The Geneva financial centre unanimously recognises the need to transition to a more resilient and sustainable economy.
By directing financial flows to sustainable activities, the financial industry can help transform markets and foster the emergence of new economic models.
Sustainable finance is more than ethical window-dressing – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of the Geneva financial centre.
The Geneva Financial Center is committed to:
Sustainable finance has been a driver of growth for the Geneva financial sector and a powerful differentiator from other financial centres. Today, Geneva is recognised as a global hub for sustainable finance.
Geneva boasts a decades-long tradition of sustainable finance; milestones include the launch of the first sustainable financial instruments in the 1980s and the creation of the first asset management firm dedicated to sustainable investing in the 1990s. More recently, many Swiss financial institutions have signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. They now lead the industry globally in structuring and marketing innovative, sustainable financial products.
A question of joint commitment
As the world leader in wealth management, the Geneva financial centre plays its part in creating sustainable value for the economy, the environment and society. This objective informs financial institutions’ approach to their business activities, as well as their relationships with clients and employees. However, accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy will require a joint commitment from finance, academia, government and civil society.
Geneva occupies a unique position in the sustainable finance world, thanks to its dynamic ecosystem comprised of financial institutions, asset managers, international organisations, NGOs, private foundations, and world-class universities. With strong support from the city, the canton and the federal government, this unique value chain has enabled Geneva to emerge as a recognised hub for sustainable finance.
From 29 November to 2 December 2021, Switzerland will host the second edition of Building Bridges. This week-long event will kick off with a landmark summit on Monday 29 November 2021. The aim of the event is to maximise our collective impact by gathering the sustainable development community and building bridges between financial institutions and international organisations. The Geneva Financial Center Foundation is proud to be a founding partner of Building Bridges.