HSBC has distanced itself from a senior executive who accused central bankers and other officials of exaggerating the financial risks of climate change.

Last week, Stuart Kirk, a leader in the bank’s responsible investing team, said: “There’s always some nut job telling me about the end of the world.”

Over the weekend, HSBC’s CEO, Noel Quinn posted on social media that he did not agree “at all” with the comments.
The firm declined to comment on reports that Mr Kirk has been suspended.

Mr Kirk, who is global head of responsible investing at the bank’s asset management division, was suspended pending an investigation into a speech he made at an event last week, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the story. His role, which is based in London, involves considering the impact of investments on environmental, social and governance issues.

HSBC came under pressure after Mr Kirk gave a presentation entitled “Why investors need not worry about climate risk” at a conference last Thursday. In the address he downplayed the risks of major floods and said that he had to spend his time “looking at something that’s going to happen in 20 or 30 years”.

During the 15-minute presentation at the FT Moral Money Summit, Mr Kirk said “Climate change is not a financial risk that we need to worry about.”

“Unsubstantiated, shrill, partisan, self-serving, apocalyptic warnings are ALWAYS wrong,” a slide shown as part of the presentation said.

Later in the presentation, he said: “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.”

In a LinkedIn post on Saturday, the bank’s group chief executive, Noel Quinn said he did not agree “at all” with Mr Kirk’s remarks. “They are inconsistent with HSBC’s strategy and do not reflect the views of the senior leadership of HSBC or HSBC Asset Management,” he said.

Nuno Matos, chief executive of wealth and personal banking at HSBC, said that he was “in complete agreement” with Mr Quinn and that “the transition to net zero is of utmost importance to us”.

HSBC Asset Management chief executive, Nicolas Moreau referred to climate change as “one of the most serious emergencies facing the planet”.

“HSBC Asset Management is committed to driving the transition to a sustainable global economy and has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure its clients’ monies are managed for positive long-term environmental and social outcomes,” Mr Moreau added.

However, both the theme and content of the presentation had been approved within the company, according to the FT.