The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative has published guidance to help commercial banks integrate nature considerations into decision making and financing through circular economy approaches. Aimed particularly at Principles for Responsible Banking signatories, it covers ocean and marine, freshwater, and terrestrial and land ecosystems, linking reduced resource extraction, waste and pollution with lower nature related impacts and dependencies. The guidance encourages banks to embed circularity in governance, risk management, sector strategies, client transition plans, and lending and investment policies. It also provides portfolio screening examples, practical actions and case studies to help banks identify and finance circular business models, adapt their approach to local conditions and support implementation of Principles for Responsible Banking nature targets. The publication comes as at least 29 jurisdictions representing more than USD 77 trillion in banking assets consider nature related financial risks within prudential frameworks.
2026-09-10United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative publishes guidance on using circular economy approaches to manage banks’ nature risks
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative has issued guidance for commercial banks on integrating circular economy considerations into nature related risk management and financing. It sets out actions for governance, portfolio screening, client engagement and financing across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial and land ecosystems.