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 Training
10 June, 2013 2013 Calendar - ESRA Online Training Programme
Since 2005, we have trained more than 3,300 professionals from the financial sector across all over the world in our Environmental and Social Risk Analysis (ESRA) Training Programme. The course is designed to educate risk managers and analysts in commercial, corporate, investment and retail banking in or dealing with developing countries and emerging markets in the identification, analysis and management of environmental and social risks generated through their lending and investment activities.
The course is a product of UNEP FI, the INCAE Business School through the Ecobanking Project and GIZ.
Upcoming Courses in 2013:
More information here.
Publication
17 May, 2013 Natural Capital Declaration Roadmap
 UNEP FI would like to announce the release of the Natural Capital Declaration (NCD) Roadmap. The Roadmap sets out a plan, providing preliminary guidance on how the four commitments in the Natural Capital Declaration can be implemented by the finance industry.
The release of the NCD Roadmap marks the transition from phase I of the NCD to phase II. Phase I refers to the preparation period that included six consultation workshops over an 18 month period in 2010 and 2011, which led to the launch of the Natural Capital Declaration at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012. By the time of the launch, the NCD had been endorsed by the CEOs of 37 financial institutions. Phase II of the NCD focuses on enabling financial institutions to implement the four core commitments through the development of the appropriate tool, metrics and frameworks. The NCD Roadmap lays out this process and provides a framework for the activities each of the four Working Groups, tasked with incorporating Natural Capital considerations into the financial decision making process.
View the publication here.
UNEP FI Community
15 April, 2013 Grupo Financiero Banorte connects with UNEP FI
Grupo Financiero Banorte, currently the third largest banking institution in Mexico measured by size of loans and deposits, is very proud to join UNEPFI.
In the words of their CEO Alejandro Valenzuela, they recognize that, “the world can no longer free ride or shut its eyes to the motion of natural capital. Its incorporation in any business decision will be critical if we truly desire a sustainable development in the global ecosystem. This is not an option, it is a necessity for our present and future well-being"
Grupo Financiero Banorte recognizes that sustainability is a journey and are proud to work alongside global financial institutions in pursuit of a green economy.
UNEP FI currently counts 5 members from Mexico. All are banks.
More information here.
News
5 December, 2012 Leading Property Investors Embrace Sustainable Decision Making
New Report Outlines How Leading Real Estate Investors are Integrating Responsible Property Investment Principles into their Investment Decisions
The today released report by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), Responsible Property Investment – What the leaders are doing 2nd edition outlines how leading global real estate investors are integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into the different stages of their investment processes.
The field of Responsible Property Investment (RPI) has gained increasing prominence and acceptance among real estate investors in both developed and developing countries over the past few years.
This report looks at each stage of the investment process and highlights case studies of what some of the foremost property investment organisations around the world have been doing to apply RPI principles within their decision-making, thereby improving the environmental and social performance or governance of their property portfolios.
View the publication here.
View the press release here.
News
5 December, 2012 Creating the “New Normal”
Perspectives on Financing Sustainable Development in the wake of Rio+20
In June 2012, the world’s leaders set in motion an intergovernmental process to develop ‘an effective Sustainable Development Financing Strategy to facilitate the mobilization of resources and their effective use in achieving sustainable development objectives'.
The Members of UNEP FI welcome this decision and are keen to assist a process that could be instrumental in bringing about adequate, low cost finance to address issues of sustainable development. Creating the New Normal aims to shed light on some of the issues which negotiators may wish to incorporate in their discussions going forward, identifying key points which it deems key for the development of a meaningful and successful sustainable development financing strategy.
View the report here.
Training
30 November, 2012 Online Course - Climate Change: Risks and Opportunities for the Finance Sector
The online course on "Climate Change: Risks and Opportunities for the Finance Sector" aims to equip staff from financial institutions with enhanced knowledge on climate change and carbon finance, specifically the Kyoto Protocol's flexible mechanisms, and to provide support for the development of effective internal policies and products. It will allow participants from financial institutions, banks, asset managers and insurers, to share knowledge on climate change mitigation and adaptation with an emphasis on the all-important role to be played by financial institutions.
More information here.
Register Now
News
20 November, 2012 World's Largest Investors Call for More Decisive Action by Governments on Climate Change
Representing trillions in assets under management, UNEP FI and global investor groups issue open letter to governments in wake of US President Obama’s re-election and Chinese leadership change
Institutional investor networks representing the world’s largest investors today published an open letter addressed to governments of the world’s largest economies calling for a new dialogue on climate change policy in order to avert dangerous climate change and its resulting economic impacts. The letter, announced ahead of international climate negotiations in Doha calls for:
- Clear, consistent and predictable policies that encourage low carbon investment;
- Knowledge sharing between governments on effective climate and clean energy policies, building on successful existing national and regional measures;
- Stronger international agreements that send clear market signals about the future of climate policy and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
View the open letter here.
View the press release here.
News
19 November, 2012 E-RISC: A New Angle on Sovereign Credit Risk report successfully launched in London
The E-RISC report was successfully launched today at a well-attended event, hosted by Bloomberg. It was initiated by UNEP FI, Global Footprint Network and a number of asset owners, investment managers and information providers.
The E-RISC (Environmental Risk in Sovereign Credit) project investigates sovereign credit risk from an angle that has been largely overlooked by bond markets to date: natural resource risks and environmental impacts. The project explored to what extent natural resource risks can impact a country’s economy and thus, its ability to pay its debts. With a current total of more than USD 40 trillion of outstanding sovereign debt, the stakes are high and the issue demands closer inspection.
Results provide a first insight into how factors such as resource prices, ecosystem degradation, and climate change impact national economies and provides a sense of how these criteria can be factored in sovereign credit risk models and hence in selection and weighting of sovereign bonds and sovereign credit ratings.
More information here.
Register for the E-RISC launch event in New York (12 December)
Publication
18 November, 2012 Launch of Chief Liquidity Series III
The third issue of the Chief Liquidity Series focuses on a number of sub-sectors within the broader extractive sector and was launched at event hosted by Societe Generale in Paris on 30 October.
Bringing together representatives from finance, industry, NGOs, consultants and the research community the event explored how water risks and opportunities are currently dealt with by the finance sector and industry. The second part of the highlight highlighted what metrics are currently in place to help the private sector understand, assess and deal with water-related risks.
View the publication here.
More information here.
Project
2 November, 2012 Launch of the E-RISC report in Sydney, London and New York
Following an 18 month preparatory period in 2010 and 2011, the E-RISC (Environmental Risk in Sovereign Credit analysis) kicked off in 2012 with the objective to assess the materiality of natural resource risks and environmental impacts for sovereign credit risk. It was initiated by UNEP FI, Global Footprint Network and a number of asset owners, investment managers and information providers.
We invite UNEP FI members and the wider financial community active in (sovereign) fixed income to join us for events that are scheduled in Sydney (9 November), London (19 November) and New York (11 December).
More information here.
Register for E-RISC event Sydney (9 November)
Register for E-RISC event London (19 November)
Register for E-RISC event New York (12 December)
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