In recent years the financial sector has emerged as an increasingly important point of leverage through which the environmental and social impacts of development can be influenced. As the financial sector gears up to manage environmental risk in its business, WWF is working with a range of institutions to improve environmental performance

• In their assets and operations - energy and water management and other activities focused on the institution’s “footprint”
• Through capacity building and mentoring activities that help to build the capacity of bank staff – there is a critical need to scale up the ability of deal teams to understand environmental and social risks associated with their decisions
• In the development of risk management tools and procedures that can be applied to lending and investments

In parallel we are also working with the financial sector to develop and deliver innovative products based on the opportunities that are no emerging for new markets and businesses based on environmental goods and services. Our work on carbon finance, forestry and ecosystem services is creating new opportunities for finance to leverage change for the benefit of ecosystems, people and businesses.

Download WWF's Commodity Standards Update, February 2012 (PDF)

To achieve these ends, WWF works with commercial financial institutions, multilateral development banks and others. We develop strategic partnerships with firms that want to manage risks more effectively and build opportunities – for new business and better client relations – which result in demonstrable environmental benefits.