AWARD CATEGORIES
One Framework - Five Sectors
NZAfE assesses companies across five sectors that reflect the structure of the HKEX Main Board and the Hong Kong business landscape. Each sector has its own set of Sector Core Criteria, designed to address the material climate transition issues most relevant to that industry.
THE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
All participating companies — regardless of sector — are assessed against the same Part 1 Common Criteria.
The Part 2 Sector Core Criteria are applied on top, giving a total score out of 100.
Part 1 - Common Criteria
70
%
Applied identically to every participant
Part 2 - Sector Core Criteria
30
%
Tailored to your industry's material issues
Total Score
100
%
Determines your Recognition Band
PARTICIPATION TRACKS
Two Ways to Enter
TRACK A
HKEX Main Board Listed Companies
Open to any company with a primary or dual-primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) Main Board. Companies are assessed under the sector that best reflects their primary business activity.
TRACK B
ESG Report Publishers
Open to any company — listed or otherwise — that publishes a standalone ESG or sustainability report. This includes private companies, Hong Kong subsidiaries of multinational corporations, and professional service organisations. Track B participants are assessed under the same sector framework as Track A.
THE FIVE SECTORS
Select Your Sector
Select the sector that best reflects your company's primary business activity.
If your business spans multiple sectors, please contact us at nzafe@greencouncil.org and we will advise on the most appropriate classification.
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Green building design, certification, and energy performance
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Embodied carbon in construction and materials
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Tenant and supply chain engagement on energy and emissions
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Climate physical risk assessment for property portfolios
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Net-zero target-setting aligned with building sector pathways
01
Property
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Decarbonisation of energy generation and transmission assets
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Alignment with renewable energy transition pathways
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Capital expenditure planning for low-carbon infrastructure
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Scope 1 and Scope 2 reduction targets and verified progress
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Climate resilience of critical infrastructure assets
02
Infrastructure & Utilities
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Green and transition finance portfolio as a share of total lending/investment
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Alignment with the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance
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Financed emissions measurement and reduction targets (Scope 3)
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Climate risk integration into credit, underwriting, and investment processes
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Net-zero commitment for own operations and financed portfolio
03
Financial
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Fleet electrification and low-carbon transportation planning
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Scope 3 supply chain emissions measurement and reduction
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Last-mile decarbonisation and logistics network optimisation
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Supplier engagement and procurement policy on climate
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Alignment with science-based targets for the transport sector
04
Trading & Logistics
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Portfolio-level net-zero strategy across subsidiary businesses
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Sector-specific transition plans for each major business unit
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Consolidated GHG emissions reporting across all operations
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Group-level governance and accountability for climate performance
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Alignment with international frameworks across diverse business lines
05
Diversified
RECOGNITION BANDS
Where You Stand in the Transition
Companies are assigned a recognition rating based on their total score.
The three bands reflect where a company genuinely is in its net-zero transition —
recognising honest, well-evidenced progress at every stage.
Outstanding leadership and have advanced,
highly effective net-zero strategies
Net Zero Pioneer
Companies scoring below 50 will receive a detailed assessment report identifying specific areas for improvement.
This can serve as a structured roadmap for future submissions.
Strong, practical actions and showing solid, measurable progress on their net-zero journey
Net Zero Progress Leader
Clear pledge and set up the right foundations to start cutting their emissions
Net Zero Commitment