ESG in a Downturn: What UBS’s ESG Restructuring Really Tells Us
Recent reports that UBS has significantly reduced the size of its Sustainability Office in Asia have reignited a familiar debate: Is ESG losing relevance?
Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai

Recent reports that UBS has significantly reduced the size of its Sustainability Office in Asia have reignited a familiar debate: Is ESG losing relevance?
In the era gradually advocating sustainability, greenwashing is a common pitfall that companies should avoid in their sustainability dislcosure.
At GreenCo, we have observed a growing gap in the market. While low-cost providers are increasingly common, there remains a clear shortage of firms that compete on the basis of quality, technical credibility, and a genuine commitment to long-term value creation.
GreenCo recently assisted a leading local food and beverage chain in deepening their Scope 3 GHG Emissions accounting framework to allow a precise tool for internal performance tracking.
GreenCo recently supported a Hong Kong-listed tech company in establishing a data-driven ESG management mechanism with standardised indicator development and quarterly performance tracking.
A recent regulatory action in Europe has once again highlighted how climate-related risk management is moving from policy expectation to regulatory enforcement. While the penalty itself may appear to be a technical regulatory issue, the implications are far broader. The case signals a significant shift in how regulators view climate-related risks: no longer merely a disclosure topic, but an area of enforceable financial supervision.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, defining excellence requires more than just internal tracking. By evaluating their standing relative to competitors, companies can ensure their ESG strategies are both ambitious and aligned with global sectoral trends.
While the core objective of ESG is to support long-term, sustainable value creation, the current enthusiasm for AI deserves closer and more critical examination.
GreenCo launches a new ESG short video series, simplifying sustainability concepts for businesses & investors. Watch now on WeChat & RedNote!