Regional Activities

Outreach Group

UNEP FI Survey on Sustainable Finance in the Asia Pacific

The state of sustainable finance practices in development finance institutions in the Asia Pacific

Introduction

UNEP FI undertook a survey of ADFIAP (Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific) member institutions and presented its findings at the 28th Annual Meeting of ADFIAP, 10-13 May in Fiji. From a sample of 19 ADFIAP members including many small institutions, UNEP FI found that many are already active in providing environmental products and services (eg. environmental loans and, microfinance) and undertake community developments (eg. community investment and community outreach). However only a handful have a sustainability management system or publish sustainability reports. Through this survey, the UNEP FI Asia Pacific Outreach Group has identified a need and interest in the conducting of training on sustainability management and reporting practices. This will enable these financial institutions to take a strategic approach to sustainable financial practices and to communicate their achievements effectively.

• Download ADFIAP meeting presentation (PDF: 675 KB)

Key findings from ADFIAP members’ survey (19 responses)

Characteristics of 19 ADFIAP members’ responded:

• Includes many small institutions (13 have <1,000 employees)
• Many (15/19) provide environmental products and services (eg. environmental loans, microfinance)
• Many (17/19) undertake community development (eg. community investment, community outreach)
• But only a handful have a sustainability management system (6/19) or publish sustainability reports (7/19)
• Many have expressed interest in education and training on sustainable finance

Conclusions

Despite active sustainable practices, few are:

• taking a strategic approach, nor
• communicating their achievements effectively.