13 more financial institutions sign the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
18 October 2022 – ABRDN plc, Aéma Groupe, Andra AP-fonden, Ethical Partner Funds Management, Green Century, Lazard Frères Gestion, NN Group, PGGM N.V, Pictet Group, Schroders, SG 29 Haussmann, Société Générale Private Wealth Management and Velliv Pension & Livsforsikring A/S are the 13 new signatories of the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge. The new signatory financial institutions have been welcomed by Lidwin van Velden, CEO of NWB Bank and President of the European Association of Public Banks during the Opening Plenary of the European Business and Nature Summit organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 18 October 2022.
Milestones: more assets and two new pension funds
Five of these signatories had already joined in July when the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge reached the milestone of 100+ signatories. With the new total of signatory financial institutions, the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge reaches a milestone by representing in total €16.3 trillion in assets, held by the 111 signatories from 20 countries. With the signatures of Andra AP-fonden and Velliv Pension & Livsforsikring A/S, there are now six pension funds among the signatories.
Launching event during European Business & Nature Summit (EBNS)
EBNS is a high-level political and technical forum facilitating dialogue between business leaders and policymakers. It took place place on 18 and 19 October 2022. The event is initiated by the EU Business and Biodiversity Platform of the European Commission and organised in cooperation with partner organisations. It targets businesses, financial institutions, and representatives of the public sector, as well as academics and NGOs interested in business action for biodiversity.
Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
The Finance for Biodiversity Pledge is a commitment of financial institutions to protect and restore biodiversity through their finance activities and investments. The Pledge consists of 5 steps financial institutions commit to take:
- Collaborating and sharing knowledge
- Engaging with companies
- Assessing impact
- Setting targets
- Reporting publicly on the above before 2025
As financial institutions, they emphasise the need to protect biodiversity and to reverse nature loss in this decade, ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022.
Working groups
Financial institutions that have signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge can become members and join the working groups of the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation. With this new round of signatories, the total number of members increased from 49 to 56. The members are sharing knowledge and collaborating on topics such as impact assessment, engaging with companies and public policy advocacy, and target setting. An additional working group on positive impact will start next year.
New signatory round in December 2022
There will be another round of celebrating new signatories in December 2022, during COP15. Financial institutions can already sign up via our registration page here.
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The 111 signatories to the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge are (with new signatories shown in bold):
ABN AMRO, ABRDN plc, Achmea Investment Management, Achmea, ACTIAM N.V., Aegon Nederland N.V., Aéma Groupe, Allianz France, Amundi, Andra AP-fonden, APG Asset Management, ASN Bank, ASR Nederland, Astanor Ventures, Athora Netherlands NV, Australian Ethical Investment, Aviva Plc, AXA Group, AXA Investment Management, Bank J. Safra Sarasin, Bankinter, Boston Common Asset Management, Caisse des Dépôts, Change Finance PBC, CNP Assurances, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, Crédit Mutuel Asset Management, Crescent Capital Group LP, CZ, Demeter Partners, DNB Asset Management AS , Domini Impact Investments LLC, DPAM, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office, EAB Group Plc, eco.business Fund, Edmond de Rothschild AM, EGAMO, ERAFP, Ethical Partner Funds Management, Etica Sgr – Responsible Investments, Federal Finance Gestion, Fidelity International, First Sentier Investors, Fondaction, Future Food Fund, Gay-Lussac Gestion, GLS Gemeinschaftsbank eG, Green Century, Group La Française, Groupe MGEN, Groupe VYV, Harmonie Mutuelle, HSBC Global Asset Management, Incofin Investment Management CVA, International business of Federated Hermes, Jupiter AM, Karner Blue Capital, Klaverblad Verzekeringen, Kommunal Landspensjonskasse gjensidig forsikringsselskap (KLP), La Banque Postale Group, La Financière de l’Echiquier, Lazard Frères Gestion, Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM), LGT Private Banking, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Mandarine Gestion, Manulife Investment Management, Mirova, New Forests Pty Ltd, Nia Impact Capital, NN Group, NN Investment Partners, Nordea Asset Management, Nordis Capital, NWB Bank, Oakham Wealth Management Ltd, ODDO BHF Asset Management, OFI AM, OIP Trust, Ossiam, PensionDanmark, PGGM N.V, Pictet Group, Piraeus Bank, PKA A/S, Planet A, Pymwymic Investment Management B.V., Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Rathbone Greenbank Investments, Resona AM, Robeco, Schelcher Prince Gestion, Schroders, SCOR SE, SG 29 Haussmann, SLM Partners, Société Générale Assurances, Société Générale Private Wealth Management (SGPWM), STOA Infra & Energy, Storebrand AM, Swedbank Robur, Sycomore AM, Triodos Bank, Triple Jump, UFF African Agri Investments, Van Lanschot Kempen, Vancity Investment Management, Velliv, Pension & Livsforsikring A/S, Vert Asset Management and Volksbank.
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The Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, as well as the guidance document, logo and other materials, can be downloaded here.
More information on the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge
More information on the launching event, register here to attend online
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CEO quotes and contact information from the 18 October signatories:
Aéma Groupe
CEO name: Adrien Couret
Quote: “Our world is facing a biodiversity emergency. As a mutual insurance company, our duty is to ensure the wellbeing and resilience of our society. Aéma Groupe is therefore committed to act responsibly by increasing the focus on biodiversity in our engagement and investment activities. We are proud to be joining the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation to act collectively in favor of the preservation and the restoration of nature.”
Press contact: Amandine Boideau – Flore Witvoet
E-mail: aboideau@aemagroupe.fr – fwitvoet@aemagroupe.fr
Velliv, Pension & Livsforsikring A/S
CEO name: Steen Michael Erichsen
Quote: “At Velliv, we firmly believe that we as an investor can play a part in protecting and restoring biodiversity. By joining the pledge, we take the first step in taking responsibility for the impact our investments have on the worlds ecosystems. We recognize that without solving the climate change challenge we cannot solve the biodiversity crisis and vice versa. We need to act now.”
Press contact: Mikkel Bro
E-mail: Mikkel.bro@velliv.dk – Sandra.Metoyer@velliv.dk
Phone: +45 24838630
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Contact on behalf of the signatories: