2017: BNP Paribas, first French bank in the ranking .
Indeed, BNP Paribas confirms its excellent performances and continuous progress by maintaining above the threshold of 80% (reached for the first time in 2015) and positioning itself in the top 12% of the Banking sector.
For the 3nd consecutive year, BNP Paribas is thus listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes* World & Europe. BNP Paribas is the first French Bank and is among the nine European banks selected in these indices within a universe of 274 banks.
This year, with scores of 100/100, the Group has particularly well performed in Risk management and Climate strategy in favor of energy transition. Last but not least, the Group has significantly improved its scores in the fields of the respect of Human Rights, the Health and Safety of employees and the Code of Conduct.
*The DJSI evaluates the performance of the 2,500 largest companies listed on the Dow Jones Global Market Index against economic, environmental and social criteria.
RobecoSAM & BNP Paribas
The Swiss extra-financial rating agency RobecoSAM, a partner of S&P Dow Jones Indices, rates each year the world's 2,500 largest companies eligible for inclusion in the flagship DJSI World. The assessment is based on a questionnaire specific to the companies' industry. Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones ethics indices track the financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide based on economic, environmental and social criteria. They are used by investors who take these dimensions into account in their investment strategies.
Since 2002, BNP Paribas participates in the RobecoSAM rating by answering a questionnaire on its activities and policies in terms of environmental, social and corporate governance responsibility. This questionnaire is structured in three parts that constitute its three themes: the economic (corporate governance, customer relationship management, materiality…), environmental (climate strategy, environmental policies and reporting…) and social (health and safety, talent attraction, philanthropy…) dimensions.
"We are very proud to be listed in the World and Europe Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the third consecutive year. BNP Paribas reinforces its leading position on Corporate Social Responsibility in the Banking sector, as shown by its improvement of 27 points between 2002 (year of the Bank’s first participation) and 2017. Our performance is notably the result of an efficient strategy in favor of energy transition and strong commitments in Ethics, as our improvement in these sectors testify”.
Laurence Pessez, BNP Paribas Group Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
Extra-financial ratings
‘Extra-financial’ analysis consists in assessing companies, sovereign states and other kinds of issuers of financial securities on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. Based on this analysis, the agency then draws up a rating that enables a comparison to be made between different issuers – whether or not they are listed companies – on their ESG practices.
This type of rating is based on ‘declarative’ information rather than mandatory disclosure, and the rating agency is not remunerated by the company itself. Extra-financial ratings agencies are paid by investors looking to orient their investments to ‘sustainability’ or long-term considerations.
- BNP Paribas shares are currently listed in the following indices: Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality and Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Index Fund.
- BNP Paribas is also in 42th place among the ‘Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world’ in the 2017 rankings published by Canadian specialist sustainability magazine Corporate Knights.
- BNP Paribas was named ‘Best Bank for Climate Change and Sustainability’ at the Investment Banking Awards 2016 organised by The Banker magazine. This title had previously been held for the last five years by Bank of America.