The IFC-facilitated Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN) released a white paper on inclusive approaches to sustainable finance in emerging markets, proposing a common definition of “inclusive sustainable finance” and documenting common policy approaches drawn from member experience. The paper cites an estimated USD 2.5 trillion financing need for emerging markets to meet climate adaptation and resilience goals and defines inclusive sustainable finance as practices that target vulnerable, marginalized, or excluded populations and economic sectors to improve access to capital for green transition, climate adaptation, and resilience while mitigating potential exclusionary effects from sustainability and climate-related policies. It sets out five key building blocks, provides policy examples from members including the Bank of Ghana, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Brazilian Federation of Banks, and several central banks and banking associations across the Middle East and Africa, and presents recommendations for further steps; the work was developed by the SBFN Inclusive Sustainable Finance Task Force established in January 2024.
Sustainable Banking and Finance Network 2025-07-24
Sustainable Banking and Finance Network publishes white paper setting a common definition and five building blocks for inclusive sustainable finance
The Sustainable Banking and Finance Network released a white paper proposing a common definition of "inclusive sustainable finance" and highlighting a USD 2.5 trillion financing need for emerging markets to meet climate goals. The paper outlines five key building blocks and provides policy examples from various members, developed by the SBFN Inclusive Sustainable Finance Task Force.