Standard Bank Group

Our climate strategy

We are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and supporting a just energy transition in Africa. Our climate strategy is built on a science-based approach, a commitment to transparency, and a collaborative effort with our clients and stakeholders.

Mitigating risk and shaping a sustainable future

In line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UAE Consensus adopted at COP28 in December 2023, we are committed to achieving net zero across:

  • Direct operations for newly built facilities by 2030 
  • Direct operations for existing facilities by 2040
  • Lending and investing activities by 2050

SustainableFuture_14Dimensions
Driving Africa’s just energy transition

We believe that providing access to reliable energy across our communities will lead to a sustainable and prosperous future for Africa. We are supporting our continent’s energy transition by:

Expanding our financing for renewable energy, distributed energy systems, and associated energy infrastructure

Partnering with our clients to support their energy transitions, improved energy efficiency, and decarbonisation

Providing innovative renewable energy solutions for households, small businesses, and farmers

Mobilising R65 billion for the development of new renewable energy infrastructure

Financing 3 640MW of new renewable energy infrastructure in South African since the launch of South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producers programme (REIPPP) in 2011

We take a careful approach to climate management and our group-led program ensures that climate-related factors are fully integrated into our overall risk management framework, impacting multiple areas of risk. This comprehensive approach allows us to effectively manage potential challenges and make informed decisions for the future.

Our climate journey and future commitments

Our climate policy prioritises Africa’s social, economic and environmental context. We’ve set targets for thermal coal, oil, gas and agriculture and will expand our climate targets in sectors including insurance, residential and commercial property, and transportation.

2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2025
  • Publish targets and commitments for additional sectors 
  • Publish financed emissions for additional sectors 
  • Review existing targets and commitments and update the climate policy 
2024
  • Published financed emissions for upstream oil and gas 
  • Expanded employee training programmes on ESG, sustainability and climate across sectors and countries 
2023
  • Published phase two commitments and targets 
  • Implemented climate risk scenario analysis and stress testing on pilot basis in selected sectors 
  • Selected phase three sectors and commenced risk assessment and target setting 
  • Published Sustainable Finance Framework 
  • Implemented sustainability and climate training for employees across business areas and risk functions 
  • Mobilised R15.5 billion for new renewable energy infrastructure and R600 million for climate smart agriculture 
  • Included climate risk assessment in environmental and social (E&S) risk assessment process 
2022
  • Committed to achieving net zero by 2050 
  • Published SBG climate policy, with targets and commitments for phase 1 sectors 
  • Selected phase two sectors and commenced risk assessment and target setting
  • Adopted group-wide climate risk management programme 
  • Joined PCAF to build capacity to measure financed emissions 
  • Subsidiary board members undertook training on climate change 
  • Mobilised 18.2 billion for new renewable energy infrastructure 
2021
  • Selected priority sectors for phase 1 and began work to assess exposure to climate risk and set climate commitments and targets 
  • Hosted first annual climate change summit for clients and partners 
  • Launched bespoke climate-focused executive development programme with University of London’s School of Oriental and African (SOAS) 
  • Launched PowerPulse to provide solar PV solutions for businesses and LookSee for homeowners 
2020
  • Implemented fossil fuels finance policy 
  • Published first annual climate-related disclosures report 
  • Published SBG Sustainable Bond Framework 
  • Issued inaugural USD200 million green bond with the IFC 
  • Board members undertook training on climate change 
2019
  • Implemented restrictions on financing thermal coal mining and coal-fired power generation 
  • Joined UNEPFI’s TCFD pilot programme for banks 
  • Established sustainable finance team to leverage climate-related opportunities 
ESG governance and risk management
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2025
2025
  • Publish targets and commitments for additional sectors 
  • Publish financed emissions for additional sectors 
  • Review existing targets and commitments and update the climate policy 
2024
2024
  • Published financed emissions for upstream oil and gas 
  • Expanded employee training programmes on ESG, sustainability and climate across sectors and countries 
2023
2023
  • Published phase two commitments and targets 
  • Implemented climate risk scenario analysis and stress testing on pilot basis in selected sectors 
  • Selected phase three sectors and commenced risk assessment and target setting 
  • Published Sustainable Finance Framework 
  • Implemented sustainability and climate training for employees across business areas and risk functions 
  • Mobilised R15.5 billion for new renewable energy infrastructure and R600 million for climate smart agriculture 
  • Included climate risk assessment in environmental and social (E&S) risk assessment process 
2022
2022
  • Committed to achieving net zero by 2050 
  • Published SBG climate policy, with targets and commitments for phase 1 sectors 
  • Selected phase two sectors and commenced risk assessment and target setting
  • Adopted group-wide climate risk management programme 
  • Joined PCAF to build capacity to measure financed emissions 
  • Subsidiary board members undertook training on climate change 
  • Mobilised 18.2 billion for new renewable energy infrastructure 
2021
2021
  • Selected priority sectors for phase 1 and began work to assess exposure to climate risk and set climate commitments and targets 
  • Hosted first annual climate change summit for clients and partners 
  • Launched bespoke climate-focused executive development programme with University of London’s School of Oriental and African (SOAS) 
  • Launched PowerPulse to provide solar PV solutions for businesses and LookSee for homeowners 
2020
2020
  • Implemented fossil fuels finance policy 
  • Published first annual climate-related disclosures report 
  • Published SBG Sustainable Bond Framework 
  • Issued inaugural USD200 million green bond with the IFC 
  • Board members undertook training on climate change 
2019
2019
  • Implemented restrictions on financing thermal coal mining and coal-fired power generation 
  • Joined UNEPFI’s TCFD pilot programme for banks 
  • Established sustainable finance team to leverage climate-related opportunities 
ESG governance and risk management
Download our climate policy documents
2022-03-31
75KB
PDF
2022-03-31
308KB
PDF
2022-03-31
78KB
PDF
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