Sustainable finance is trending and transforming the banking and payments space – so we track its origins and future

UNEP Finance Initiative launches

In 1991 , the UNEP Finance Initiative was launched when a group of banks partnered with UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme ). The aim of the partnership was to promote better sustainability practices throughout the world and enhance the role of the global finance industry in that implementation .

An agreement is reached

Just 12 months later , the core aims and objectives of the UNEP Finance Initiative were reached . The group of commercial banks involved began to engage in an evangelisation programme that began to engage more banks and financial services institutions , VCs , agencies , and more in a conversation regarding financial sustainability .

Building momentum

As the dialogue and engagement increased , the UNEP Finance Initiative established three regulatory frameworks for financial institutions to work towards . They are : The Principles for Responsible Investment ( PRI ); The Principles for Responsible Banking ( PRB ); and the Principles for Sustainable Insurance ( PSI ).

18 April 2023