A short story to illustrate the (super)powers Fellows uncover during the Fellowship.

Natalie speaks with Fellows about integrating learning from the Climate Safe Lending Fellowship across M&T Bank

Reflections from Jasmina Negrina on her first month of the Climate Safe Lending Fellowship: A six-month leadership development programme supporting banking professionals to advance the transition to net zero within their institutions.

Throwing together people and organisations from around the world into a crowded and noisy space can often have the effect of transforming a multilogue into a monologue. Without an alternative design for the context of hosting the conversations, COPs and other global conferences risk becoming an opportunity for recycled ideas to be amplified on competing broadcast frequencies.

It was recently reported that major Wall Street banks are looking at leaving GFANZ. James Vaccaro, an advisory panel member of GFANZ, recaps a decade of dialogue between Climate Campaigners and Big Banks that has led to this moment, and what it might mean going forward.

The deeper the change, the more that leaders need to support their organisations through transformation processes - constructively challenging core beliefs about how the world works and the organisation’s purpose, to help build an aligned culture and strategies that are fit for the future.

If you work for a bank, how do you know if your institution is on track to meet Paris-aligned climate goals? And what is your role in helping it get onto a credible trajectory? We’re bringing together a cohort of climate intrapreneurs around the theme of ‘Credibility in the Climate Transition’ in our 22/23 Climate Safe Lending Fellowship.

The war of words in ESG - this month Climate Safe Lending Network Executive Director James Vaccaro helps us explore the different lenses and perspectives on ESG and shares some salient questions financial institutions can ask themselves.

The real challenge we face getting to net-zero is how we can collaborate beyond strategies, reflecting on how we can support a deeper change in mindsets & motivation.

Why is this important for the green transition efforts? What can the European Parliament do and what’s next? We break it down for you.

Surely, we can’t expect there to be no progress on fossil fuel finance year after year forever. How can we know when the tipping point will be reached, and change will really start to happen? The Climate Safe Lending Network works with bankers, investors, NGOs, and academics – and we see some signals that we might be very close to that tipping point. Here’s our reasons to be hopeful:

How can reporters tell if a bank’s net zero plan is effective or just greenwashing? Below is a guide, with key questions, to help journalists evaluate a bank’s net zero plan, adapted from the Good Transition Plan, a guide developed with 100 global climate-finance experts, from bankers to academics.

It’s reporting season and banks are updating more than just their financial performance; they’re giving updates on their climate targets.

Financial regulators are joining the climate fight – but is it clear what they are meant to be doing?

What does it mean for banks to 'pick up the pace' on climate action?

We’ve had so many conversations with individuals across the network sharing their reflections – from minor triumphs to bruising disappointments; the expectations and emotions had never been higher. And finance had never been so firmly under the spotlight. That’s only likely to increase as the temperature rises (in every sense) on the road to COP27 in Egypt next year.

Finally, it’s here. COP26 will take place in Glasgow next week. After two years of planning and the disruption of Covid, the delayed pinnacle of the 2020 ‘super year’ for climate has arrived. What should we expect in relation to climate-safe banking?

Last week’s IPCC report updates our understanding and our outlook on climate change. Given that the findings in the report are not really a surprise for those working in this field, the real question is how it should impact our strategy. Crucially, are the targets we are now pursuing – principally, ‘Net Zero by 2050’ – still up to the task in helping us manage the impending crisis?

Spare a thought for the central banker, won’t you? 

Central Bankers who form the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued a proposal to increase the capital held against cryptocurrencies that a bank holds by 1250%… Why would the central bankers step in with such consequential action?