Our investment decisions are underpinned by robust principles and policies designed to ensure that each investment's green impact is assessed, monitored and reported to the highest standard.
We are committed to ensuring that our approach is at the forefront of market practice. We want to help catalyse a sector wide improvement in these areas. However, this is a relatively new area of banking. As such, we have adopted an approach based on 'learning through doing' and underpinned by a commitment to continuous improvement.
What we mean by green impact
Our definition of 'green impact' relates to five specific measures. We call them our 'Green Purposes':
1. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
2. The advancement of efficiency in the use of natural resources
3. The protection or enhancement of the natural environment
4. The protection or enhancement of biodiversity
5. The promotion of environmental sustainability
Every investment we make must contribute to at least one of these measures, and often contribute to more than one.
How we assess, monitor and report green impact
Every investment considered by us must pass through a robust green impact assessment process before it can be approved. Every approved investment is subject to robust, detailed and continuous green impact monitoring, spanning all aspects of its green performance. Every investment is subject to detailed green impact reporting, in our Annual Report. The detail of these processes is set out in our Green Investment Handbook, and in the policy and principles below.
Our commitment to continuous improvement
Green impact assessment, monitoring and reporting is a relatively young discipline within banking. We are committed to ensuring our approach is at the forefront of market practice. That means the adoption of existing relevant international good practice and active engagement on our own approach with a wide range of stakeholders.
We have adopted the Equator Principles, a framework for identifying and managing the impacts on the environment within the project finance industry. Similarly we have signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, which provide a framework for embedding environmental, social and governance concerns into investment decision making.
Green Impact downloads
Green Impact contacts
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Gavin Templeton
Head of Sustainable Finance
Gavin Templeton
Head of Sustainable Finance
Gavin leads GIG's international green bank advisory activity, which works with governments globally as they seek to enable their transition to a low carbon economy. He continues to work on the development of GIG's green IP, having previously led the team that created GIG's Green Principles, Green Investment Handbook and Green Impact Report. He has have worked in finance and commodity markets for 20 years, beginning his career at BP before moving to Morgan Stanley, Rabobank and VTB Capital. Gavin has worked on the sustainability agenda since the beginning of the European Emissions Trading Scheme and United Nations Clean Development Mechanism, as well as financing renewable energy and emission reduction projects across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
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Peter Knott
Managing Director, Head of Green Investment Ratings
Peter Knott
Managing Director, Head of Green Investment Ratings
Peter Knott is a Managing Director in the Green Investment Group, and Head of the Green Investment Ratings team. Peter joined the UK Green Investment Bank on launch in 2012 as Chief Risk Officer and later became the Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director. Peter previously held a number of senior roles at Standard Chartered, including Group Treasurer, Consumer Banking Group Chief Risk Officer and Group Head of Operational Risk. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in London and spent the early part of his career with Jardine Fleming in Hong Kong and Tokyo before moving to New York with JPMorgan Chase as CFO for the Global M&A and Investment Banking Coverage groups. He is an Advisory Board member at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College Business School.
Contact the Green Investment Ratings team
We are keen to receive feedback on our policies. You can provide feedback by contacting the team by telephone or email.
Contact our Green Investment Ratings team