Course description
Responsible Banking
The concept of moral behaviour in actions dates back literally thousands of years and is found in all the world’s great religions: in Christianity, in Islam, in Judaism, in Hinduism, in Buddhism, and so on. But, more relevantly for our purposes, the modern concern for responsible business behaviour finds expression, for instance, in the 2011 United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and, for our present purposes, in the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking.
The Global Financial Crisis, and certain banking scandals, led a number of prominent banks to examine the contemporary banking culture which had led financial services to dramatically lose trust in many countries, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer. In fairness, a great deal of soul-searching occurred, and many banks took the view that a prominent reassertion of ethical values in banking was necessary.
As a result, the United Nations launched the Principles for Responsible Banking in 2019. Remarkably, as of this writing, some 300 banks holding $85 trillion in assets worldwide have promised to uphold the Principles regarding all their banking activities. The banks hold more than 45% of global banking assets. Over the next few years, there will be a lot of media and public commentary, and discussion in banking circles, about the Principles, and the likelihood of even more widespread banking support is a virtual certainty.
The signatory banks have solemnly pledged adherence to 6 Principles of responsible conduct – such as, for instance, responsibly consulting with, engaging with, and partnering with their stakeholders - that will significantly change the culture of any banks.
Upcoming start dates
Who should attend?
Who should attend?
- Board Directors and Senior Management
- Corporate Counsel
- Institutional Investors
- Divisional Heads and Line Managers
- Risk and Compliance Managers
- Corporate Lawyers
- Stakeholders
Training content
Day 1
The Business Drivers that Have Promoted Responsible Business Practices
- History
- Movement at the United Nations
- Examining the Link between Risk and Responsible Business Practices
- Investor Interest: The UN Principles for Responsible Investment
- A ‘Wake-Up’ Call: The 2019 Business Roundtable’s Revised “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation”
- Blackrock’s 2020 Analysis: ‘We are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of capitalism”
- The UN Principles for Responsible Banking
The Principles for Responsible Banking
- What are the Principles designed to achieve?
- Drafting the Principles: the consultative process with 250 financial institutions
- The tradition of responsible banking in Islam
- The relevance of other religious traditions: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism
- The collective commitment to climate action
Principle 1: Alignment
- The pledge to align the bank’s business strategy with sustainability goals, as expressed in international agreements
- Examining the banking implications of the relevant international agreements, such as the Sustainable Development Goals
- Assessing possible current banking misalignment with society’s goals
- A note on helpful key resources
Principle 2: Impact & Target Setting
- The pledge to increase positive impacts, while reducing negative impacts, on people and the environment resulting from banking activities
- Identifying, assessing, and improving the impact on people and the environment resulting from banking activities
- Incorporating the assessment of risks and impacts on the dimensions of sustainability into decision making at the strategic, portfolio, and transaction levels
- A note on helpful key resources
Principle 3: Clients & Customers
- The pledge to work responsibly with clients and customers to encourage sustainable practices
- Steps toward the implementation of Principle 3
- Building both capacity and expertise among bank employees
- The development of microfinance
- A note on helpful key resources
Day 2
Principle 4: Stakeholders
- The pledge to proactively consult with, engage with, and partner with relevant stakeholders to achieve society’s goals.
- The broad meaning of a bank's "stakeholders"
- Establishing partnerships with third parties to deliver sustainable solutions
- A note on helpful resources
Principle 5: Governance & Culture
- The pledge to implement the bank’s commitment to the Principles for Responsible Banking through effective governance and a culture of responsible banking
- Effective Governance: having appropriate structures, policies, and processes
- Assigning specific roles and responsibilities at the Board level and across all functions regarding the sustainability agenda
- Building internal expertise on the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability
- A note on helpful key resources
Principle 6: Transparency & Accountability
- The pledge to be transparent and accountable for the positive as well as the negative aspects of banking activities
- The significance of disclosure
- Progress reports as a key element in: ensuring the effectiveness of the bank’s approach, motivating employees, driving innovation, competing with peers, and strengthening reputation and trust
- The relevance of a whistleblowing procedure
- UNEP Finance Initiative’s Reporting and Self-Assessment Template
- A note on helpful resources
Day 3
Dealing with Climate Change
- The Evidence for Climate Change
- Risks by Business Sector
- Pressure from Investors
- The key outcomes for Financial Services of the COP27 Climate Summit
- Migrating toward climate resilience banking
Dealing with Biodiversity Loss/Degradation
- Biodiversity Degradation: What is the problem?
- The biodiversity footprint of Financial Services
- Physical Risks
- Transition Risks
- Reputation Risks
- Integrating Biodiversity considerations into risk assessment: a step-by-step approach
- The results of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15): consideration of a framework to promote biodiversity; guidance on biodiversity target-setting to address overexploitation, pollution, and unsustainable practices; and financing biodiversity
- Tracking progress: Increasing transparency and continuously improving
Changing a Bank’s Culture
- The meaning of corporate “culture”
- A culture is to some extent invisible
- How can culture be created, changed, or protected?
- A new framework for managing change across a corporate culture
- Steps in embracing a culture of responsible banking
Costs
- Course fee for Singapore: £4195+VAT
- Course fee for London: £3645+VAT
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