. Many inhabitants rely on handpumps for their water supply and it is typically women and girls who spend long durations travelling to collect water and queuing at overcrowded pumps. Access to water for sanitation and hygiene is an even more serious problem with inadequate sanitation and lack of sewage treatment further polluting the water sources.
The HSBC x WaterAid project in India aims to tackle these chronic issues to improve access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
The project has a focus on sustainability and the engagement and empowerment of women and young people.
Both women and young people will have key roles in the project, including leading the community engagement, assessments, developing water security plans, implementation, and monitoring. .
The project has 5 key aims:
1. Strengthen and improve functionality of village water sanitation committee and governance institutions at village level.
2. Improve source sustainability and rejuvenation of surface water bodies.
3. Improve operation and maintenance (O&M)
4. Undertake water quality testing.
5. Undertake a behaviour change campaign through social art forms.
