Towards a Green Finance Framework

European banks have a major role in the financing of the economy. Even as market-based financing gains a bigger share of the financing needs of companies in Europe, banks will continue to play an important role not only in terms of traditional lending but also in a range of intermediary functions and in their role as investors. With this major role comes responsibility. Financing the economy of tomorrow begins today. European banks are fully committed to taking on their responsibilities and fulfilling their role in contributing to a sustainable economy and the transition towards a more sustainable financial system. This Book focuses on one of the three dimensions: environmental sustainability in general and, more specifically, within the context of transformation to a two-degree economy. The objective of this Book is to provide a general overview of how banks see their role and how they could further increase their support for sustainable economic growth, focusing on transformation to a two-degree economy while correctly assessing the embedded risks in all sectors, not only those at the front-line of the climate change revolution.