French Banks – Leaders in Sustainable Finance

Faced with the ecological emergency, French banks are taking widespread action to meet the challenges of the environmental transition. They continue to provide largescale financing for their clients’ transition projects, supported by the roll-out of tailored banking solutions. They are among the global leaders in renewable energy financing and arranging green bonds.

As environmentally responsible institutions with commitments at both national and global level, banks are implementing loan-portfolio decarbonisation targets and supporting their clients across an increasingly broad range of issues (climate change adaptation, nature, water and the circular economy).

French banks are continuing to reduce their exposure to the most carbon-intensive energy sectors, which now account for only a very small proportion of their balance sheets.

The green transition is also being embedded ever more deeply across banks’ business lines, functions and processes. The increased transparency requirements at European level are also intended to contribute to companies’ and banks’ transition to a net-zero Europe by 2050.

The momentum is firmly established and the strategy of French banks remains unchanged: they will continue their efforts to support the economy and their clients over the long term as they undertake the necessary decarbonisation of their business activities.