News

Leading insurers, ocean conservationists, Oceana and UNEP FI issue first-ever guidelines to combat pirate fishing

27 February 2019

Today, UN Environment, Oceana and leading insurers issued a checklist of warning signs for pirate fishing activity, as part of a global insurance industry effort to curb illegal fishing. The risk assessment guidelines, launched at an international conference organised by UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI) and the global insurer Allianz, were developed […]

Give feedback on first ever global guidance for the non-life insurance industry on integrating sustainability

27 February 2019

The first ever guidance designed for the global insurance industry to integrate sustainability into industrial and commercial business has launched for public consultation today. The result of a multi-year initiative co-led by UNEP FI’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance and leading insurer, Allianz, the guide is designed to manage environmental, social and governance risks in insurance […]

Join the group of investors developing a legal framework for sustainability impact in investor decision-making

21 February 2019

A legal framework for the consideration of sustainability impact in investor decision-making Within the next decade, assessing and accounting for the sustainability impact of investment decision-making needs to be a core part of investment activity. In other words, consideration of how the investment decision affects sustainability issues, not just how sustainability issues affect the investment […]

Counting the cost: ENCORE helps banks assess exposure to environmental degradation

19 February 2019

When Madeleine Ronquest attended the Johannesburg launch of an innovative guide designed to help banks assess their exposure to environmental degradation, a quick look around the room proved it was no longer business as usual in the financial sector. “When I started out there weren’t any environmental or sustainability people in the banks, and (at the launch) […]

Principles for Responsible Banking on track to become industry standard as over 65 organisations now endorse

19 February 2019

Today 12 more banks are endorsing the UNEP Finance Initiative’s Principles for Responsible Banking, bringing the total number of banks supporting the new framework to 49. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Itaú Unibanco, CaixaBank, Wema Bank, Banco Galicia, BCC Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar, Banco De Fomento Agropecuario, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Spare Bank, Arion Bank, ALEXBANK, and […]

Call for feedback from investors on new IOPS guidelines on ESG integration in pension funds

12 February 2019

The International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS) has opened a public consultation on Supervisory Guidelines on the integration of ESG factors in the investment and risk management of pension funds. The consultation is open for feedback until 11 March 2019. IOPS is an independent international standard-setting body representing those involved in the supervision of private pension arrangements. […]

New Guide Launched In Zurich Empowers Banks To Assess Natural Capital Risk

16 January 2019

A week before the World Economic Forum in Davos, where global financial leaders will discuss society’s most pressing issues, the Natural Capital Finance Alliance (NCFA) has launched the world’s first step-by-step guide to help financial institutions conduct a rapid natural capital risk assessment.  The Natural Capital Finance Alliance engaged with PwC to produce the guide. […]

17 Institutions Become the First Endorsers of the Principles for Responsible Banking Joining the 28 Founding Banks

18 December 2018

Standard Chartered PLC, KBC Group, KB Financial Group, DGB Financial Group, Natixis, GLS Bank, Landsbankinn, Zenith Bank and Keystone Bank among first Endorsers of the Principles for Responsible Banking Standard Chartered PLC, KBC Group, KB Financial Group, DGB Financial Group, Natixis, GLS Bank, Landsbankinn hf., Zenith Bank and Keystone Bank become the first banks beyond […]

Climate Success at COP24: after intense negotiations new rulebook breathes life into Paris Agreement but much more decarbonisation ambition needed

18 December 2018

  On Saturday, following two weeks marked by dramatic rhetoric and intense negotiations over legal language, close to 200 Governments bridged a deep global divide and agreed on the set of rules meant to steer countries worldwide in implementing the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. UNEP FI’s Climate Lead, Remco Fischer gives more […]

At COP24: Group of 415 investors call on world leaders to address climate change

10 December 2018

Global investors today called on governments around the world to step up action to address climate change. 415 investors, with $32 trillion in assets-under-management, are behind the call-to-action as signatories of the 2018 Global Investor Statement to Governments on Climate Change.   The ‘Global Investor Statement’ reaches global leaders as the United Nation’s COP24 global […]

Key Words at the 4th Climate Finance Day: urgency & action

29 November 2018

The 4th edition of the Climate Finance Day, part of 3 days to scale up sustainable finance in Paris 26-28 November, brought positive news: climate finance flows exceeded 500 billion euros in 2017, the main European banks and insurers have shown their commitment to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, we need to […]

At UNEP FI’s GRT 2018 Day 2: Euronext opens markets in Paris with a call for urgent action for sustainable finance

27 November 2018

Euronext Bell Ringing Euronext opened financial markets in Paris on 27 November 2018 at Palais Brongniart in support of the Climate Finance Week in Paris dedicated to delivering a sustainable financial system with the UNEP FI Global Roundtable and the 4th Climate Finance Day. The event included participation from Eric Forest, Head of Listing France for Euronext, Philippe […]

Groundbreaking New Tool Enables Financial Institutions to see their Exposure to Natural Capital Risk

26 November 2018

The world’s first comprehensive tool linking environmental change with its consequences for the economy has been launched by the Natural Capital Finance Alliance (NCFA). The web-based tool, called ENCORE (Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure), will help global banks, investors and insurance firms assess the risks that environmental degradation, such as the pollution of oceans […]

France Roadmap Aims to Strengthen French Leadership in Responsible Investment

26 November 2018

Fiduciary duty in the 21st Century: Launch of the France Roadmap 26 November 2018 The France Roadmap – the latest in a series of market analyses from the Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century programme – was launched today at UNEP FI’s 2018 Global Roundtable in Paris, France. The roadmap, which sets out recommendations for […]