Why is this important?
We know that managing the environment well is good for business. Our economy and societal wellbeing depends on a healthy planet. So we’re working to help our customers understand environmental risks and providing products and services to make it easier for our customers reduce their environmental impacts whilst improving their long-term profitability.
What do we do?
We are providing products and services that enable our customers to make long-term decisions that are good for the environment and their bottom line. We became an inaugural signatory to the Natural Capital Declaration – an initiative of the Natural Capital Finance Alliance – in 2011 and we are integrating consideration of environmental impacts and dependencies into our day-to-day risk management practices and decision-making.
The transition to a low carbon, resource-efficient economy in which our natural assets are valued and managed sustainably will require the scaling-up of private-sector investment in clean technology applications and systems for natural capital management around the world, both in developed and developing economies. From power generation and energy efficiency measures to transport infrastructure and smart agricultural practices, significant investment in existing and new technologies will be necessary.
Mitigating climate change requires changing the way we use energy – and how we invest in energy development. Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies promise significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment. Alongside measures to reduce the demand for emissions-intensive goods and services, significant stock of public and private infrastructure will also need to be replaced or modified. This provides an opportunity to invest in the technology, physical plant and equipment and infrastructure that will deliver emissions reduction outcomes.