Andrew Harper was interviewed by ITV’s Business and Economics Editor, Joel Hills, in collaboration with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Featured nationwide on ITV News at 10 on January 19, 2024, the investigation exposed HSBC’s continued financing of expansionist oil and gas projects despite its climate commitments. The bank was found to be using alternative capital-raising methods, such as facilitating share sales, to bypass accountability. Following further scrutiny, the Financial Times confirmed in February 2024 that HSBC will now include off-balance sheet emissions in its annual report—an outcome that Epworth believes was directly influenced by this media pressure.

Epworth also facilitated a high-level dialogue between Cardinal Vincent Nichols and HSBC’s leadership, discussing the bank’s stance on democratic rights in Hong Kong, its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its pledge to stop financing new oil and gas projects. Additionally, Epworth previously featured in a 2021 investigative report that alleged HSBC was attempting to weaken climate action within the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a story nominated for ESG Story of the Year.