The finance sector is a critical engine of the global economy, providing the lifeblood to millions of people and businesses from around the world in the form of financing such as loans, insurance and investment - banks, insurers and investors have the potential to catalyse the transition to greener, more resilient economies. But to do that, they need to understand the commercial risks and opportunities and know how to act on them. Through building coalitions of financial institutions that work together to find ways to decarbonise their business such as the Net-Zero Asset Owner, Insurance and Banking Alliances, and developing research and guidance to implement frameworks such at the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, UNEP’s Finance Initiative helps financial institutions manage the risks and identify the opportunities linked to climate change.
At the same time, governments and financial regulators need to understand the roles, potentials, and policy-needs, of financial institutions and how they can help steer the finance sector to become an enabler of change. As the interface between the financial industry and world governments, UNEP Finance Initiative is uniquely positioned to help policy makers and the finance sector deliver the net-zero transition, fulfil the goals of the Paris Agreement, and build a low-carbon future.
The UNEP Finance Initiative brings together a large network of banks, insurers and investors that collectively catalyses action across the financial system to deliver more sustainable global economies.
For more than 30 years the initiative has been connecting the UN with financial institutions from around the world to shape the sustainable finance agenda. We’ve established the world’s foremost sustainability frameworks that help the finance industry address global environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges.
Visit the UNEP FI website for more information.
