Our sustainability goals - executive letter
Across our business, we are seeing an increased focus from clients on sustainability, and many of our colleagues are involved in looking at innovative solutions to meet this growing demand.
In 2020, we set out our ambition to be a net-zero bank by 2050 and committed to align our financing activities to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
We are working closely with clients to help them better understand and manage their carbon transition, and our ambition to provide £100bn of green financing by 2030 is on track. This is being facilitated across Barclays, and in particular through our Corporate and Investment Bank. New, innovative products including green trade loans, green innovation loans, green deposits and green asset finance are key to us reaching this target.
Furthermore, through our retail bank, Barclays became the first mainstream UK bank to launch a green mortgage, and we are helping small businesses to fund green energy and sustainable projects through our green loans. Barclays was also selected to help lead on the issuance of the EU’s inaugural social bond – the largest amount ever borrowed by the EU, and the largest social bond ever issued to date1. Its proceeds will be used under the EU’s Support to mitigate Unemployment Risk in an Emergency (SURE) programme.
Innovation is key to Barclays achieving its sustainability ambitions, and our Sustainable Portfolio Management offering within our Private Bank is an excellent example of this. Launched in 2018 to meet the growing demand from our clients for an investment portfolio that is focused on returns as well as sustainability, the offering has gone from strength to strength.
Assets within the sustainable portfolio offering are now above £600m, underpinned by an outstanding performance track record and demonstrable sustainability credentials. This pioneering offering is an excellent example of Barclays’ commitment to helping our clients meet their sustainability objectives.
This is the second annual Sustainable Portfolio Management Report, which looks to focus on the non-financial aspects of the portfolio. Through their corporate cultures and approach to innovation, our investee companies are helping to drive the global sustainability agenda.
I hope you enjoy the report and I would like to thank our clients who have entrusted us with their wealth.
Group Head of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility
This is a sustainable portfolio management annual report. This is not an investment recommendation/advice nor independent research.