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Catalysing bank climate action: Lessons from the inside

Catalysing bank climate action: Lessons from the inside

Year Published

2022

Contributing Organizations

Finance Innovation Lab (FIL)
Climate Safe Lending Network (CSLN)

Type of Resource

Research/Insights Report

Languages

English

Relevant Topics

Core Topic
Banking
Topic 2
Organizational Change & Leadership

Target Audience

Banks
Financial Services Providers
Education Providers / Think Tanks / NGOs
Philanthropies

Relevant Geography

Global
Catalysing bank climate action: Lessons from the inside

Resource Description

This resource shares lessons from the Climate Safe Lending Fellowship, showing how banking professionals (“climate intrapreneurs”) work within banks to accelerate climate-aligned finance.

Why This Matters

This resource offers practical strategies for driving internal change and aligning banking with a just and regenerative economy.

Key Insights

  • Calls for whole-bank transformation, embedding climate across governance, operations, and culture
  • Recommends integrating climate into all decision-making, shifting sustainability teams from “doers” to “enablers,” and building capability across staff
  • Notes challenges including greenwashing and replacing high-carbon business with sustainable alternatives
  • Shows intrapreneurs advancing change by focusing on what they can influence, building networks of allies, and engaging decision-makers through stories and data
  • Highlights how collaboration with external campaigners strengthens accountability and regulatory pressure

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