Navigating Sustainable Finance – The Next Frontier in Banking

Overview

As the demand for sustainable finance grows across Europe, banks play a critical role in supporting their clients’ transition to greener business models. Explore how banks are integrating sustainable financing principles into their core strategies through robust client transition plans, ensuring a smooth and compliant shift toward more sustainable operations.

Key areas of focus include the role of credit risk governance in managing the potential risks associated with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). With increased regulatory scrutiny and stakeholder expectations, banks must strengthen their risk frameworks to identify, assess, and mitigate ESG-related risks. The session will highlight practical approaches to embedding ESG considerations into credit assessments and ongoing risk monitoring.

Additionally, we will touch upon technology’s pivotal role in tracking and monitoring ESG-linked loans will be discussed, with insights on how innovative solutions like AI and big data analytics can enhance transparency and reporting.

Acuity Knowledge Partners is delighted to bring together three industry experts to deliberate on the essential best practices financial institutions must adopt to drive sustainability while managing the associated risks effectively across your banking portfolio. The webinar will feature real-world case studies demonstrating how banks are successfully leveraging technology to ensure compliance with sustainability goals and optimize ESG performance tracking.

02:00 pm – 02:30 pm (30 minutes) – Panel discussion

Panelists:

• Caroline Haas (Head of Climate and ESG Capital Markets, NatWest Markets Plc)

• Jocomijin Vels (Head of Structuring and Advisory – Sustainable Financing, ING)

• Evert Bol (Sustainability Reporting Lead, ABN AMRO Bank)

• Achin Bhati (Head of ESG, Investment Research, Acuity Knowledge Partners)

Key Takeaways:

• Insights into the sustainable finance market as we head into 2025

• Explore how banks are strategizing and working towards achieving their net zero goals

• How are banks managing credit risk management and governance from an ESG lens?

• Learn about the challenges banks face in ESG reporting and how AI can assist in this.

• Best practices to consider while drafting an ESG lending framework. How to balance profitability and sustainability goals

• Explore what business opportunities within sustainable finance would be most attractive

15 minutes – Ted-Style Talk– Jacomijin Vels (Head of Structuring and Advisory – Sustainable Financing ING)

How client transition plans are key to Net Zero transition for banks

• How are banks approaching their client transition plans

• Key benefits and how to transform the bank for the future

• What are the challenges and pitfalls to avoid while formulating a strategy

• What are the best practices in the industry including exit strategy for non-performing clients

• Role of strategic partners like Acuity

15 Minutes – Audience Q&A

– Recommended for

• Sustainability Officers

• Head of ESG

• Head of Sustainable Finance

• Head of ESG Research

• Chief Operating Officers

• Chief Risk Officer

• Chief Value Officer

• Heads of Innovation and Transformation