In 2006 and 2007, UNI Finance conducted a survey on finance companies’ commitments to Principle 3 of the UN Global Compact, “Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining”. 35 major finance companies were asked to elaborate on their commitments to Principle 3. In a second [...]

According to the latest Banking Industry report from research group Covalence, competition for eco-minded customers has helped improve how banks’ services affect the environment. The study looked at the EthicalQuote Reputation Index for nine industries from June 2006 to June 2007 and found that the banking sector was ranked second highest in its overall reputation, [...]

Le secteur bancaire obtient la deuxième meilleure cotation éthique de juin 2006 à juin 2007 comparé à neuf autres secteurs, indique un rapport publié le 29 juin 2007 par la société genevoise Covalence, Covalence Banking Industry Report 2007. Au cours des 12 derniers mois le secteur bancaire a progressé dans le domaine des produits écologiquement [...]

Banks show the second best EthicalQuote reputation score from June 2006 to June 2007 compared to nine other industries, states a report released on 29 June 2007 by Geneva-based ethical reputation research firm Covalence, Covalence Banking Industry Report 2007. Over last year the Banking Industry has witnessed a favorable evolution in the areas of Eco-Innovativeness [...]

Within the industry (25 among the largest banks in market capitalization), HSBC is leading the way ahead of ABN AMRO and Bank of America, while US Bancorp and Banco Bilbao occupy the last positions. While global warming offers banks opportunities (carbon emissions reduction plans, investments in renewable energy), it also brings increased scrutiny on their [...]

Investments by Dutch banks cause more than three times the CO2 emissions that the Netherlands emits annually. The banks invest over twenty times more in projects that harm the climate such as oil extraction and coal-fired plants, than in projects for climate friendly renewable energy. ABN AMRO is the worst performing Dutch bank [...]

ABN Amro has launched an equity index tracking firms that address climate change and other environmental issues. Paul Thind, a London-based executive director at ABN AMRO, and the index developer, said: “This… benchmark reference instrument can be used both to invest in the growth potential of the market addressing climate change and also effectively manage [...]