United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

The UN holds a clear vision for what a responsible banking sector looks like. Responsible banks measure and manage the impact of their financing on people, society, the planet – underscoring the importance of aligning financial strategies with sustainability goals. To support member institutions in realising their #sustainablefinance ambitions, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is proud to launch new #casestudy and video resources: Banking on Sustainability: From Principles to Practice -- Responsible Banking Case Study Series. From exploring SDG interlinkages, to generating operational insights around governance and client engagement, to pioneering transition finance facilities, to spurring product innovation that improves customer financial health and inclusion, there are ample and diverse case examples to support peer banks and prospective PRB signatories with their own sustainable finance implementations. Access the case studies and companion video resources to learn more about how the Principles for #ResponsibleBanking (#PRB) framework is helping guide banks in their responsible banking practice. Case Studies >> https://ow.ly/ve3P50UQ8bp

“Nature deterioration is a driver for the traditional categories of risks that financial institutions are faced with: liquidity risks, operational risks, strategic risks, credit risks—you name it. And therefore we think it’s really squarely within our mandate to analyze these risks,” says Marc Reinke, Co-chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Risk at Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), in a recent webinar on the new UNEP FI and WWF report “Navigating Nature-related Regulations for Banks: Mapping the Policy Landscape.”   He adds, “Ultimately, our goal is to bring our knowledge of nature degradation and foremost its consequences for the financial system to the same level as our knowledge about climate and integrate it into our everyday work.”   Reinke, who is also Head of Sustainable Finance Office at De Nederlandsche Bank, notes the value of research and analysis on complex topics at the intersection of prudential policy, nature, and climate, saying, “It cannot be overstated how much it means to us practitioners to have these thorough reports that really set the scene for this important topic, draw conclusions that we can build on, and make for good cooperation.”   📄 Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gvGFvsUE   🖥️ Check out our blog post highlighting findings: https://lnkd.in/eyAUP4DT   ▶️ Watch the webinar on demand: https://lnkd.in/e6CW9jAm —featuring Reinke, Katie Lee (Bank Negara Malaysia), Guan Schellekens (European Central Bank), Sem Houben (UNEP FI), and Pina Saphira (WWF), with Maud ABDELLI (WWF), Romie Goedicke den Hertog (UNEP FI), and Laura Canas da Costa (UNEP FI)

Just launched! UNEP FI’s #HumanRights Toolkit for Financial Institutions, a comprehensive, step-by-step tool designed to help financial institutions align their business practice with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Thank you to European Investment Bank (EIB) for support in developing and financing the project. Kicking off the panel discussion yesterday, visiting expert Phil Bloomer from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre argued that “ethical practices are not only the right thing to do but also a smart business move. Institutions that prioritize human rights not only reduce risks but also gain the trust of regulators, consumers, and investors, positioning themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving market.” Watch the recording of the webinar launch here: https://ow.ly/eIIy50UPfAP To access the toolkit, click here: https://ow.ly/67hq50UPfoq #bizhumanrights #JustTransition

Central banks around the world are starting to acknowledge the necessity of tackling nature-related risks as part of their prudential mandate.   UNEP FI and WWF's new report, "Navigating Nature-related Regulations for Banks: Mapping the Policy Landscape", shows how central banks are starting to deploy their supervisory toolbox. As nature loss impacts the financial value of assets, it can have a material impact on the safety and soundness of individual banks as well as the wider financial system.   We observe that central banks are: ✅ Implementing supervisory benchmarks of banks’ nature risk management capabilities ✅ Integrating nature risk criteria in "fit and proper assessments" of new board members ✅ Conducting preliminary macro stress tests that address risk from biodiversity loss Learn more about how central banks are addressing nature-related risks: 📄 Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gvGFvsUE   🖥️ Check out our blog post highlighting findings: https://lnkd.in/eyAUP4DT   ▶️ Watch the webinar on demand: https://lnkd.in/e6CW9jAm —featuring Marc Reinke (Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) / De Nederlandsche Bank), Katie Lee (Bank Negara Malaysia), Guan Schellekens (European Central Bank), Sem Houben (UNEP FI), and Pina Saphira (WWF), with Maud ABDELLI (WWF), Romie Goedicke den Hertog (UNEP FI), and Laura Canas da Costa (UNEP FI)

There is still time to register for the webinar launch of the #HumanRights Toolkit for Financial Institutions happening today between 13:00-14:00 CET. The toolkit, originally announced at the #UNForumBHR in November, aims to support the application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The toolkit is the result of a coordinated effort between UNEP FI and the European Investment Bank (EIB), which supported the development of the toolkit and financed the project. For more information on speakers and to register for the webinar, click here: https://ow.ly/maoK50UOp4M #bizhumanrights #JustTransition

Is your financial institution taking meaningful action to uphold human rights? UNEP FI’s updated Human Rights Toolkit provides the practical guidance needed to confront human rights challenges head-on. As scrutiny from civil society over ethical practices intensifies, this new resource helps banks, investors, and insurers align with global standards and drive meaningful change. To learn more about how the toolkit reshapes the financial sector’s approach to human rights, read the UNEP FI news article here: https://ow.ly/f9My50UMwSu Launching on 28 January 2025, the toolkit is the result of a coordinated effort between UNEP FI and the European Investment Bank (EIB), which supported the development of the toolkit and financed the project. To register for the launch, click here: https://ow.ly/JEGu50UMoWw #bizhumanrights

Are you an #assetmanager with #investment vehicles and/or expertise in the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies or #climate solutions? If so, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (#NZAOA) would like to hear from you. NZAOA launched the below Request for Information, seeking to better understand the current investment landscape in the CDR sector. See the survey here: https://ow.ly/H6AT50UMaR1 for eligibility requirements and submit your response by 7 March 2025. By engaging with this work, asset managers will support asset owner clients in meeting their investment needs and priorities. Read more on the context and purpose behind the survey here: https://ow.ly/wVKm50UMaQZ #SustainableFinance #NetZero

UNEP FI is offering a new Regulatory Implementation Support Programme to help UNEP FI members and other stakeholders understand, implement, and comply with sustainable finance regulations and reporting requirements. The programme, which includes a mix of members-only and public offerings, will initially focus on the EU regulatory framework with a series of members-only webinars designed to address challenges related to CSRD/ESRS* implementation and reporting. Upcoming sessions in January will focus on climate and transition plans, including the European Banking Authority (EBA)'s first presentation of their new guidelines on the management of ESG risks, EFRAG's overview of their Implementation Guidance on Transition Plans for Financial Institutions, and the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance's discussion of transition plan requirements. Future CSRD sessions will cover thematic ESRS, and future public sessions will cover timely topics such as the EU Omnibus simplification package. Learn more about our Regulatory Implementation Support Programme: https://ow.ly/qrgp50ULi4h UNEP FI members can visit the Members' Area from this link to register for upcoming webinars and watch previous recordings. *Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive / European Sustainability Reporting Standards

Join an impressive lineup of speakers for the webinar launch of the #HumanRights Toolkit for Financial Institutions on 28 January: Phil Bloomer, Executive Director, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre  Charlotte Hill, Senior Sustainable Finance Advisor and Human Rights Focal Point, European Investment Bank   Fernanda Hopenhaym, Chairperson, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights  Lea Marie Toft Juliussen, Human Rights Lead, Danske Bank  Louise Vytopil, Sustainability Expertise Lead, ABN AMRO  Joana Pedro, Social and Human Rights lead, UNEP FI    The toolkit is designed to help financial institutions align their practices with the key components laid out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs): Policy Commitment, Human Rights Due Diligence, and Access to Remedy. A special thank you to European Investment Bank (EIB), which supported the development of the toolkit and financed the project.      For more information and to register for the webinar, click here: https://lnkd.in/dUKP9Gi7    #bizhumanrights #JustTransition 

The global economy must take bold action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, with CO2 requiring a 46% reduction by 2030. This transition demands moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, advancing electrification and energy efficiency, reducing land clearing, scaling carbon removal technologies, and implementing carbon pricing—all essential steps to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Our newly released Practical Guide to 1.5°C Scenarios for Financial Users empowers the financial sector to navigate this transformation, equipping institutions to support and finance the shift to a net-zero future while addressing the urgent need for emissions reduction. Download the report here: https://ow.ly/BgVi50UL6A3