Name: Advancing climate mitigation capabilities of banks in Africa & Middle East: Insights on challenges & opportunities
Start: 2025-04-16T09:00:00Z
End: 2025-04-16T09:01:01.000Z
Location: BrightTALK
Rating: 5

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between United Nations Environment and the global financial sector created in the wake of the 1992 Earth Summit with a mission to promote sustainable finance. More than 240 financial institutions, including banks, insurers, and investors, work with UN Environment to understand today’s environmental, social and governance challenges, why they matter to finance, and how to actively participate in addressing them.

UNEP FI’s work also includes a strong focus on policy – by facilitating country-level dialogues between finance practitioners, supervisors, regulators and policy-makers, and, at the international level, by promoting financial sector involvement in processes such as the global climate negotiations.

This webinar will explore how well-designed taxonomies can accelerate capital flows towards climate-resilient projects. It will examine global and regional approaches, practical lessons from implementation, and how taxonomies can support financial institutions and policymakers in making adaptation finance a mainstream practice. 

Designed for finance professionals, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners, this session will provide actionable insights into leveraging sustainable finance taxonomies as a catalyst for scaling adaptation finance. 

This webinar series is part of the Climate Adaptation Innovation Learning project (CAIL). CAIL is financed by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNIDO, in partnership with Climate KIC, Global Adaptation & Resilience Investment Working Group (GARI), and UNEP FI. We are developing a unique knowledge platform for climate adaptation - a hub to drive innovation and boost private sector engagement.

The role of sustainable finance taxonomies in scaling adaptation finance

The CID is the new flagship EU industrial policy initiative introduced by the European Commission on 26 February 2025. It is aimed at decarbonizing industries, fostering clean technology innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and circular business models, while enhancing global industrial competitiveness.

This session will explore some critical themes prioritized within the CID and the financing mechanisms supporting it, such as the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, with insights from the European Commission. In addition, financial institutions and industry associations will share their perspectives on the package.

Speakers include: 
- Stefanie Hiesinger. Head of Unit CLIMA.C.2 – Low Carbon Solutions: Research and Low Carbon Technology Deployment at the European Commission 
- Robert Spruijt. ING, Head Sustainable Solutions Group EMEA 
- Thorbjorn Lundholm Dahl. Danske bank, Deputy Head of Group Sustainability 
- Carlos Bravo Navarro. European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC)

Financing the Clean Industrial Deal

In celebration of International Human Rights Day, this webinar brings together voices from financial institutions, civil society, international organizations, trade unions, and academia to explore how climate action and respect for human rights can, and must, go hand in hand. 

In July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion affirming that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment stems from the interdependence between human rights and environmental protection. This means that climate action, encompassing all efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, is a cornerstone of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. 

In recent years, the message has grown louder and clearer: without inclusion and respect for human rights, there can be no just transition to sustainable societies. As financial institutions increasingly recognize this connection, the challenge now lies in translating principles into concrete action across governance, policy, risk management, and impact. Building on recent resources such as the UNEP FI Human Rights Toolkit, this session will offer practical guidance and real-world examples to help financial institutions integrate human rights into their climate strategies, advance a just transition, and deliver positive outcomes for people and planet.

Climate action and human rights: Practical pathways for financial institutions

Regional policymakers will reflect on the region's implementation of sustainable finance policies, with a focus on the LAC region's alignment and implementation of ISSB IFRS S1 and S2 standards.

Speakers will discuss  implications for the region and interoperability with European Sustainability Reporting Standards and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.

Speakers include: 
- Jonathan Bravo, IFRS Foundation
- More speakers to be confirmed soon.

This session is part of a series on ISSB implementation and the state of play of corporate sustainability standards across jurisdictions, through UNEP FI's Regulatory Implementation Support Programme. The series will include public and members-only sessions on timely topics related to ISSB, GRI, CSRD/ESRS, their interconnections as well as other relevant frameworks including prudential matters, and have both globally and regionally focused webinars.

Regional Implementation of Sustainability Reporting Standards in LAC

This session is co-hosted with the OECD Environment Directorate. It  will clarify the importance of tackling water-related risks in the current context of climate change, and its implications for financial institutions and their risk management practices.

Speakers will discuss current practices within the supervisory landscape on water-risk management by central banks and the importance of including and strengthening water-related indicators in supervisory frameworks. 

Speakers include: 
- Laylah Davies, OECD
- More speakers to be announced

The session will also look at UNEP FI's water-related materials and how financial institutions can manage their water risks.

Regulatory Implementation of Water Risks in Prudential Frameworks

Join the PSI Working Group for Nature for a webinar presenting its two-part report series, "Rooted in Risk: Framing nature-related assessments for insurers" and "Breaking Ground: Getting practical with nature-related assessments for insurers". Together, these reports provide initial insights for insurers on undertaking nature-related assessments within underwriting portfolios. 

The session will introduce key concepts and definitions on nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities (DIROs), and show how they apply across non-life and life & health lines of business. Participants will hear from insurers and technical experts on why nature assessments matter, how to use the reports in practice, and how to turn emerging insight into action across the insurance value chain. 

Breaking Ground will officially launch at the UNEP FI Regional Roundtable for Europe on October 28–29, 2025.

Nature Uncovered for Insurers: Making Nature Visible and Actionable for Insurers

This session will provide governments, financial institutions, businesses, and civil society with practical insights to align financial flows and trade in critical energy transition minerals with sustainability, equity, and accountability principles — ensuring protection of the environment and people, particularly indigenous communities.  

The transition to a low-carbon energy future is not optional; it is the foundation of the global response to climate change. At the heart of this transformation lie critical energy transition minerals — essential for producing, storing, and using clean energy. Yet, meeting the rapidly rising demand for these minerals presents a dual challenge: while demand is surging, the prevailing mining models risk causing severe social and environmental harm. 

Addressing this tension requires a new approach, one that reduces demand through circular solutions and sustainable models across the entire value chain. This session will explore how guidance can be translated into action, highlight best practices and case studies, and examine the policies, mandates, and accountability frameworks needed to foster equitable finance in the minerals sector to protect ecosystems and communities.

Speakers:
- Prof. Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environment Policy at University College London
- Wen-Yu, Critical Minerals Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- Shanning Dong, Chief Sustainability Officer, Bank of Jiangsu
- Dylan Boss, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Infrasrtucture and Water Management, Government of the Netherlands
- Peggy Lefort, Pollution & Circular Economy Lead, UNEP FI

Moderator: Kavita Sachwani, PRB Implementation Coordinator, UNEP FI

Financing a Just and Circular Future for Critical Energy Transition Minerals

Circular economy is the missing link in climate action. With half of global emissions linked to material use, integrating circular strategies into finance and the real economy is essential to achieving net-zero, nature-positive, and just transition goals. 

At COP30, where the urgency to scale mitigation and adaptation efforts is greater than ever, embedding circularity into financial systems and real economy strategies offers a concrete pathway to accelerate progress. This session will explore how responsible banking, global frameworks, and real-economy leadership can align to drive circular solutions—bridging climate, nature, and economic agendas to deliver measurable impact.  

Financial institutions, policymakers, and businesses all have a critical role to play in integrating circular economy principles into transition plans, sector guidance, investment criteria, and innovation pathways. Discussion will convene banks, investors, and real-economy actors to share practical guidance, global standards, and pioneering initiatives that position the circular economy as a strategic enabler of climate action— supporting NDC implementation, scaling circular financing, and driving real economy transformation.

Speakers:
- Delphine Garin, Circular Finance and Data Manager, World Business Council for Sustainable Development  
- Hege Sæbjørnsen, Circular Economy Lead, Ingka Group, IKEA 
- Alasdair Hedger, Senior Expert Measurement and Climate, Ellen MacArthur Foundation 
- Niina Pussinen, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lead, ABN Amro 
- Peggy Lefort, Pollution & Circular Economy Lead, UNEP FI 

Moderator: Kavita Sachwani, PRB Implementation Coordinator, UNEP FI

The Circular Economy: A Key Enabler of Climate Action

This session will examine transition plan requirements in sustainability reporting standards through a deep dive into ISSB's Transition Plan Guidance. Speakers will discuss the current regulatory and policy landscape related to transition plans. The webinar will also provide insights from currently available transition planning guidance for financial institutions, including UNEP FI's Transition Planning Guidance and the materials elaborated by the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT), which have been incorporated by the IFRS Foundation.

Speakers:
Richard Barker, ISSB Board Member
Jonathan Bravo, IFRS Foundation
Algirdas Brochard, London School of Economics and Political Science, Transition Pathway Initiative Centre
Orestis Valentzas, UNEP FI

This session is part of a series on ISSB implementation and the state of play of corporate sustainability standards across jurisdictions, through UNEP FI's Regulatory Implementation Support Programme. The series includes public and members-only sessions on timely topics related to ISSB, GRI, CSRD/ESRS and their interconnections, as well as other relevant frameworks including prudential matters, and features globally and regionally focused webinars.

Regulatory Developments in Transition Plans for Financial Institutions

This public webinar will focus on how the adoption of mandatory sustainability reporting policies interact with and complement the implementation of prudential-related sustainability reporting regulations. Financial institutions are subject to both types of sustainability reporting requirements. On one hand, they need to inform their investors and wider stakeholders about their sustainability practices and resilience of their business model to sustainability risks; on the other, they must report to regulatory authorities, such as central banks and supervisors, about their recognized sustainability risks and the mitigation measures they are taking. The latter is part of supervisory practices that aim to mitigate eventual risks to the wider financial ecosystem, acknowledging that financial institutions are subject to environmental or social shocks stemming from sustainability events. 

The session will bring insights to financial institutions on the connections between sustainability reporting on the corporate and prudential side, how financial institutions can prepare for both, interoperability considerations by financial supervisors, and the essential role of corporate sustainability reporting policies as part of the “enabling environment” that can support the development of regulatory or supervisory disclosure frameworks on sustainability. 

Check back for confirmed speakers.

This is the second session in a series of on ISSB implementation and the state of play of corporate sustainability standards across jurisdictions, through UNEP FI's Regulatory Implementation Support Programme. The series will include public and members-only sessions on timely topics related to ISSB, GRI, CSRD/ESRS, their interconnections as well as other relevant frameworks including prudential matters, and have both globally and regionally focused webinars.

Connectivity in Corporate and Prudential Reporting: Insights for financial institutions

This session will guide participants through practical approaches to identifying, assessing, and reporting physical climate risks in alignment with leading frameworks and best practices. It will explore how risk assessments can inform decision-making, strengthen portfolio resilience, and lay the foundation for effective climate adaptation strategies. 
 
Designed for finance practitioners, risk managers, and sustainability professionals, this webinar will provide actionable insights to help financial institutions integrate climate risk assessments into their core business processes and contribute to a more resilient financial system. 
 
This webinar series is part of the Climate Adaptation Innovation Learning project. Keep a look out for the next webinar in the series, which will take place in October on the role of sustainable finance taxonomies in scaling adaptation finance.

Climate Adaptation Innovation and Learning (#CAIL) is financed by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNIDO, in partnership with Climate KIC, Global Adaptation & Resilience Investment Working Group (GARI), and UNEP FI. We are developing a unique knowledge platform for climate adaptation - a hub to drive innovation and boost private sector engagement.

Assessing and disclosing physical climate risks for financial institutions: A key step towards climate adaptation

Sustainability risk is rapidly becoming a defining challenge for the finance sector, with climate change, environmental degradation, and social pressures increasingly impacting asset values, business models, and regulatory landscapes. Financial institutions are under growing scrutiny to not only understand these risks but to actively manage and disclose them.

This webinar explores how firms can leverage sustainability disclosures and climate stress-testing methodologies to identify vulnerabilities, meet evolving regulatory expectations, and build resilience in their portfolios. Join us to gain practical insights into integrating sustainability risk into your risk management frameworks.

The webinar will introduce two reports from UNEP FI’s Risk Centre that address these challenges: the recent Sustainability Disclosure Landscape Report and upcoming Climate Stress-Testing Methodologies Report.

Exploring the sustainability disclosure landscape and climate stress testing methodologies

Join UNEP FI, IFRS Foundation, and the ISSB Board for an insightful session exploring the current landscape of jurisdictional adoption of sustainability standards, with a particular focus on the global rollout of the ISSB’s IFRS S1 and S2 standards and implications for financial institutions. Speakers will provide an overview of available implementation and jurisdictional guidance, examine how different jurisdictions are approaching implementation, and highlight key guidance materials available to support implementation. The session will also delve into ISSB's interoperability with GRI Standards for a comprehensive double materiality approach to reporting and discuss regulatory developments in key jurisdictions.

Speakers include:
- Evie Robertson, IFRS Foundation/ISSB
- Bastian Buck, GRI
- Jeff Hales, ISSB
- Jonathan Bravo, IFRS Foundation
Additional speakers to be confirmed.

This is the first session in a series of on ISSB implementation and the state of play of corporate sustainability standards across jurisdictions, through UNEP FI's Regulatory Implementation Support Programme. The series will include public and members-only sessions on timely topics related to ISSB, GRI, CSRD/ESRS, their interconnections as well as other relevant frameworks including prudential matters, and have both globally and regionally focused webinars.

Global Implementation of Mandatory Sustainability Disclosure Standards

Pollution poses one of the most pervasive yet under-addressed risks to human health, ecosystems, and economies. From air, soil and water contamination to plastic waste and hazardous chemicals, pollution generates significant financial, legal, and reputational risks for banks and investors. At the same time, tackling pollution presents major opportunities for innovation, sustainable market creation, and positive environmental and social impact. This webinar will explore how banks can take a leading role in pollution reduction and management. Through the lens of science, policy and practice, the session will highlight strategies for integrating pollution considerations into risk assessment, deploying sustainable finance instruments, and forging effective public-private partnerships. 

In December 2024, UNEP FI launched ”Navigating Pollution: A Blueprint for Banks”, a practical guide to help banks identify, assess, and act on pollution-related risks and opportunities. To complement this cross-cutting guidance, UNEP FI will present two new sector-specific guidance documents on pollution reduction and management in the agriculture, and in the buildings & construction sectors. These sector briefs offer tailored insights into how banks can support pollution reduction across two high-impact sectors, with recommendations on setting practice targets and actions to accelerate implementation.

This webinar will share key insights from the overarching blueprint and the two new sectoral guidance, explore how pollution action aligns with emerging regulatory trends, and broader climate/nature goals, and share perspectives from banks, policymakers, and scientists across water, soil, and air pollution.

The agricultural sector guidance was co-developed with the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Pollution reduction and management in banking: Guidance for the agriculture and buildings & construction sectors

As climate risks grow, it’s increasingly important for both communities and banks to develop strong adaptation and resilience strategies. Banks play a vital role in funding climate solutions and also in strengthening their own operations and portfolios against these risks.
 
This webinar will introduce a new publication, "Practical guidance on implementing adaptation and resilience for banks." It provides clear steps to help banks incorporate climate adaptation and resilience into their risk management and business growth plans.
 
The guidance includes practical examples and recommendations to support banks and credit institutions in managing climate risks effectively while creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

Download the guidance at www.unepfi.org/industries/banking/adaptation-resilience-guidance/

Principles for Responsible Banking adaptation and resilience implementation guidance launch

Following the UN Ocean Conference and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum last month, momentum for sustainable blue finance is set to grow further. Part of the New Green Shoots webinar series, this special session on blue finance will highlight cutting-edge innovations for ocean-positive outcomes.

This session will focus on the key insights coming out of these events and what the growing blue finance wave means for financial institutions. The discussion will highlight the cornerstone principles, frameworks, and guidance that can build investor confidence for the ocean and ensure that finance is sustainable, accessible, and equitable. Partners will also highlight the #BackBlue Ocean Finance Commitment, which ensures that a regenerating and sustainable ocean has a seat at the table in finance and insurance decisions.

Featuring experts from UNEP FI, ORRAA, financial institutions, and industry, this webinar will explore how financial institutions and corporates can ride the wave of momentum from the UN Ocean Conference and build actionable strategies to embed ocean-positive and nature-positive solutions to advance healthy people, planet, and profit.

Innovations in blue finance: What’s next after the UN Ocean Conference?

Based on an upcoming Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) and International Labour Organization (ILO) guidance, this webinar will support banks in understanding how they can promote decent and inclusive employment through their financial activities, while minimizing potential adverse impacts on workers.

Through real-world examples, the session will highlight the strategic role banks can play in advancing decent work. It will explore how institutions can strengthen internal processes and policies, develop and tailor products and services, and engage with clients, as well as collaborate with public and private partners to drive meaningful change.

Speakers
- Rie Vejs-kjeldgaard, Director of the Department of Sustainable Enterprises, ILO
- Livio Sarandrea, Business and Human Rights Global Policy Advisor, UNDP & FAST Initiative
- Namit Agarwal, Social Lead, The World Benchmark Alliance (WBA)
- Jana Svedova, Senior Sustainability Strategy Advisor, The Entrepreneurial Development Finance (FMO)
- Giorgia Varello, Human Rights Specialist, ABN Amro
- Tonna Ezema Head, Sustainable Banking Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Nigeria
- Alexandra Blain, Head of impact bonds structuration, BNP Paribas
- Roger H Germer, Managing Director, The Sustainable Construction Sector Initiative

Moderators
- Emily Sims, Senior Specialis, ILO
- Magdalena Garcia Elorrio, Social and Human Rights Specialist, UNEP FI

Financing decent work: How can banks set targets and take action?

Through the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) many banks from Africa and the Middle East (AME) have started building a baseline of climate capabilities as well as setting their climate commitments and initial targets. Banks from the region are also seizing the commercial opportunities presented by sustainable finance in various climate mitigation sectors, including in renewable energy, green hydrogen, clean transportation, renewable-powered sea-water desalination projects, etc. 

However, with evolving regulations and public policies, further progressing of climate mitigation efforts requires continual strategic transformations and internal technical capacities development. 

This webinar will provide the opportunity for participants to learn from the experiences of leading financial institutions from the region as they showcase their climate mitigation efforts and engage in a peer-to-peer exchange on challenges ahead and opportunities from local and regional perspectives. It will provide an understanding of:

• the approaches different AME banks have taken towards climate mitigation, including the consideration of the evolving regulations and policies
• the foundational work banks have completed to develop an operational capacity for climate mitigation, including on climate risk management, impact analysis, and climate reporting
• how AME banks evaluate how climate change impacts their operations and portfolios across business lines and sectors, in alignment with the climate priorities outlined in NDCs and client/stakeholder needs

Speakers include:
• Ms. Mbombo Luhembe, Absa Group
• Mr. Samuel Kweku Kumah, Fidelity Bank Ghana

This webinar is part of a series of regional sessions on various climate-related topics relevant to the needs of banks from AME.

Advancing climate mitigation capabilities of banks in Africa & Middle East: Insights on challenges & opportunities

Climate Change

Climate Mitigation

Africa

Middle East

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Advancing climate mitigation capabilities of banks in Africa & Middle East: Insights on challenges & opportunities

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UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative