AXA Hong Kong and Macau celebrated its annual “Week for Good 2024,” a global volunteer service campaign focused on sustainability. This year’s theme, water and the environment, aligned perfectly with World Environment Day on June 5th. Approximately 1,000 employees and financial consultants actively engaged in meaningful activities, including coastal cleanups and upcycling workshops. These efforts not only raised awareness about the significance of clean water but also promoted the conservation of Hong Kong’s marine ecosystems. These initiatives highlight AXA’s commitment to its new climate strategy and efforts to tackle climate change and enhance initiatives for clean water and sanitation.
Water is fundamental to human survival, and as the global population expands, fresh water is increasingly scarce. Climate change has intensified this scarcity, triggering extreme weather events like floods, droughts, landslides, and hailstorms, posing a growing threat to water resources. Remarkably, 90% of natural disasters are related to water or affect water resources. By 2030, the world could face a 40% shortfall in fresh water availability. Addressing this crisis requires urgent educational initiatives to teach both present and future generations the importance of water conservation.
From June 3 to June 14, AXA volunteers participated in environmental workshops and activities organized by four non-governmental organizations and social enterprises, focusing on marine conservation and the significance of water across all age groups. At a coastal cleanup and eco-tour in Shui Hau Wan, AXA volunteers and their families removed over 500kg of waste, including plastics and ropes, from the mangrove-fringed shore. The tour, led by experts from Green Power, provided participants with insights into the area’s ecological richness.
The WWF-Hong Kong hosted a “coral cookie” painting workshop to educate attendees about Hong Kong’s marine ecosystem and coral restoration efforts. Participants crafted “coral cookies” to aid the coral nursery in the “Reviving Our Corals” project, a collaboration with Coral Academy of CUHK. Another workshop by Green One Lab enabled AXA employees to learn upcycling sea glass—weathered glassware waste—into artistic handicrafts. These creations, including wooden boxes decorated with sea glass, will be sold at the AXA BetterMe Weekend to support A Drop of Life’s clean water initiatives in Southeast Asia.
Additionally, in partnership with A Drop of Life, AXA volunteers facilitated workshops for around 50 students with special educational needs, teaching them about water conservation through simple crafts. Sally Wan, Chief Executive Officer, AXA Greater China, stated, “Alongside caring for our customers’ holistic wellness, we are committed to building a sustainable future with the community. AXA’s ‘Week for Good’ is a cherished annual tradition that unites our volunteers to make a tangible impact on our local communities. This year, with a focus on ‘water,’ our team has dedicated their efforts to addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, such as ensuring clean water and preserving the marine ecosystem, bringing our promise ‘to act for human progress by protecting what matters’ to life.”
AXA is committed to being a vital ally for its customers, the economy, and society in addressing climate change and adaptation. By launching numerous initiatives, AXA seeks to deliver concrete, beneficial effects on the environment and inspire diverse stakeholders to collaborate toward fostering a greener, more sustainable future through collective action.
