Social cohesion
Sustainably changing the world
As a “responsible bank”, KfW contributes to meeting the goals for environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development and contributes to the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide with its promotional and financing activities.
Video: Dr Günther Bräunig on SDG mapping at KfW Group (KfW Bankengruppe/Thomas Schuch).
In order to promote the transformation to a sustainable society, the member states of the United Nations adopted Agenda 2030 with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. Global challenges can only be solved by working together. Which is why the goals set the framework for a sustainable development process for all nations whether developing countries, emerging economies or industrialised nations. The SDGs are preceded by five core messages as guiding principles for action: humans, the planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. KfW’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals is plain for everyone to see. The SDGs adorn the façade of its head office in Frankfurt.
Video: SDG icons decorate the KfW facade(KfW Bankengruppe/Marla Dähne).
As a pioneer among the banks, KfW’s annual SDG mapping makes its contribution to achieving the sustainability goals transparent.
To date, there is no standardised process for reporting financial contributions to the SDGs. KfW therefore developed its own group-wide SDG mapping as part of the internal “KfW Roadmap Sustainable Finance” project. And is thus transparent about which positive SDG contributions can be expected from its new commitments every year. In total, mapping uses over 1,500 sets of standard financing data, which are assigned to the SDGs on the basis of a uniform group-wide SDG understanding. The project aims to make KfW even more sustainable in terms of financing.
Video: Carina Koch on the SDGs at KfW (KfW Bankengruppe/Thomas Schuch).
KfW pursues the goal of sustainably improving living conditions worldwide by financing the following promotional areas: climate and environmental protection (SDG 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 among others), innovations (SDG 9 among others), small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups (SDG 8 among others), infrastructure investments by cities, communities and municipal enterprises (SDG 9, 11 among others), study and education loans (SDG 4, 10 among others), export and project finance (SDG 7, 8, 9 among others) and promotion of developing and emerging countries (SDG 1, 2, 3, 5, 16, 17 among others). KfW primarily aspires to contribute to the SDGs in two ways. By financing sustainable customer and partner activities (e.g. financing for wind farms) and supporting the customer in more sustainable economic activities (e.g. financing for energy efficiency programmes). KfW makes the largest contributions to the following SDGs: “affordable and clean energy”, “decent work and economic growth”, “sustainable cities and communities” and “climate action”.
Published on KfW Stoires: 9 December 2019.
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