Partnership between United Nations Environment and the global financial sector to promote sustainable finance
22 October 2021
Earlier this week I wrote about the progress being made by the signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking as they work to put sustainability front and centre of their businesses. I described the shift in the industry from taking a uniquely risk-based approach to sustainability integration, to one that is more focused on…
22 October 2021
On 6 October the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) held its first Plenary meeting, bringing together the TNFD Co-Chairs, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and David Craig, former CEO of Refinitiv and Group Leader of Data & Analytics Division at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG),…
21 October 2021
To support the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) with developing a robust framework for nature-related risks, Global Canopy and UNEP FI are testing TNFD core concepts and an exploratory disclosure framework with organisations operating or investing in soy supply chains Companies and financial institutions are increasingly aware that they may be exposed to nature-related…
20 October 2021
Less than two weeks away from COP26, the UN-Convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance launches its inaugural, biennial Progress Report, highlighting that 29 of its member investors have committed to reducing portfolio emissions by 25-30% by 2025 across three asset classes. This range is higher than the targets set by the inaugural Target Setting Protocol,…
18 October 2021
COP26 has been dubbed the ‘finance COP’ in recognition of the crucial role of the global financial industry in delivering on the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. In a series of blogs in the lead-up to the conference, UNEP FI Head, Eric Usher assesses how financial institutions are integrating sustainability into their business strategies…
15 October 2021
Sustainable Seafood can be one piece of the puzzle in ensuring food security in a low-carbon future. Global leaders are meeting at the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit this week discussing innovations in the space. The blue (ocean) economy offers many opportunities for private finance to lend and invest in a sustainable and nature-positive way. Here we…
15 October 2021
Three Japanese insurance companies joined the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, adding a combined US$1.4 trillion to total assets under management (AUM) and total membership of 53. Japan’s Nippon Life, Sumitomo Life, and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance announced their membership, committing to net-zero portfolios by 2050 and establishing interim targets every five years in line…
14 October 2021
Members of the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance invite the public to comment on new additions and revisions to the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance Protocol for inclusion in a second version which will be released in Q1 2022. This Consultation is open until 29 October 2021. READ THE PROTOCOL AND SUBMIT YOUR INPUT
14 October 2021
New baseline report provides a status update on how the global coalition of banks are implementing the Principles, highlighting progress made and challenges to be addressed. Geneva, 14 October 2021 – A new report summarising the progress made by banks who have signed the Principles for Responsible Banking finds that signatories are showing early signs…
13 October 2021
13 October 2021—In the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) convened by UN Environment Programme’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI) has expanded its membership, announcing today five new members from Africa, Asia and Europe as part of its efforts to build a global alliance.
6 October 2021
The industry-led, UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Centre for Climate-Aligned Finance. The collaboration is designed to harmonize, develop and implement climate alignment methodologies for financial institutions, focused on sectoral decarbonisation. The Center and the Alliance have a shared ambition for excellence in the pursuit of common goals…
30 September 2021
The UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance today welcomed the French and Swiss insurance associations as supporting partners. The Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) said in a statement that the long-term orientation of their members’ business models makes it virtually incumbent on insurers to help drive forward sustainability. In their investment policy in particular, the SIA’s member…
30 September 2021
With the Zero and Low-emission Innovation Forum – co-hosted by the IMO and UNEP – having been held this week, the transformation of the maritime transportation sector is taking centre stage this autumn. In this article we look at some of the leading examples of best practice in social and environmental sustainability across the maritime transportation sector which banks, insurers and investors can seek out.
30 September 2021
The Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) announces taskforce members and launch of consultative forum, leveraging global nature and finance expertise. Taskforce Members will work with TNFD Co-Chairs to deliver the Framework in the next two years.
23 September 2021
The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable for Latin America and Caribbean was held virtually from 31 August – 2 September 2021, and welcomed 1100+ participants and 40+ speakers to help define the role of banking, insurance and investment in shaping ambitious responsible and sustainable strategies to proactively address the challenges and opportunities of a green recovery whilst…
23 September 2021
La Mesa Redonda Regional de UNEP FI para América Latina y el Caribe se llevó a cabo virtualmente del 31 de agosto al 2 de septiembre de 2021, y dio la bienvenida a más de 1100 participantes y más de 40 oradores para ayudar a definir el papel de la banca, los seguros y la…
23 September 2021
A Mesa Redonda Regional da UNEP FI para a América Latina e o Caribe foi realizada virtualmente de 31 de agosto a 2 de setembro de 2021 e deu as boas-vindas a mais de 1100 participantes e mais de 40 palestrantes para ajudar a definir o papel dos bancos, seguros e investimentos na formulação de…
23 September 2021
It is increasingly recognized that the finance and banking sectors can have a huge influence on the economy, through the way that they decide to invest in, and fund, businesses, and in Thailand, the UN is helping the government to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable finance.
23 September 2021
Asset owners must immediately scale investment into impactful carbon management and negative emissions technologies both inside and outside of value chains, according to a new position paper from the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. Following the recent special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Alliance recognizes that fostering rapid and deep…
22 September 2021
2 years since launch, we celebrate the Principles for Responsible Banking and the work of signatory banks as they continue along their 4 year journey of implementation. We also welcome new signatories who now number almost 250 banks representing 40% of banking assets worldwide, and take a look forward to the report on collective progress, scheduled for publication in October this year.