The global insurance industry demands public-private action on climate change adaptation in developing countries

6 September, 2010

Four initiatives representing more than 100 leading international insurance companies are today calling on governments worldwide to harness risk management techniques and insurance expertise to help implement climate change adaptation measures in the developing world as well as to firmly anchor insurance mechanisms as part of the future international climate change regime under the UNFCCC. Read more...

Read the Statement: English, French, Spanish
See the Press Release.

Impact of Water Scarcity on Power Generation

6 September, 2010

UNEP FI launches Issue 2 of the Chief Liquidity Series at World Water Week in Stockholm

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) launched Issue 2 of The Chief Liquidity Series focused on the Power Sector at an event entitled ‘Seeking Liquidity: Integrating Corporate Water Performance into the Core of Financial Services and Capital Markets’, during World Water Week.

In an effort to encourage new thinking and foster creative solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges, the World Water Week in Stockholm convened leading experts, practitioners and decision makers in the field. UNEP FI led the discussion on how water stresses impacted business performance in water-intensive sectors. Read the Press Release.

The Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management (ICRM) at Nanyang Technological University joins UNEP FI’s Academic Working Group

30 August, 2010

UNEP FI welcomes the Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management (ICRM) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, into its Academic Working Group. ICRM, the first multi-disciplinary risk management research institute of its kind in Asia, aims to study the long-term costs of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts, as well as non-traditional risks including infectious diseases and terrorism. The institute, through the creation of a comprehensive database of catastrophes, both past and present, is developing tools and models to enable governments and the insurance industry to better analyse potential losses and elaborate robust risk-management strategies and policies. With a particular emphasis on Asia, the ICRM is an invaluable addition to the efforts by UNEP FI’s Insurance Commission in establishing a set of Principles for Sustainable Insurance. More on ICRM.

China and the green journey of its financial sector

25 August, 2010

Months before the UN climate change negotiations, the Head of UNEP Finance Initiative Paul Clements-Hunt visits China to engage policy makers and financial institutions.

Mr. Paul Clements-Hunt, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and Ms Wei Peng, UNEP FI Asia Task Force Coordinator, are visiting China in early September this year. Months before the UN climate change negotiations they will take the opportunity to engage senior policy officials and leading financial institutions with the view of discussing China's vision of its 'green finance' future.

Interested media representatives are invited to get in touch for interviews with Paul Clements-Hunt, whose schedule in China is the following:
1 - 5 Sept, Beijing
6 Sept, Shanghai
7 - 9 Sept, Xia Men

See the Full Media Information Note.

UNEP FI Welcomes Shenzhen Development Bank

23 August, 2010

The Shenzhen Development Bank (SDB) is a commercial bank headquartered in Shenzhen, China, with over 302 outlets in 20 leading cities. With an orientation towards financing small and medium sized enterprises, SDB’s assets totaled 587 billion Yuan by the end of 2009. SDB has a track record in promoting sustainable development. This includes the integration of environmental factors in its risk management strategy, the issuing of internal guidelines for extending credit to projects that promote energy savings and emission reductions or the extension of financial services to enterprises wishing to enhance their environmental practices and upgrade to eco-friendlier equipment. More on Shenzhen Development Bank...

International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC) formed

17 August, 2010

The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) announced the formation of the International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC). The world has never faced greater challenges: over-consumption of finite natural resources, climate change, and the need to provide clean water, food and a better standard of living for a growing global population. Decisions taken in tackling these issues need to be based on clear and comprehensive information, but as The Prince of Wales has said, we are at present “battling to meet 21st century challenges with, at best, 20th century decision making and reporting systems." Visit the International Integrated Reporting Committee (IIRC). See the Press release and the Q&A.

Overview 2009: See UNEP FI’s activities and member engagement from the previous year

5 August, 2010

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” -Albert Einstein

“2009 was the year of opportunity. As the global economy began recovering from the crisis, the finance sector faced multiple challenges and opportunities”, says Paul Clements-Hunt in UNEP FI Overview 2009. See what we did in 2009, how many we welcomed, how we intend to pave the Road to Rio+20, and who will lead the Initiative towards its 20th birthday. Overview 2009…

Standard Bank Joins UNEP FI

26 July, 2010

UNEP FI welcomes Standard Bank - the largest South African banking Group ranked by assets and earnings. Standard Bank has, with an emerging market focus, a wide representation which spans 33 countries and more than 6,500 points of representation on the African continent. Standard Bank’s approach to sustainability is less about drastic changes in the way it does business, and more about modifying the way it thinks about the inter-linkages between operations, the dynamics within emerging markets and the constraints/opportunities of the global environment. Standard Bank embarked upon its sustainability reporting journey in 2002, and has employed the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) - including the Financial Services Sectors Supplement indicators as a guide. More on Standard Bank...

Sovereign Joins UNEP FI Family

22 July, 2010

UNEP FI welcomes Sovereign - the largest life insurer in New Zealand. Sovereign provides personal and business life insurance, health insurance, home loan, investment and superannuation products to more than 650,000 customers. As a business committed to policy-holders’ long-term interest, Sovereign recognises the imperativeness of actively taking steps to create a compelling future for all its stakeholders – customers, colleagues and community. Sustainability at Sovereign means that it should become an integral part of business strategy and process. Sovereign’s current Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives include promoting health and wellbeing in local communities across New Zealand through Sovereign Sunshine. More on Sovereign…