Enabling a just transition for Africa
At Standard Bank Group, we believe that the financial services sector must play a leadership role in addressing the climate crisis.
Our Climate Journey
Our climate journey reflects our commitment to maximising opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth across the African continent.
ESG governance and risk management
- Published the group climate policy and priority sector targets
- Updated relevant SBG policies to align with the Climate Policy
- Joined Partnership for Carbon Accounting
- Financials (PCAF) and committed to applying the PCAF methodology over the next three years to measure the financed emissions of our customers
- Engaging with stakeholders on the Just Energy Transition in South Africa to inform group strategy and offering
- Establishing a transitional finance framework
- Launching a learning framework to deepen understanding of climate change impacts and sustainable finance instruments, in partnership with African and International centres of expertise.
Awards
- Local Markets ESG & Sustainable Finance Adviser of the Year at the Bonds & Loans Africa Awards.
ESG governance and risk management
- Adopted ESG governance framework, recognising ESG as separate risk type within non-financial risk and assigning clear accountability
- Expanded board and management committee mandates to include oversight of ESG risk management
- Integrated SEE metrics and ESG performance into SBG performance metrics
- Developed performance dashboard to measure progress against our SEE strategy
- Developed non-financial metrics for each of our SEE impact areas
- Developed country-led SEE strategies
- Adopted Fossil Fuel Finance Policy
- Published interim TCFD-aligned report
- Participated in the UNEPFI TCFD Pilot Programme Phase III to improve our climate risk management.
Products and services
- Published Sustainable Bond Framework, aligned with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles (GBP), Social Bond Principles (SBP) and the Sustainability Bond Guidelines
- Issued inaugural USD200 million Green Bond, via private placement with IFC, the first bond issuance under our sustainable bond framework, Africa’s largest green bond and South Africa’s first offshore green bond issuance.
- Issued several pioneering sustainability-linked loans and ESG-performance incentive loans
- Offered ESG investment options through Standard Bank Isle of Man and Standard Bank Jersey, and Melville Douglas discretionary managed responsible portfolios, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Thought leadership
- Sponsored the African Energy Journey webinar.
Market firsts
- First SLL in the technology, media and entertainment, and technology sector (TMT) sector (Vodacom)
- First offshore green bond in South Africa (SBSA)
- First SLL in the real estate sector (Equites).
Awards
- Best Investment Bank for Sustainable Finance, Global Finance.
ESG governance and risk management
- Expanded integration of E&S screening, management and monitoring across business and credit functions (beyond CIB)
- Expanded mandate of client risk committees to include assessment of ESG risks for new and existing client relationships
- Adopted coal-fired power finance and thermal coal mining finance policies
- Tabled first South Africa shareholder resolution on climate risk
- Established Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) working group.
Products and Services
Established a dedicated sustainable finance business unit mandated to partner with clients to develop tailored sustainable finance solutions
Launched OneFarm as a pilot in Kasese, Uganda.
Launched OneFarm as a pilot in Kasese, Uganda.
Thought leadership
- Founding signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
- Co-chair of UNEP FI Banking Board.
Market Firsts
- First Green Infrastructure Bond in Nigeria (NSP-SPV PowerCorp Plc.)
- First Green Bond in East Africa (Acorn)
- First sustainability-linked loan (SLL) in Africa (Curro)
Awards
- Project Finance Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa for the Acorn Green Bond
- Local Currency Bond Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa for the NSP Green Bond.
ESG governance and risk management
- Adopted social, economic and environmental (SEE) impact as a strategic value driver. SEE impact areas informed by UN SDGs and directly relevant to our core business
- Strengthened environmental and social (E&S) risk governance standard and policy.
2022
ESG governance and risk management
- Published the group climate policy and priority sector targets
- Updated relevant SBG policies to align with the Climate Policy
- Joined Partnership for Carbon Accounting
- Financials (PCAF) and committed to applying the PCAF methodology over the next three years to measure the financed emissions of our customers
- Engaging with stakeholders on the Just Energy Transition in South Africa to inform group strategy and offering
- Establishing a transitional finance framework
- Launching a learning framework to deepen understanding of climate change impacts and sustainable finance instruments, in partnership with African and International centres of expertise.
Awards
- Local Markets ESG & Sustainable Finance Adviser of the Year at the Bonds & Loans Africa Awards.
2020
ESG governance and risk management
- Adopted ESG governance framework, recognising ESG as separate risk type within non-financial risk and assigning clear accountability
- Expanded board and management committee mandates to include oversight of ESG risk management
- Integrated SEE metrics and ESG performance into SBG performance metrics
- Developed performance dashboard to measure progress against our SEE strategy
- Developed non-financial metrics for each of our SEE impact areas
- Developed country-led SEE strategies
- Adopted Fossil Fuel Finance Policy
- Published interim TCFD-aligned report
- Participated in the UNEPFI TCFD Pilot Programme Phase III to improve our climate risk management.
Products and services
- Published Sustainable Bond Framework, aligned with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles (GBP), Social Bond Principles (SBP) and the Sustainability Bond Guidelines
- Issued inaugural USD200 million Green Bond, via private placement with IFC, the first bond issuance under our sustainable bond framework, Africa’s largest green bond and South Africa’s first offshore green bond issuance.
- Issued several pioneering sustainability-linked loans and ESG-performance incentive loans
- Offered ESG investment options through Standard Bank Isle of Man and Standard Bank Jersey, and Melville Douglas discretionary managed responsible portfolios, with a focus on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Thought leadership
- Sponsored the African Energy Journey webinar.
Market firsts
- First SLL in the technology, media and entertainment, and technology sector (TMT) sector (Vodacom)
- First offshore green bond in South Africa (SBSA)
- First SLL in the real estate sector (Equites).
Awards
- Best Investment Bank for Sustainable Finance, Global Finance.
2019
ESG governance and risk management
- Expanded integration of E&S screening, management and monitoring across business and credit functions (beyond CIB)
- Expanded mandate of client risk committees to include assessment of ESG risks for new and existing client relationships
- Adopted coal-fired power finance and thermal coal mining finance policies
- Tabled first South Africa shareholder resolution on climate risk
- Established Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) working group.
Products and Services
Established a dedicated sustainable finance business unit mandated to partner with clients to develop tailored sustainable finance solutions
Launched OneFarm as a pilot in Kasese, Uganda.
Launched OneFarm as a pilot in Kasese, Uganda.
Thought leadership
- Founding signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
- Co-chair of UNEP FI Banking Board.
Market Firsts
- First Green Infrastructure Bond in Nigeria (NSP-SPV PowerCorp Plc.)
- First Green Bond in East Africa (Acorn)
- First sustainability-linked loan (SLL) in Africa (Curro)
Awards
- Project Finance Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa for the Acorn Green Bond
- Local Currency Bond Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa for the NSP Green Bond.
2018
ESG governance and risk management
- Adopted social, economic and environmental (SEE) impact as a strategic value driver. SEE impact areas informed by UN SDGs and directly relevant to our core business
- Strengthened environmental and social (E&S) risk governance standard and policy.
Our climate policy
Climate-related financial disclosures report