Sustainable finance and climate change
We partner with clients to finance sustainable solutions to address Africa’s energy poverty and achieve a just transition. This includes sustainable finance solutions, investing in renewable energy infrastructure and helping homeowners and businesses implement renewable energy solutions
Our focus areas
We’re committed to working with our clients to understand their environmental risks, build resilience, encourage socioeconomic development and drive sustainable investment in African industries.
Risk and impact
Our focus is on sector-specific interventions and targets, such as the financing of new green energy initiatives and the introduction of a range of sustainable finance instruments, to meet our clients’ needs and promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth in Africa.
| Financed approximately 147 GWh of green energy per annum, and helped 365 green energy solution providers grow their businesses |
Saved homeowners over R5.5 million annually through solar installations and smart home solutions |
Sustainable practices
Achieving net zero carbon emissions from our business by 2040 and from our financed emissions by 2050
We aim to achieve our emissions targets by drawing on more renewable energy sources to meet our operational needs, investing in improved systems for energy metering, data capture and analysis, enhancing the energy efficiency of our business premises and implementing renewable Power Purchase Agreements.
Helping clients adapt
Assisting clients with the transition to renewable energy solutions
In South Africa, our PowerPulse initiative has assisted clients transition their operations to more sustainable energy sources, while Standard Bank Insurance Limited’s Green Homes project aims to reduce household energy consumption by 40% by helping clients with smart, energy-efficient technology solutions for their homes, such as the installation of 574 solar photovoltaic (PV) in 2022.
| 321 sites transitioned to renewables |
Helped 365 solution providers grow their businesses |
Supported 13 small-scale embedded generation independent power producers to start their asset portfolios with our innovative solutions |
Socioeconomic development
We enable African businesses working to accelerate Africa’s transition to renewable energy solutions
We provide social and sustainability linked bonds to businesses in industries throughout Africa, including the healthcare, property, energy, transport and financial services sectors. We also support the UN Sustainable Development Goals through social bonds focused on affordable housing for women borrowers and green bonds devoted to renewable energy assets.
| Provided 29 sustainable finance lending facilities1 across six sectors to the value of R51.7 billion |
Arranged three sustainable finance bonds for external clients to the value of R2.8 billion |
Sustainable investing
Supporting green innovations with innovative finance solutions
The Melville Douglas Global Impact Fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in companies with sustainable business models and a specific focus on products or services that deliver positive social and/or environmental impact, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Corporate social investment (CSI)
We invest in environmentally focused CSI programmes in several African countries
Several of our countries of operation have implemented CSI projects to protect and promote biodiversity. In Lesotho, we’ve partnered with the Ministry of Forestry, Land and Soil Conservation in a three-year project to plant trees. In 2022, we provided funds to enable 100 000 forest trees to be planted across the country to mark international forest day on 21 March. We run various other initiatives in Mauritius, Zambia and Uganda.
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Risk and impact
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Sustainable practices
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Helping clients adapt
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Socioeconomic development
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Sustainable investing
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Corporate social investment (CSI)
Our focus is on sector-specific interventions and targets, such as the financing of new green energy initiatives and the introduction of a range of sustainable finance instruments, to meet our clients’ needs and promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth in Africa.
| Financed approximately 147 GWh of green energy per annum, and helped 365 green energy solution providers grow their businesses |
Saved homeowners over R5.5 million annually through solar installations and smart home solutions |
Achieving net zero carbon emissions from our business by 2040 and from our financed emissions by 2050
We aim to achieve our emissions targets by drawing on more renewable energy sources to meet our operational needs, investing in improved systems for energy metering, data capture and analysis, enhancing the energy efficiency of our business premises and implementing renewable Power Purchase Agreements.
Assisting clients with the transition to renewable energy solutions
In South Africa, our PowerPulse initiative has assisted clients transition their operations to more sustainable energy sources, while Standard Bank Insurance Limited’s Green Homes project aims to reduce household energy consumption by 40% by helping clients with smart, energy-efficient technology solutions for their homes, such as the installation of 574 solar photovoltaic (PV) in 2022.
| 321 sites transitioned to renewables |
Helped 365 solution providers grow their businesses |
Supported 13 small-scale embedded generation independent power producers to start their asset portfolios with our innovative solutions |
We enable African businesses working to accelerate Africa’s transition to renewable energy solutions
We provide social and sustainability linked bonds to businesses in industries throughout Africa, including the healthcare, property, energy, transport and financial services sectors. We also support the UN Sustainable Development Goals through social bonds focused on affordable housing for women borrowers and green bonds devoted to renewable energy assets.
| Provided 29 sustainable finance lending facilities1 across six sectors to the value of R51.7 billion |
Arranged three sustainable finance bonds for external clients to the value of R2.8 billion |
Supporting green innovations with innovative finance solutions
The Melville Douglas Global Impact Fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in companies with sustainable business models and a specific focus on products or services that deliver positive social and/or environmental impact, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We invest in environmentally focused CSI programmes in several African countries
Several of our countries of operation have implemented CSI projects to protect and promote biodiversity. In Lesotho, we’ve partnered with the Ministry of Forestry, Land and Soil Conservation in a three-year project to plant trees. In 2022, we provided funds to enable 100 000 forest trees to be planted across the country to mark international forest day on 21 March. We run various other initiatives in Mauritius, Zambia and Uganda.
Helping clients adapt
Our PowerPulse digital platform helps clients source alternative green energy solutions from a database of vetted providers.
Rentia van Tonder
HEAD OF POWER & INFRASTRUCTURE at STANDARD BANK
Standard Bank partners with clients to support their climate transitions and develop solutions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. We offer innovative financial products and services that support the green economy, reduce carbon emissions, increase climate resilience, and enhance socioeconomic development.
Corporate social investment
Protecting Biodiversity
Several of our countries of operation have implemented CSI projects to protect and
promote biodiversity.
Cathy Adengo
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, STANBIC BANK UGANDA
As trees disappear, soil productivity deteriorates. This impacts access to clean water, food security, and companies whose production processes depend on clean water and agricultural produce. It also contributes to extreme weather events, such as those we recently witnessed in Kasese and Bududa. As the private sector, we have a critical role to play in preserving and protecting our environment and biodiversity. When you have a private sector that is active, involved, and engaged on a socioeconomic issue of this scale, you can create greater impact to further conversation and find solutions.
Download our reports
Our Climate Strategy
Driving Africa’s development through sustainable, inclusive growth
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