We’re in regular dialogue with clients, staff, investors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments and regulators. This helps us identify and understand environmental and social trends and opportunities in our markets.
We build our knowledge and understanding of key issues and share best practice through our membership of industry and sector organisations, adoption of global commitments, and implementation of guiding frameworks. We share stakeholder feedback with our Board and senior managers within the Bank, and report on our progress each year in our Annual Report and our sustainability reports and publications.
We continued our participation in the WDI in 2023, achieving an overall disclosure score of 95%
Memberships and initiatives
Memberships and initiatives
Our involvement
Center for Climate-Aligned Finance (CCAF)
We formally joined CCAF, which was established by Rocky Mountain Institute, in 2023. Standard Chartered participates in CCAF working groups for the Aviation and Aluminium industries. The Group is a signatory to both the Poseidon Principles, a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of financial institutions’ shipping portfolios and the Sustainable STEEL Principles, which helps banks to measure and disclose the alignment of steel lending portfolios with 1.5-degree Celsius climate targets.
Climate Bonds Initiative
We are a partner of the Climate Bonds Initiative.
Equator Principles
We have been a member since 2003 and actively apply these principles to ensure the projects we finance and advise on are developed in a manner that is socially responsible and reflects sound environmental management practices.¹
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)
We are active participants of the GFANZ Principals Group. Our Group CEO co-chairs the GFANZ working group on Capital Mobilisation to Emerging Markets and Developing Economies.
Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD)
Our Group Chairman co-chairs the United Nations’ GISD Alliance, which has set ambitious objectives to scale up long-term finance and investment in sustainable development.
Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM)
Our Head of Carbon Markets Development serves on the board of the ICVCM, which is focused on developing high-quality carbon markets. Our Group CEO sits on the Distinguished Advisory Group of the ICVCM, which is involved in the development of carbon markets around the world.
Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)
Members of the NZBA – the industry-led, UN-convened and sector-specific alliance for banks under GFANZ.
Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)
In 2023, the Group became a member of ORRAA. Our Head of Nature serves on the Ocean Investment Protocol Steering Committee convened by the UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition.
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
We joined in 2022 to support the development of a methodology to measure facilitated emissions associated with the arranging of capital markets issuances.
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
We are on the Board of Governors of the RSPO, which promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders.
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
In January 2024, the Group joined a cohort of early adopters of the TNFD framework preparing to publish our first TNFD-aligned disclosures in early 2026.
United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
We’re a signatory of the UNEP FI Statement on Environment and Sustainable Development.
United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
Developed by UNEP FI and founding banks, the PRB provides a voluntary sustainable banking framework that can be integrated into banks’ strategies and across their portfolio of activities, bringing purpose, vision, and ambition on sustainable finance to the core of the organisation. Our Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions co-chairs the PRB Adaptation Finance working group, which developed a comprehensive framework and practical guidance for banks to set credible adaptation finance targets.
World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders
Our Group CEO and CSO are part of the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. This is a CEO-led community committed to raising bold climate ambition and accelerating the net zero transition by setting science-based targets, disclosing emissions and catalysing decarbonisation and partnerships across global value chains.
