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Aligning Finance for the Net-Zero Economy: new ideas from leading thinkers

Aligning Finance for the Net-Zero Economy: new ideas from leading thinkers

Year Published

2021

Contributing Organizations

Climate Safe Lending Network (CSLN)
United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI)

Type of Resource

Research/Insights Report

Languages

English

Relevant Topics

Core Topic
Regulations
Topic 2
Transition Planning & Implementation Capabilities

Target Audience

Governments & Policymakers
MDBs/DFIs
Banks

Relevant Geography

Global
Aligning Finance for the Net-Zero Economy: new ideas from leading thinkers

Resource Description

This resource provides a framework to help financial institutions align financial flows with global climate and nature goals. It outlines alignment conditions, institutional levers, and a roadmap to guide implementation across strategies and operations.

Why This Matters

Financial institutions are key to achieving climate and nature goals. This resource supports a practical, phased approach to embedding alignment across financial decisions.

Key Insights

  • Defines alignment as shifting finance toward outcomes that support net zero and nature-positive goals
  • Sets out five conditions: commitment, investment and client decisions, policy engagement, and transparency
  • Describes ten levers including target-setting, incentives, risk management, and product design
  • Recommends aligning at strategy, portfolio, transaction, and system levels
  • Proposes a three-stage roadmap: awareness, experimentation, and integration
  • Suggests indicators to track progress and emphasizes capacity building

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