It is widely recognised that today's financial system does not actively reward long-term thinking. Often, it can actually work against efforts to build a sustainable economy.Our Centre for Sustainable Finance draws on the work of CISL’s leadership groups across the financial system; bringing together our research and education programme on sustainable finance. We work long term with over 50 financial institutions from across five continents. With support from academics and expert practitioners, we develop solutions to challenges firms cannot tackle alone and impact both policy and market practice.Across our leadership groups in insurance, banking and investment, we have developed particular expertise in three key areas of sustainable finance: |
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Risk and resilienceEmbedding resilience to environmental risk in routine financing decisions. |
Positive impactEnabling investors to achieve positive impact against the Sustainable Development Goals. |
InnovationHarnessing the digital revolution to direct capital to sustainable business models. |
Sustainable finance leadership groups |
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ClimateWise (global insurance)ClimateWise comprises 32 leading insurers, reinsurers, brokers and industry service providers who share a commitment to reducing the impact of climate change on society, as well as the insurance industry. |
Banking Environment InitiativeSome of the world’s largest banks working to lead their industry in directing capital towards environmentally and socially sustainable economic development. |
Investment Leaders GroupLeading investment managers and asset owners with over £15 trillion under management working to help shift the investment chain towards responsible, long-term value creation. |
Latest news and thought leadership
Let’s Discuss Climate: The essential guide to bank-client engagement
5 May 2021 – The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Banking Environment Initiative has published a new guide to bank-client engagement, which aims to address the need for a market-wide transformation in how banks and their corporate clients interact.
Understanding the climate performance of investment funds
14 April 2021 – Understanding the climate performance of investment funds should be made simple to all investors. New research from CISL's Investment Leaders Group (ILG) aims to assess current methodologies for assessing the climate performance of funds and will offer a framework and simple disclosure method for financial institutions.
Policy opportunities on the road to net zero underwriting: Highlighting three key areas of influence for the insurance industry
March 2021 - This paper from ClimateWise highlights the role of insurance underwriting in mitigating climate risks and supporting the transition to a resilient net zero economy.
ClimateWise Principles Independent Review 2020
17 February 2021 – The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review for 2020 has seen record improvement in scores across the ClimateWise membership.
An analytical framework for understanding risk and risk mitigation in the context of financing large hydropower projects in low-and lower-middle-income countries
February 2021 – The purpose of this framework is to provide potential financiers and investors with a better understanding the risk profile of these projects to improve their likelihood of obtaining sustainable finance.
