Case Studies
Jun 17, 2020
A survey for Africa Climate Week in March 2019 showed that most African nations were already starting to implement their mitigation and adaptation commitments under the Paris Agreement. But over...
Jun 12, 2020
At 14 members, across 2019 and into 2020 the FC4S Europe node has worked to support European Commission efforts in sustainable finance. With the European Union strongly supporting the transition...
Jun 12, 2020
As the global headquarters of the FC4S Network, FC4S’s work in Switzerland builds on the strength of Federal and Canton sustainable finance efforts and that of our two Swiss based...
FC4S Goals
Goal 1
Through its members FC4S will work towards achieving the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.
Goal 2
The FC4S Network will strengthen its role as a primary forum for public-private collaboration on sustainable finance, supporting coherence across markets in response to policy and regulatory developments within member jurisdictions.
Goal 3
All FC4S Centres will advance at least one level on the FC4S Sustainability Alignment Scale by end 2021, as evaluated by the Secretariat on the basis of shared criteria agreed by FC4S members.
Goal 4
The FC4S Network will make a material difference to sustainable finance on the ground in its member financial centre jurisdictions
Sustainability Alignment Scale
Little or no awareness or activity
Center is aware of the need for sustainable finance with early stage, fragmented activities
Started to develop expertise in some areas, action at commitment level, results qualitative
Strategic framework for sustainable finance, some quantitative evidence of financial activity
Sustainable finance material share of assets & transactions, factor of competitiveness
Centre aligned with Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals
10 Dimensions of Sustainable Financial
PUBLIC FINANCE
1. BANKING:
Major banks
headquartered and
operating in the centre are
engaging in green and
sustainable finance
across their lending book
and capital markets
activities.
2. DEBT CAPITAL MARKETS:
Financial centres are issuing,
underwriting and investing in
green bonds - and credit
rating agencies are factoring
in environmental risks.
3. EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS:
Stock exchanges, market
participants and securities
regulators in the centre are
integrating sustainability
factors and advancing
environmental solutions.
4. INSURANCE:
Providers and regulators
are increasingly analysing
the relationship between
insurance and climate
change, and providing new
insurance products for the
green economy.
5. INVESTMENT:
Asset owners and
managers in the centre are
integrating ESG factors
along the value chain and
reallocating capital,
supported by pension and
other regulators.
6. SPECIALIST:
Specialized forms of
sustainable and green
finance are flourishing
including carbon markets,
impact investing,
cleantech, green fintech
and social stock
exchanges.
7. POLICY AND
PUBLIC FINANCE:
National and local
regulations and public
finance institutions are
supporting best practice
and crowding in private
capital.
8. LOCAL GREEN INITIATIVES :
Efforts are under way by city
and regional authorities to
mobilize finance for local green
initiatives such as
energy-efficient retrofits, waste
management and resource
efficiency vehicle
infrastructure and mass
transit expansion.
9. MARKET INTERMEDIARIES:
Analysts, legal, accounting
and financial data
providers as well as
professional bodies in the
financial centre are
providing sustainability
expertise to
their clients.
10. KNOWLEDGE:
Universities, NGO's,
consultancies and
coalitions are providing
the insight and impetus to
leadership by the financial
centre on sustainability.
1. BANKING:
Major banks
headquartered and
operating in the centre are
engaging in green and
sustainable finance
across their lending book
and capital markets
activities.
2. DEBT CAPITAL MARKETS:
Financial centres are issuing,
underwriting and investing in
green bonds - and credit
rating agencies are factoring
in environmental risks.
3. EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS:
Stock exchanges, market
participants and securities
regulators in the centre are
integrating sustainability
factors and advancing
environmental solutions.
4. INSURANCE:
Providers and regulators
are increasingly analysing
the relationship between
insurance and climate
change, and providing new
insurance products for the
green economy.
5. INVESTMENT:
Asset owners and
managers in the centre are
integrating ESG factors
along the value chain and
reallocating capital,
supported by pension and
other regulators.
6. SPECIALIST:
Specialized forms of
sustainable and green
finance are flourishing
including carbon markets,
impact investing,
cleantech, green fintech
and social stock
exchanges.
PUBLIC FINANCE
7. POLICY AND
PUBLIC FINANCE:
National and local
regulations and public
finance institutions are
supporting best practice
and crowding in private
capital.
8. LOCAL GREEN INITIATIVES :
Efforts are under way by city
and regional authorities to
mobilize finance for local green
initiatives such as
energy-efficient retrofits, waste
management and resource
efficiency vehicle
infrastructure and mass
transit expansion.
9. MARKET INTERMEDIARIES:
Analysts, legal, accounting
and financial data
providers as well as
professional bodies in the
financial centre are
providing sustainability
expertise to
their clients.
10. KNOWLEDGE:
Universities, NGO's,
consultancies and
coalitions are providing
the insight and impetus to
leadership by the financial
centre on sustainability.
How FC4S Engages with Members
1
Strengthening Strategic Commitment: stimulating strategic action by financial centres through guidance, assessment tools and data systems.
2
Boosting Market Integrity: bringing clarity and convergence on key definitions, taxonomies and classifications, as well as endorsing international standards.
3
Building Capacity: strengthening the capacity of developing country financial centres, supporting implementation, and strengthening the skills base of financial practitioners.
4
Fostering Innovation: pooling experience on critical issues, such as how to leverage fintech and digital solutions for sustainable finance markets.
5
Serving the Real Economy: exploring models to connect financial centres with real economy needs, such as Green Finance Zones.
The 6-step Process to Support Financial Center's Sustainable Finance Ambitions
Iterative process to improve financial centre performance
1
Assess Position
2
Set Priorities
3
Build Capacity
4
Catalyse Action
5
Promotion
6
Review And Refine
Events / Meetings
Jun 20, 2024
20 June 2024, Online
Sep 26, 2023
Jun 16, 2023
Publications
Dec 04, 2023
Dec 04, 2023
The Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) is an industry body established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) along with the financial industry in January 2024. Building on the successful work of the Green Finance Industry Taskforce (GFIT), SSFA is established to collaborate across the financial and real economy sectors to support the growth of Singapore as a trusted, vibrant, and inclusive sustainable finance centre.
Established in July 2021 off the back of growing industry support for sustainable finance in Australia, and an increasing willingness from Australian financial institutions to collaborate to drive the transition, the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) is a highly credible organisation with strong governance and organisational capacity to move quickly to capitalise on the opportunity that exists in Australia. With a focus on climate, but work spanning climate, environment and social impact, ASFI works with its members, government, financial sector regulators, universities and the financial sector to drive leadership, policy, regulation, tools and frameworks that support the shift required in the financial system.
Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) is an industry association with the objective to strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leading voice and actor in sustainable finance, thereby contributing to a sustainable and prosperous economy.
FinCity.Tokyo is an organization that aims to boost the attractiveness of Tokyo’s financial markets and raise its profile as a top-class global financial city, while conducting various promotional activities through private–public partnerships.
Stockholm Green Digital Finance is a not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to accelerate sustainable finance and investment through fintech innovations. It serves as an independent innovation platform and test bed to demonstrate creative solutions for scaling green finance and investment.
Shenzhen Green Finance Committee (SZGFC) is a professional committee established under Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Finance Association.
https://www.sz.gov.cn/en_szgov/laws/content/post_10098098.html
Lujiazui Financial City is the vanguard of China’s financial innovation and startups. Committee.
Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) seeks to position Rwanda as a preferred financial jurisdiction for investments into Africa and create alternatives for mobilizing capital.
Created by the Inter-American Development Bank, in collaboration with different national and international institutions, the Financial Innovation Laboratory (LAB) is a space open to the discussion of ideas, where institutions and individuals interested in climate and social finance contribute their best efforts and experience to implement innovative financial instruments that promote good practices for capital markets in the region.
Finance for Tomorrow is the branch of Paris EUROPLACE launched in June 2017 to make green and sustainable finance a key driving force in the development of the Paris Financial Centre and to position it as a leading financial hub on these issues.
U.S. Alliance for Sustainable Finance (USASF) was established in December 2018, and is based in New York City. The Alliance works to encourage more climate-friendly and sustainable finance innovation across the U.S. capital markets.
Nairobi International Financial Centre is one of the flagship projects within the Economic Pillar of the Kenya Vision 2030, which falls under the Financial Services Sector. The National Treasury is the implementing department, with the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFCA) established by Executive Order to drive the process of creating the Centre.
Founded in 2010, Finance Montréal, the financial cluster in Quebec, is at the heart of the development and promotion of the Quebec financial services industry and its international positioning as a growing, competitive, attractive and innovative world- class financial center. The organization also focuses on fintech and innovation, sustainable finance and talent development.
Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association (MSFA) was founded by the Mongolian Bankers Association in December 2017 to promote sustainability and green growth by creating a green financing system and assisting Mongolian finance and business sectors to adopt activities that benefit both the environment and the society. MSFA network consists of all 15 banks operating in Mongolia.
Borsa Italiana, Forum per la Finanza sostenibile (FFS-ItaSIF) and Federazione Banche Assicurazioni e Finanza (FeBAF) set up ESGeneration Italy in 2021. This initiative moves in continuity with the commitment that characterizes the work of Borsa Italiana, ItaSIF and FeBAF in terms of sustainability and in the wake of the works concluded in 2019 by the Observatory on Sustainable Finance at the Ministry of the Environment.
Mexican Council of Sustainable Finance (CMFS) is a non-profit civil association that brings together participants in the financial system to promote best practices in sustainable finance. It is made up of the main financial associations, institutional investors, development banks, commercial banks, multilateral banks, stock exchanges, industrial associations, service providers and independent consultants, among others.
The Spanish Centre for Responsible and Sustainable Finance (Finresp) was launched by AEB, CECA, INVERCO, UNACC and UNESPA to address the challenges and needs of the Spanish business community, in particular the needs of its small and medium-sized companies.
Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative (LSFI) is a not-for-profit association that designs and implements the Sustainable Finance Strategy for the Luxembourg financial centre. Its objective is to raise awareness, promote and help develop sustainable finance initiatives in Luxembourg.
City of London Corporation, alongside HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, jointly invested in the Green Finance Institute (GFI) in 2019 to lead the UK’s green finance offer, and to overcome the barriers needed to mobilize more finance for the green revolution. It represents the evolution of the City Corporation’s Green Finance Initiative, which was first set up in the wake of the Paris Agreement.
In 2019, the Portuguese Government launched a think tank on Sustainable Finance – Grupo de Reflexão para o Financiamento Sustentável (GRFS) – which is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Action, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transition.
Established in 1969, the Liechtenstein Bankers Association is the domestic and international voice of the banks operating in and out of Liechtenstein.
The Financial Centre for Sustainability (FC4S), Lagos, was established in 2019, as part of an effort to accelerate the expansion of sustainable finance in Nigeria through the collaborative partnership of FMDQ Group, Africa’s first vertically integrated financial market infrastructure group, which is comprised of the FMDQ Exchange, FMDQ Clear and FMDQ Depository as well as other key stakeholders in the Nigerian financial market.
As part of its developmental mandate, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) set up the Capital Markets Promotion Council (CMPC) in 2012, to strengthen its internationalization agenda for Malaysia’s capital markets. In 2014, the SC rebranded CMPC as Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM) to spearhead the local and international positioning as well as profiling of the Malaysian capital markets.
Jersey Finance is an award-winning, leading international finance centre (IFC) which prides itself on being at the forefront of industry developments, consistently looking to the future with a forward-thinking, well-regulated approach.
Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA) was launched in September 2018, and has over 110 members comprising a broad range of financial institutions, corporates and NGOs.
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
Guernsey Finance is a specialist global finance centre for private equity administration and captive insurance services and is home to over 20 private and international banks, well over a hundred fiduciary services providers and some hundred and fifty private fund managers and scores of global fund administrators.
Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) is a non-for-profit organization based in Scotland. GEFI is a practitioner-led organization with experts in corporate finance, project finance, banking, law and marketing.
Sustainable Finance Geneva was founded in 2008, as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable finance. The SFG community includes individual members and institutional partners from the wider Geneva area.
In 2018, the Green Finance Cluster Frankfurt of the Ministry of Economic Affairs for Hesse and Deutsche Börse’s Accelerating Sustainable Finance Initiative merged under the name Green and Sustainable Finance Cluster Germany (Cluster). The Cluster brings together the activities of the various stakeholders – financial institutions, investor groups, politicians and members of the public – in a network-like structure.
Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) is a non-for-profit organization based in Scotland. GEFI is a practitioner-led organization with experts in corporate finance, project finance, banking, law and marketing.
As a central outcome of the Ireland for Finance Strategy (2021), the International Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence (ISFCOE) is dedicated to advancing sustainable finance through expertise and impact. ISFCOE facilitates the development of technical knowledge, research, skills and product development in sustainable finance across the full spectrum of international financial services sectors.
Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is an African financial and business centre committed to the continent’s future. CFC provides a stable environment, localized expertise and a support network to access Africa’s opportunity while mitigating its complexities.
Cairo is represented by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) and is responsible for supervising and regulating non-banking financial markets and instruments, including the capital market, futures exchanges, insurance activities, mortgage finance, financial leasing, factoring, and securitization.
Since its establishment as a leading think-tank in 2020, the Busan Finance Center (BFC) has focused on conducting cutting-edge financial research, hosting international conferences, and activating a leading maritime and derivative finance ecosystem.
The creation of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) required an intermediary organization to gather industry strength and improve financial market elements. To this end, with the support of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Finance, Beijing Environmental Exchange, together with China’s major carbon emission companies, financial institutions and carbon asset management companies, initiated the establishment of the Beijing Green Finance Association (BGFA).
As a bridge between the government and the market, the BGFA represents industry companies and participates in the design and rulemaking of the domestic carbon emission reduction market, Beijing carbon trading center and carbon financial center and is committed to becoming the industry’s most influential carbon emission reduction industry organization.
Barcelona Centre Financer Europeu (BCFE) was established in 1991 with the main objective to help consolidate Barcelona and its economic area of influence as a Financial Centre.
Centre for Sustainable Finance Toitū Tahua was established in 2021 to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand’s progress towards a sustainable, inclusive financial system. The Centre’s work is anchored in the Sustainable Finance Forum Roadmap, which outlines a set of implementation principles that is followed in its work.
Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a large defined zone within the City of Nur-Sultan. AIFC is a financial hub for Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Middle East, West China, Mongolia and Europe. AIFC is viewed as one of the leading financial institutions stimulating the transition to a green economy and sustainable development through investment in clean, energy efficient and low carbon projects.
Abidjan is currently represented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cote d’Ivoire; upon its launch, Abidjan International Financial City will take over this role. The Ministry is being supported by a high-level public-private working group that is working on a sustainable finance roadmap for Cote d’Ivoire.
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is an international financial centre located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It is composed of three independent authorities: ADGM Courts, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Registration Authority. ADGM governs the entire 114 hectares (1.14sqkm) of Al Maryah Island which is a designated financial free zone.