Yuri de Sousa Santos, who opened, this Wednesday, the II conference on Sustainability in Banking, promoted by the Angolan Association of Banks (Abanc), also called for the creation of innovative financial products, such as green loans, sustainable bonds and investments in renewable energies, which encourage sustainability.
"In addition to risks, efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are a source of opportunities," said the government official, highlighting that the adoption of low-carbon energy sources, the performance of new products and services, such as access to new markets are some of the advantages that the sustainability agenda can offer.
The government official highlighted the crucial role of financial institutions in the transformation process, promoting education on climate risks, collaborating with organizations, sharing data and developing innovative solutions.
"I want to reiterate the importance of our collective efforts. On the one hand, the commitment of the Angolan financial system, in the responsibility to promote banking practices that bring profits and, on the other hand, that protect the environment, support the energy transition, reducing dependence of the oil sector and fundamentally bring benefits to society", he said.
In turn, the president of Abanc, Mário Nascimento, said that the topic of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) has increasingly gained relevance in the financial sector, and the concept represents a fundamental change in the way financial institutions operate.
According to Mário Nascimento, banking institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable practices, which includes financing and projects that promote clean energy, the conservation of natural resources and the reduction of carbon emissions, in addition to the responsibility to avoid financing activities that may cause significant environmental damage.
Mário Nascimento stated that Abanc recently set up a working group, with a specific focus on ESG and sustainability, to execute its strategic agenda, aiming to reach important milestones in the next two or three years.
Promoting alignment with global sustainable finance standards, fostering innovation and operational efficiency in banking practices and facilitating strategic alliances for banks and their associates are Abanc's purposes for the coming years, he said.
