How are Banks implementing the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
See how banks are aligning their strategies, decision-making, lending, and investments with the SDGs and international agreements like the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In September 2019, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside over a hundred member banks, initiated the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), recognising the global banking sector’s essential role towards advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The PRB serve as a global framework adopted by many banks to promote responsible banking practices. Member banks commit to aligning their strategies, decision-making, lending, and investments with the SDGs and international agreements like the Paris Agreement on climate change. Responsible banking practices are believed to yield both economic benefits and positive societal and environmental impacts through various channels. Since their establishment the Principles have seen substantial growth, with membership expanding from 130 founding banks in 2019 to 325 in 80 countries, representing almost USD 90 trillion in assets (around half of global banking assets).
Key facts about the PRB member banks:
- 94% of member banks have already initiated public strategies aligned with key global frameworks including the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
- Most member banks (77%) have set at least one public target regarding their most important positive or negative impacts.
- Almost all banks (94%) provide sustainable finance products and actively collaborate with specific clients to achieve climate objectives through tools, training and policies.
- A remarkable 98% of member banks have incorporated sustainability oversight into their governance structure, with 91% doing so at both the board and Chief Executive Officer levels.
By clicking on any region you can see what actions banks worldwide have taken on the PRB, through our collection of case studies: