the German Bank, the Commerzbank and several other German credit institutions want to pay attention to lending in the future more climate protection. In the course of a on Tuesday presented self-commitment have made a total of 16 banks to measure the emissions of the co-financed by greenhouse gases first, and publish, and then reduce gradually.
Tim Kanning
editor in the economy.
F. A. Z.
“the banks have a crucial role in the fight against climate change”, commented Christian Sewing, the Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Bank, the statement said. “Because it is up to us, through our financing and investment products, the funds for the Transformation of the global economy.”
“beginning of a long journey”
the idea of self-obligation in Frankfurt, the representatives of the signatories, though, slowed to great expectations. Gerald Podobnik, chief financial officer of the company Bank, the German Bank, made it clear that it was “the beginning of a long journey”.
First, each Institute has until the end of 2022 in time to develop a methodology for the measurement of the climate impact of its operations. For this, it is also important that the rules for the appropriate reporting would be extended to the economy as a whole. Of many companies, there is as yet no or only qualitative statements to their greenhouse gas emissions, said Podobnik. For uniform Standards, the comparable Figures were necessary.
The signed commitment will not lead to that customers would be aborted relationships abruptly. “You can not but lead to a Situation that we enter into certain Engagements in the future,” said Podobnik.
criticisms from environmentalists
the first signatories of the Hypovereinsbank, ING Germany, the BNP Paribas, several sustainability banks and two pension plans include, in addition to the two large banks. According to the data, they combine for more than 5.5 trillion euros in assets and 46 million customers. The Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) is including so far the only public law Institute. According to Thomas Rosenfeld of the LBBW some of the country’s banks are on the verge of join.
The environmental initiative “Urgewald”, the self-commitment does not go far enough. “Each institution is allowed to choose the area in which it is suspected the greatest effect, and actively wants to be,” said Bank campaigns are competent Kathrin Petz. Target leading would it be if the Federal government would use its this Wednesday the beginning of the end of the presidency of the EU Council to “put the financial sector at the EU level, climate guardrails”.
