Sustainable banking

The conjunction of crises that we currently face (climate crisis, ecological crisis, energy crisis and geopolitical crisis) underlines the importance of action and change at all levels - local, national, regional and international - to address global challenges.

Organizations around the world are increasingly aware of their economic, environmental and social responsibilities. They know that they can, and have the obligation to, contribute to making societies more sustainable by addressing economic, environmental and social issues in the short and long term. This can involve large investments.

In this context, the role of the financial sector is key as it needs to help mobilize private capital to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, the public sector alone cannot finance sustainability-focused projects and activities.

Sustainable finance goes beyond "greening" the financial sector, as it should also support human rights, gender mainstreaming, health promotion and inequality reduction efforts.