5 May 2015 | Istanbul, Turkey

The Sustainable Finance Forum Turkey, launched in 2013 by UNEP FI in partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Development and Global Compact Turkey, hosted its third multi-stakeholder discussion on 5th May in Istanbul. The topic under discussion was sustainable finance in Turkey in the context of the current international processes on climate and sustainable development. The Forum, dedicated to understanding the complex interlinkages between finance and sustainability, and the practical ways to drive sustainability into the finance sector culture, this year focused on a broad range of subjects. These included the Turkish finance sector and its alignment with the post-Kyoto political commitments on climate change, water-related environmental and social risks and opportunities for finance, corporate governance in today’s financial markets, and practical tools and initiatives to mainstream sustainability in finance, with a focus on long-term financing. The varied and various representatives from across the finance sector included the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Istanbul Bilgi University and Sabanci University, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Şekerbank, Garanti Bankasi, Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi (TSKB), Borsa Istanbul and the Responsible Investment Banking Initiative. Participants shared their views and experiences on the Turkish finance sector’s contribution to both national and international sustainable development objectives. Turkey’s Presidency of the G-20 has put the country in the spotlight not only in terms its performance on sustainable business, but also in its ability to demonstrate its commitment to the global efforts to tackle climate change, improve resource efficiency and foster social well-being. A set of partners’ recommendations concluded this annual event, setting the tone for the future discussions and action on sustainable finance in the framework of the Forum and beyond.