Partnership between United Nations Environment and the global financial sector to promote sustainable finance
14 September 2021
14 September 2021 – In the run-up to the most consequential United Nations climate change conference in years, and on the heels of another urgent warning from the world’s leading scientists, a record number of 587 investors with US$46 trillion in assets under management are urging governments to rapidly implement five priority policy actions…
6 September 2021
The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), in collaboration with the UN-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), today announced the launch of a working group comprising leading insurance and reinsurance companies to develop the first global standard to measure and disclose insured greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
16 August 2021
Geneva 16 August 2021 – A new report investigating the extent that real estate markets are pricing in risk from the physical impacts of climate change has been published today. In line with increasing investor and regulator requests for forward-looking analyses of assets and portfolios, the authors sought to better understand the variables that can…
9 August 2021
As we learned today from the IPCC, climate-related risks – for our planet and our communities – are increasing faster than expected, as the current trajectory in global carbon emissions is rapidly exceeding our estimated carbon budget. The delay for global action and fast transition of the economy is getting us farther from our objective of…
5 August 2021
The blue (ocean) economy offers many opportunities for private finance to lend and invest in a sustainable and nature-positive way. Here we look at some of the leading examples of best practice in social and environmental sustainability across the port sector which banks, insurers and investors can seek out.
27 July 2021
The industry-led, UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance today appoints a 12-member-strong Steering Group and Chair to oversee decision-making and strategy, guiding the technical work and collective progress of the Alliance. The new governance will allow the Alliance to drive collective and credible progress towards aligning members’ lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050. As well as providing a level of accountability for the…
26 July 2021
On 22 July 2021, the G20 environment ministers gathered in Naples committing to ‘continue and increase’ their efforts to address the triple crises of climate change, nature loss and pollution. Finance, both ‘green’ and ‘blue’ was on the agenda, as ministers highlighted the urgent need to direct financial flows and mobilise finance sources to align…
21 July 2021
New research provides a legal framework for institutional investors internationally as they seek to address key environmental and social sustainability challenges, and sets out the opportunities for policy reform 21 July, LONDON – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) has today released a new report, A Legal Framework for Impact, commissioned by The Generation Foundation, the United…
19 July 2021
UNEP FI has responded to the TCFD’s consultation on its proposed guidance on climate-related metrics, targets, and transition plans and measuring portfolio alignment: technical supplement (‘PAT Supplement’) and offered some recommendations for further enhancement of the guidance.
19 July 2021
Several milestones in sustainable finance are highlighted in our overview of UNEP FI’s work during the period from July 2019 to December 2020, which provides a summary of initiatives that are helping to transform the financial sector. Read the report’s foreword here to find out more.
12 July 2021
Background United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is seeking a professional education body to develop an online learning academy – the Responsible Banking Academy – to support implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking. The education body will support implementation of UNEP FI’s training strategy through the development and delivery of online learning…
11 July 2021
Geneva/Venice, 11 July 2021—As the G20 gathers in Venice for its Climate Summit, eight of the world’s leading insurers and reinsurers make a historic commitment to play their part in accelerating the transition to a net-zero emissions economy, as required by the Paris Agreement.
11 July 2021
The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, established in April 2021 by 43 founding banks, and convened by UNEP Finance Initiative, has now grown to 53 banks from 27 countries with US$ 37 trillion in total assets – representing almost a quarter of banking assets worldwide. Announced at the G20 Venice International Conference on Climate, the 10 members who have joined since the launch of the Alliance are: ABANCA, AIB, Banco Bradesco S.A., Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel, Groupe BPCE, MUFG, Nationwide Building Society and Swedbank.
9 July 2021
The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable for Asia Pacific was held virtually from 1-3 June 2021, and welcomed 400+ participants and 30+ speakers to help define the role of banking, insurance and investment in shaping ambitious responsible strategies to proactively address the challenges and opportunities of a green recovery, whilst transitioning to a low-carbon, inclusive and…
8 July 2021
The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable for Africa and Middle East was held virtually on 22 and 23 June 2021, and welcomed 400+ participants and 30+ speakers to help define the role of banking, insurance and investment in shaping ambitious responsible strategies to proactively address the challenges and opportunities of a green recovery, whilst transitioning to…
6 July 2021
On 6 July 2021, the European Union (EU) published its Strategy for Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy, showcasing the areas of key development since the Action Plan for Financing Sustainable Growth was published in March 2018. The publication establishes the strategic priorities and next steps in terms of both legislative and non-legislative actions in the EU with a clear aim to support the EU Green Deal and the path to a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050.
6 July 2021
The ocean is not just a victim of climate change, it is also a source of solutions. The transition to a sustainable “blue” economy is an opportunity to re-cast how we use, manage and protect ocean resources in a more integrated manner. Unlocking the financial sector for the sustainable blue economy allows for the potential of an environmentally and socially sustainable future that will be resilient to the impacts of climate change while providing livelihoods, food and prosperity.
6 July 2021
Today’s global carbon-pricing landscape can and should be transformed in a matter of years and pave the way for 1.5ºC-aligned emissions regulation, according to a new discussion paper from the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, convened by the UN. Alliance members are committed to leveraging their portfolios to rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and…
30 June 2021
Geneva, 30 June 2021 – UNEP FI has launched two new tools for impact analysis; the Real Estate Impact Analysis Tool and the Investment Portfolio Impact Analysis Tool. The two new tools join the Portfolio Impact Analysis Tool for Banks and the Corporate Impact Analysis Tool (launched in 2020) to offer a suite of tools…
29 June 2021
In an interview with ITV News, Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, urged international lenders to join the Net-Zero Banking Alliance before COP26 begins in Glasgow in November. “The question for those institutions is to get themselves in a position so they can make these commitments,” Mr Carney says. “And, to be clear, these are serious commitments. You are committing to net zero, you’re committing to show how you are going to get there.”