News & Stories

Six years ago around 200 global leaders signed the Paris Climate Agreement, binding their countries to the transition to a lower carbon economy by phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and pledging to limit the global average temperature increase to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. In Europe alone, the EUs’ national energy and climate plans (NECPs) for 2021 to 2030 have committed to achieve a 32% share of renewable energy by 2030.

To support the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, we are setting our ambition to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions in our portfolio across the Group by 2050. The ambition applies to the group’s own operations, which are already net-zero, and all client emissions that result from any lending, advisory or investment services provided by Santander.

Santander has cemented its leadership in sustainable investment in Spain by launching its first bond for retail customers under Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. The product has a 90% guaranteed principal and presents customers with the chance to invest in profitable projects that have a positive social impact, with as little as €5,000.

The subject of green finance has come to prominence on a global stage and become a huge talking point in the investment banking world, even more so since the COVID19 pandemic began. Today, as climate change climbs the ranks in both the political and news agendas, there is a huge rising demand for ‘responsible’ investment products and practices.