HSBC Exec Resigns After Climate Denial Speech

“There’s always some nutjob telling me about the end of the world.” 

Stuart Kirk, a now-former senior executive at HSBC, doesn’t believe the hyperbole around climate change is worth the investment. 

“[Climate change is] not a financial risk that we need to worry about.”

Kirk’s former role as Global Head of Responsible Investing involved considering the impact of investments on environmental, social, and governance issues.

“Who cares if Miami is six meters underwater in 100 years? Amsterdam has been six meters underwater for ages and that’s a really nice place.”

Kirk proudly shared these opinions at a Financial Times conference in a presentation titled: 

Why Investors Need Not Worry About Climate Risk

“Unsubstantiated, shrill, partisan, self-serving, apocalyptic warnings are always wrong.”

“There is no place for virtue-signaling in finance.”

HSBC has quickly distanced itself from Kirk in a statement: 

“I hope my colleagues, customers, and others will all know, from our work and my public comments, that HSBC is absolutely committed to a net-zero future.”

In a LinkedIn post, Kirk wrote:

“Ironically given my job title, I have concluded that the bank’s behavior towards me since my speech at a Financial Times conference in May has made my position, well, unsustainable.

“Funny old world.”

Right. Funny. 

“Opinions on both differ. But humanity’s best chance of success is open and honest debate.”

There is no debate. This is happening.  

“A cancel culture destroys wealth and progress.”

Climate change will destroy wealth and progress. And human life. 

For current information on the state of our climate, read here. And here. And here. Aaaaaand here. 

Getting real tired of this sh*t. Aren’t you?