Sustainable finance - KPMG UK (2024)

The sustainable finance opportunity for lenders, asset managers and insurers

Financial services firms have a unique role to play in driving greater sustainability into the wider economy.

New rules and regulations are forcing the pace of change. COVID-19 has shown organisations can embrace new ways of working faster than we ever thought possible. Making sustainable finance a core part of the investment strategy is no longer a choice: it is an imperative.

We help banks, insurers and asset managers:

  • comply with a wave of UK and EU regulations due by 2021 to disclose information about the sustainability of who they loan to, insure or invest in
  • transform their business model, including technology, data, capabilities and culture to enable the transition to financing sustainable activities
  • develop strategies for customers in the portfolio performing poorly on ESG – for example, through target setting and a more collaborative approach, or through divestment
  • design and provide ESG finance options for borrowers that not only incentivise their sustainable activities but are more competitively priced

The sustainable finance opportunity for corporate borrowers

Incorporating ESG factors into corporate debt transactions provides two principal benefits for borrowers: access to the broadest pools of capital, and tangible debt pricing benefits if they can demonstrate that a positive ESG impact is delivered.

Deal structures are evolving to move beyond looking purely at ‘green’ initiatives. An increasing number of transactions focusing on social or governance aspects – such as employment practices, board diversity and access to education.

We help corporate borrowers to:

  • evaluate and enhance ESG financing options
  • identify potential ESG financers
  • negotiate commercial terms of ESG financing to align with their strategic objectives
  • optimise their credit ratings based on ESG factors

Further offerings for sustainable finance

Regulatory-driven transformation

We can help the providers and recipients of finance to transform their operating models to comply with the upcoming wave of regulation. We can help them embed ESG into their business for strategic advantage.

Our sustainable finance transformation services include:

  • ESG maturity assessment
  • ESG regulatory decomposition
  • ESG target operating model design and implementation
  • ESG learning to upskill your employees
  • Portfolio ESG risk assessment and AI-driven bespoke ESG scoring
  • ESG valuations and due diligence

ESG finance assurance: Green, social and sustainability bonds and green loans

With global experience as an independent reviewer and Bond assurance provider, we offer services ranging from an Issuer's Bonds framework, to an individual Bond issuance or Loan origination.

Our expertise includes:

  • second party opinion: providing assurance over compliance and mapping to established Bond Principles and Guidelines
  • verification against a designated set of criteria, such as external standard or alignment of reporting with the published Bond Principles
  • certification covering an issuer's Bond or associated Bond framework, as well as the use of Proceeds against a recognised external green, social or sustainability standard

Talk to our sustainable finance experts

blog postsNoeleen Cowley

Partner, Head of Financial Services Consulting

KPMG in the UK

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blog postsTrevor Jones

Partner, Head of insurance

KPMG in the UK

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blog postsTom Brown

Emeritus Global Head of Asset Management, Project Leader for the WEF Initiative

KPMG in the UK

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|Phone

ESG linked financing assuranceESG linked financing assuranceESG linked financing assuranceGet independent assurance in relation to your ESG linked financing products .Get independent assurance in relation to your ESG linked financing products .Get independent assurance in relation to your ESG linked financing products .
Environmental, Social and GovernanceEnvironmental, Social and GovernanceEnvironmental, Social and GovernanceEmbed ESG into your operations and governanceEmbed ESG into your operations and governanceEmbed ESG into your operations and governance
ESG reportingESG reportingESG reportingUnderstand what ESG metrics you should be gathering and be confident in your ESG reportingUnderstand what ESG metrics you should be gathering and be confident in your ESG reportingUnderstand what ESG metrics you should be gathering and be confident in your ESG reporting
Sustainable finance - KPMG UK (2024)

FAQs

What is sustainable finance in the UK? ›

Sustainable finance' or 'Green finance' is about aligning the financial system with global sustainability. This includes. Integrating current and future financial risks and opportunities from climate, environmental, social and governance factors into mainstream financial decision making (= Greening Finance)

Is sustainable finance the same as ESG? ›

Sustainable finance is all about ethical decision-making in business and investment. It pivots on environmental, social and good governance (ESG) standards (especially in asset management and corporate strategy) that customers, workers and investors demand of companies.

What does KPMG ESG do? ›

Developing responsible and sustainable strategies, business models, operations and investments. KPMG firms know the power of ESG to transform your business. KPMG ESG Advisory can show you how to enhance trust, mitigate risk and unlock new value as you build a sustainable future.

Is green finance same as sustainable finance? ›

Climate finance provides funds for addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation, green finance has a broader scope as it also covers other environmental goals (e.g. biodiversity protection/restoration), while sustainable finance extends its domain to environmental, social and governance factors (ESG).

What is ESG in the UK? ›

It measures how your business integrates environmental, social, and governance practices into operations, as well as your business model, its impact, and its sustainability. The three components that make up ESG are environmental, social and governance.

What is an example of sustainable finance? ›

Examples of sustainable finance initiatives include: Social impact bonds / Pay for success (PFS) schemes. Sustainable investment funds. Social venture capital.

What is KPMG doing for sustainability? ›

Sustainable Development Goals

KPMG has a particular focus on SDG #7 (clean energy), #12 (responsible consumption), and #13 (climate action), which gives us concrete direction and a framework to refine our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.

What is KPMG ESG IQ? ›

ESG IQ aims to help clients understand the drivers behind their ESG standings, providing the root-cause analysis of what factors and issues have led to the assessment.

How much do ESG consultants make? ›

How much does an Esg Consultant make? As of Jun 1, 2024, the average annual pay for an Esg Consultant in the United States is $100,259 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $48.20 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,928/week or $8,354/month.

What are the pillars of sustainable finance? ›

It's not simply about where the money goes, but how it's used to foster a better, more sustainable world. And to further understand this, it's important to define the three main pillars of sustainable finance: environmental, social, and governance (ESG).

What is another name for sustainable finance? ›

It is sometimes used interchangeably with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) investing. However, many distinguish between ESG integration for better risk-adjusted returns and a broader field of sustainable finance that also includes impact investing, social finance and ethical investing.

What does sustainable finance do? ›

Sustainable finance is about including environmental, social and governance considerations in investment decisions. It leads, in the long-term, to more investment in sustainable projects and activities.

What is the sustainable finance directive UK? ›

While it looks to be "all change" for SFDR in the EU, the UK's equivalent, the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and Investment Labels regime, was only finalised in November 2023. The new rules include a fund labelling regime, a disclosure regime, naming and marketing rules, and a general "anti-greenwashing" rule.

What does sustainable mean UK? ›

Sustainability is a way of using resources that could continue forever. A sustain-able activity is able to be sustained without running out of resources or causing harm.

What is the UK sustainable strategy? ›

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to set a legal target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. This requires the UK's total emissions by 2050 to be equal to or less than the emissions the country removes from the environment.

What is the meaning of financial sustainability? ›

Financial sustainability is the capacity of a firm to earn revenue or get a return on an investment that covers all expenses and makes a profit. It assesses whether a project is viable for investment and whether investing resources in it will generate a sufficient return for investors.

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