Methodological and Technological issues in Technology Transfer

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5.3.2 Initiatives within the Private Financial Sector

While on one level the private financial sector has no special reason to consider environmental issues, many are beginning to realise, like much of the rest of business, that environment is a strategic issue for them, and a particular focus has been climate change. It is with adaptation to the impacts of climate change that progress has been most rapid as financial institutions recognise that climate change could directly affect their business. Insurance companies are increasingly aware that climate change could increase their losses on property and general insurance (e.g. from increased sea level rises and storm damage). Banks could also see the undermining of the security behind much of their lending. As a result, some insurance companies have become increasingly active, and have been working with others to develop and transfer technology in this area. Measures taken have included: adjusting premiums to reflect risks (where they are permitted to do so), thus sending a clearer signal about the dangers of climate change to owners and developers; working with local authorities on preventative measures such as enforcing building codes and zoning; and developing disaster recovery measures such as improved telephone support.

In the other areas of climate change the mainstream financial industry has had a less direct impact, and to date most financial institutions have made only a modest commitment to supporting the development and use of mitigation technologies, and particularly to overcoming some of the barriers identified in Section 5.1 as preventing greater investment. However, progress has been made in some areas - for example, bankers no longer regard wind energy technologies as being a particularly high risk.

Certain financial institutions have been prepared to innovate and show leadership in finance related to the environment. For example, some banks have also been active in working with smaller businesses to improve their environmental impact, often with a focus on energy efficiency, through providing advice and information. In doing this they hope to improve the credit standing of their clients, as well as secure general environmental benefits. Some banks have also instituted lending programmes with more favourable terms than in ordinary lending for businesses seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

Other initiatives within the private financial sector include:

Green financial institutions. While most mainstream financial institutions have paid only modest attention to the environment, a number of smaller organisations or groups within organisation have made it a major feature of their activities. These "green financiers" are usually driven by, firstly, the growing number of investors with concerns about the environment and a desire to see their money invested to take account of these concerns and, secondly, a high level of personal commitment by the professionals involved. These green financial organisation are much more prepared to work to overcome some of the problems identified earlier, either independently or in conjunction with the public sector. Many of these "green" financiers are involved in some of the activities above. They include:

• a number of Ecological or Social Banks (typically very small, although growing) that focus on providing fairly low cost lending for environmental and other worthy projects, and have strong links to the micro-credit movement (see Box 5.3);
• environmental equity funds which invest in listed "green" companies (many billions of dollars are now invested in such funds, but they are limited in the extent to which they can provide money to new ventures);
• a few environmental venture funds and specialist corporate financiers which provide support to new environmental businesses.

While these green financiers are still small as a proportion of the overall financial markets, they are providing a very useful pathfinder role in developing new concepts and ideas. There appears to be substantial merit in the public sector finding ways to support them and work with them to encourage their work.

Collective initiatives and organisations. In recent years a number of initiatives and organisations have been created to bring together industry participants to look at environmental issues as a collective basis. The most notable have been the UNEP initiatives, where banks and insurance companies have signed a statement on the environment, and subsequently the signatories have formed organisations to develop further activities. Other organisations have developed, mostly at a national level, to further the cause of environmental investment, such as the Social Investment Forum (US), UK Social Investment Forum, VfU (Verein fur Umweltmanagement in Banken und Versicherung) in Germany/Switzerland and the Social Venture Network (US). These organisations provide forums for networking, information gathering and sharing experiences. They also have been involved in lobbying for change and encouraging investment and green finance.