Latest News – September 13: SBFN hosts its 8th Global Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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The IFC-facilitated Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) concluded its 8th Global Meeting on September 11-12, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, alongside the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) meeting, marking a significant milestone in the global effort to align sustainable finance frameworks and elevate the voice of emerging markets on the international stage.
BSEC, established in 1993 as the regulatory authority overseeing Bangladesh’s capital market, continues to ensure the protection of investors and maintain transparent and efficient securities markets. Through this collaboration, BSEC is taking further strides to integrate sustainable finance into the country's development agenda, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SERC plays a crucial role in regulating, supervising, and developing Cambodia’s securities sector. It has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable finance within Cambodia and the broader ASEAN region, working closely with development partners to issue guidelines and promote the issuance of sustainable bonds. To diversify the sustainable bond products, SERC is also working on developing the sustainability-linked bond guideline.
The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has proactively established two key committees—the Risk Committee and the Investment Committee—each focused on addressing climate-related risks and promoting green investments within their respective scopes. In addition to these efforts, CBBH is poised to launch an ESG Task Force, which will be instrumental in developing a comprehensive roadmap for the bank’s ESG initiatives. A new strategy for the period 2025-2027 is also under preparation, setting forth the bank’s future goals and activities related to ESG and climate issues.
The Sustainable Finance Roadmap, developed in close collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and informed by the SBFN Toolkit for Developing National Sustainable Finance Roadmaps, sets a strategic vision for the Republic of Moldova, introducing key terms into the country’s legal framework and setting priorities for action from 2024 to 2028. It includes four main pillars, each detailing specific actions and measures to be implemented, ensuring a structured approach to achieving sustainable finance objectives.
On World Environment Day, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the Philippines kicked off its 2nd Climate Forum, a pivotal event dedicated to fostering discussions and actions towards the net-zero transition for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Held from June 5 to June 7, 2024, the forum convened key stakeholders including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), an SBFN member since 2013, Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and significant private sector partners such as The Alliance for Green Commercial Banks, Bank of the Philippine Islands, RCBC, GCash, and Maya.
Established in 2001, the CBCG is responsible for monetary policy, and the establishment and maintenance of a robust banking system and an efficient payment system. In response to the pressing challenges of sustainability, the CBCG has enacted policies to strengthen its financial system's resilience. In line with this commitment, in 2022 it adopted the Central Bank of Montenegro Policy Related to Climate Change Challenges and also joined the Network for Greening the Financial System.
ABANC, a non-profit organization, represents all banks in Angola while fostering inclusivity and independence within the banking sector. Founded with the aim of fortifying Angola’s financial infrastructure and fostering stronger ties with society, ABANC is committed to nurturing a resilient banking sector that aligns with the nation’s evolving needs. Prioritizing ESG and sustainable finance, ABANC has initiated a dedicated task force to execute its strategic agenda, targeting key milestones over the next 2 to 3 years: (i) promoting alignment with global sustainable finance standards, (ii) fostering innovation, credibility, and operational efficiency in banking practices, and (iii) facilitating strategic alliances for the association and its members.
In a concerted effort to embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and Sustainable Finance practices, Banking Associations (BAs) across the Western Balkans gathered for a Training of Trainers (ToT) event on April 26, 2024. Organized by IFC's Integrated ESG Program in collaboration with the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) and Sustineri Partners, the event unfolded under the auspices of the ESG Adria Summit
The 2024 Global Progress Brief highlights key achievements, challenges, and opportunities within the SBFN community across three pillars of sustainable finance defined in the SBFN Measurement Framework developed by members: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Integration, Climate and Nature-Related Risk Management, and Financing Sustainability.
AMB, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the performance of the banking sector in Montenegro, has demonstrated remarkable dedication and tangible progress in fostering an environment conducive to sustainable finance. Notably, AMB has spearheaded various sustainability initiatives within the banking sector, including the Green Finance Forum, a collaborative effort with the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro. This platform provided banks with an opportunity to showcase sustainable finance projects, with a particular focus on empowering young entrepreneurs and women in business.
In an effort to raise environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, BPNG actively encouraged sustainability initiatives within the banking sector and launched the Inclusive Green Finance Policy (IGFP) project initiative in 2021, aiming to deepen insights into climate resilience and inclusive green growth in Papua New Guinea. A cornerstone of this effort is the establishment of a dedicated Green Finance Center by BPNG to spearhead the implementation of the IGFP and drive green finance-related initiatives.
The Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) is pleased to announce the official commencement of its collaboration with the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT). In a working session held on April 2, the Chairman of the National Bank of Tajikistan, Tolibzoda Firdavs, engaged in discussions with representatives of SBFN and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) regarding the goals and expectations of NBT’s membership in SBFN.
CRMS is an integrated framework that includes aspects of governance, strategy, risk management and disclosure to assess the resilience of bank business models and strategies in facing climate change in the short, medium and long term. The initiation of guidance development related to climate risk management in Indonesia itself has been started since 2023 through the issuance of initial guidance which is further developed to be more comprehensive as outlined in the 2024 CRMS Guideline document.
The Bank of Albania has demonstrated significant commitment and tangible progress in fostering a conducive environment for sustainable finance. This includes the development and approval of the Green Medium-Term Strategy 2023-2025 for “Management and Supervision of Climate–related Financial Risks in the Financial Sector”, which outlines a comprehensive action plan focusing on capacity building, research, risk assessment, and the promotion of international and local cooperation in the realm of sustainable finance.
Makhtar Diop, IFC's Managing Director, has called for global alignment of sustainable finance taxonomies to direct capital to urgent common goals, such as addressing climate change. He explains that, while each country has its own needs and priorities, policymakers and regulators can identify common design features, align impact metrics and accounting standards, and embrace an “adopt or adapt” approach — borrowing templates or criteria from others and adjusting as needed.
ABJ is the banking association of Jordan which was established in 1978. As an esteemed member of the Union of Arab Banks, ABJ is dedicated to enhancing the banking industry. The core objectives encompass safeguarding the interests of its members, modernizing banking services, fostering comprehension of banking practices and standards, and maintaining adherence to unified regulations and procedures.