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Climate change 22 Nov 2018

“The Principles for Responsible Banking demonstrate a clear commitment to a sustainable future”

“The Principles for Responsible Banking demonstrate the banking industry’s clear commitment to a sustainable future - the only future that is acceptable and profitable for everyone.” With these words, Christiana Figueres, Convenor of Mission 2020 and former Executive Secretary of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, expressed her support for the Principles for Responsible Banking, and called on banks, regulators and stakeholders to join them.

This call to action took place several days prior to the launch of the Principles for Responsible Banking, which will take place at a UN Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Global Round Table on November 26th in Paris.

Christiana Figueres is the head of Mission 2020, a global campaign promoting urgent action in order to reach a turning point in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and limit the effects of climate change - especially for those living in the most vulnerable countries.

"The launch of the Principles for Responsible Banking will take place on November 26th in Paris"

For Christiana Figueres, achieving the industry’s goals will require all actors to work together: “Banks should become signatories, as should the regulators that create investment policies.” However, the initiative will need to go beyond the sector in order to be effective: “Civil society should support the banking industry as they adopt and implement the Principles for Responsible Banking.” She feels that banks play a fundamental role in overcoming the global challenges that are the focus of this campaign and the Principles for Responsible Banking: “They demonstrate the banking industry’s clear commitment to take on a defining role in creating a sustainable future.”

In the framework of UNEP FI, Christiana Figueres has been one of the most active voices promoting this initiative that aims to completely transform the financial industry. The presentation of these principles at the UNEP FI Global Round Table will represent a monumental step for the banking sector in the battle to build a sustainable future.