Transitioning to a more environmentally and socially sustainable world has become an urgent business imperative for banks and other financial services institutions. The financial services sector has a huge role to play in making this transition through the mobilization of capital. However, sustainability is not only about ethical principles. It also has everything to do with the oldest of banking principles: risk.

Climate change and social factors can bring tremendous risk to a bank’s assets and reputation. The environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda is driven not only by a change in corporate values, but also by customers, regulators, colleagues and investors. This massive, multidimensional challenge can be daunting, but it can also be an opportunity.

Some banks are already well down the ESG path. They have chosen to stop or radically reduce funding of certain sectors. They are actively promoting sustainable financial products. They have baselined their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But most financial institutions are just embarking on the journey, and the sheer scale and depth of the change is top of mind as they wonder: Where should we begin? What should we prioritize?

Complete the form to download this paper and discover why ESG is not a fad and why banks can’t afford to lag behind, especially with the scale and depth of the change required for ESG transformation. Learn why there is nothing to be gained by waiting, and everything to be gained by launching that journey now, with an eye on making your business more sustainable as you also make the world a better place.