In November 2022, UNEP FI convened for the second time its Leadership Council of CEOs of banks and insurers to explore how sustainable finance can be deployed to address increasingly complex environmental, economic and social challenges. CEOs were joined by UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance Mark Carney, and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen chaired the meeting to focus on two priorities: reinforcing the integrity of sustainable finance and aligning private finance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals despite geopolitical challenges and economic headwinds. The discussion highlighted the importance of standardising and harmonising sustainable finance regulations across the globe to ‘level the playing field’ for financial institutions to scale solutions and combat greenwashing.

About the Leadership Council

Chaired by Inger Andersen, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, the UNEP FI Leadership Council was established in 2021 to bring together CEOs of institutions serving on the UNEP FI Global Steering Committee, the board of the Principles for Responsible Banking or the board of the Principles for Sustainable Insurance. The council meets annually, providing vision and strategic direction to UNEP FI in orienting its role and that of the UN, in shaping, mainstreaming and deepening sustainability integration across the industry. It will further mobilise the financial community to support a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy.