BNP Paribas wishes to become carbon neutral by end-2017

03.05.2017

As part of its long-standing commitment to help combat climate change, BNP Paribas commits to becoming carbon neutral by the end of the year in terms of the CO2 emissions arising from its own operations.

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3 complementary initiatives:

Since 2012, BNP Paribas has already reduced its direct CO2 emissions by 15% per employee, in line with the Group’s target of a 25% reduction by 2020. This achievement is the result of a specific policy of promoting energy efficiency at the Bank’s buildings, data centres and also optimising business travel.
Over half of all CO2 emissions arise from our electricity consumption. BNP Paribas is now committing itself to achieve a ‘carbon-neutral’ position by using only low carbon electricity in all countries where it is available.
The Group will also work to offset CO2 emissions that cannot be directly avoided or easily reduced, such as those arising from staff travel and natural gas consumption, through partnerships with benchmark organisations, in accordance with our Corporate Social Responsibility policies. For example, BNP Paribas is signing a partnership with the GoodPlanet Foundation to promote the construction of biodigesters – individual household biogas production facilities – in rural India.

Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, BNP Paribas Chief Executive Officer said: “Over the last few years, we’ve taken some significant steps with our climate-related policies. For instance, we doubled the funds earmarked for financing in the renewable energy field – to €15 billion by 2020 – and also decided to cease financing coal-fired power plant projects. This new target of making our own operations ‘carbon-neutral’ will enable us to take our contribution to limiting global warming a stage further.”

Laurence Pessez, Head of CSR, talks about BNP Paribas going carbon neutral by end-2017

BNP Paribas commits to become ‘carbon neutral’ by end-2017

With this commitment, BNP Paribas is strengthening its position as one of the European banks making the most effective contribution to attaining the COP21 climate goals.