Navigating the dynamic intersection where science, regulation, standards and sustainable innovation meet, responsible banks play a critical role as both financial intermediaries and as agents of transformation.
By aligning their core strategies, business processes, financial portfolios and client engagement practices with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) show commitment to supporting and accelerating a positive global transition for people and planet.
But exactly how do they evidence that commitment – and where, as leading responsible banks, should they set their ambitions for 2030 and beyond?
To be understood in conjunction with our strategy note, Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future – Priorities for a Global Responsible Banking Sector, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is pleased to make new guidance available to member banks through our Responsible Banking Blueprint – A roadmap for action on climate, nature and biodiversity, healthy and inclusive economies and human rights.
Developed as a support for banks seeking to deliver impactful outcomes while addressing the most pressing sustainability needs facing financial institutions, policymakers and civil society today, the Blueprint captures the cutting edge of responsible banking ambition in seven key areas:
- Strategy
- Internal processes and policies
- Portfolio composition and financial flows
- Client engagement
- Advocacy and partnerships
- Target-setting and implementation via action and transition plans
- Transparency and disclosure
Threaded through each of these considerations are four inter-related thematic priorities, upon which both the Blueprint and responsible banking practice rests:
- Climate change – supporting the transition towards net-zero and climate resilient development (Paris Agreement)
- Nature and biodiversity – supporting the halt and reversal of nature loss (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework)
- Healthy and inclusive economies – supporting socio-economic action that leaves no one behind (UN Sustainable Development Goals 7, 8, 9, 12)
- Human rights – supporting the protection of universal human rights (UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Identified together with signatory banks and based on recommendations from civil society organisations, these priorities are key to banks understanding what ambition can look like and to inspire them in their transformation journeys.
Download the Responsible Banking Blueprint here.
The UN Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) recognises climate, nature and biodiversity, healthy and inclusive economies and human rights as the fundamental priorities that support and accelerate a positive global transition for people and planet. As such these priorities sit at the core of the strategies, policies and practices of leading responsible banks.
To be read in conjunction with the Responsible Banking Blueprint, our deep dive into the PRB’s four strategic priorities, Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future – Priorities for a Global Responsible Banking Sector, is aimed at banks seeking holistic support across the priorities as they conduct impact analysis, set initial or extended targets, or prepare for target implementation according to the action or transition plans they have in place.
Setting forth current challenges, supporting frameworks and impactful outcomes that can be achieved within each area of focus, the Priorities guidance can be used to engage strategically across a banks’ diverse stakeholder ecosystem, including its Board, C-suite executives, ESG leadership, sales and product teams, risk professionals, etc. Download Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future – Priorities for a Global Responsible Banking Sector here.