Financing sustainable innovations and services

The framework enables us to further support our clients in the transition through financing green and social projects. It also supports Swedbank’s strategy of aligning the business to the net-zero goal by providing the conditions for increased sustainable financing. Swedbank plays an important role in sectors such as real estate and in advising and meeting the investment needs of our clients in transitioning.

Climate change is today amongst society’s greatest challenges, and urgent actions are needed to keep global warming below 1.5ºC and to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Swedbank is determined to take an active role in this effort by advising and helping clients to transition. After five years, the Green Bond Framework has now been updated to facilitate this transition and address changes to the regulatory environment including the EU Taxonomy.

In the framework, eligible green projects contribute to the EU environmental objectives (Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation) and the eligibility criteria align, on a best-effort basis, with the Technical Screening Criteria of the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act.

Societal engagement has played a key role throughout Swedbank’s 200-year history. The first savings bank was founded in 1820 to help the public save and achieve long-term financial security. Today, people still have financial goals and yet not everyone is empowered to achieve them. Our ability to make a positive contribution to the areas of employment and empowerment includes increased employment rates in socioeconomically weak areas and strengthened entrepreneurship among targeted groups.