The Bank That Broke Rank: What HSBC’s Net-Zero Exit Means for the Financial Sector

HSBChas officially withdrawn from theUnited Nations(UN)-backedNet-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), becoming the first major UK bank to do so. This decision has sparked debate across the financial world — is this a step toward climate pragmatism, or a retreat from accountability? As more banks question the value of collective climate commitments, the rise of AI in sustainability could reshape the net-zero journey altogether.