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In 2024, the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores of the largest banks worldwide varied markedly across different score providers. ****, the largest bank globally in terms of market capitalization, showed a wide range of scores: when standardized to a score out of 100, the highest score was given by MSCI, at ****, and the lowest by S&P Global (previously RobecoSAM), at **, while the score from Sustainalytics had a value of **. With only one green bond issued since December 2020, JPMorgan Chase ranked tenth among the leading banks worldwide by value of green bond issuance.

Growing commitment to sustainability 

Banks worldwide are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainability in their operations. The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, launched in 2021, has grown to include *** members as of September 2024, with the majority located in Europe. This initiative demonstrates the banking sector's commitment to aligning their operations with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Members are required to set interim targets and provide annual progress reports, indicating a shift towards more transparent and accountable sustainability practices in the industry. 

ESG scores and their growing role in investment decisions

ESG scores measure a company's exposure to long-term environmental, social, and governance risks. These non-financial factors are a growing concern for investors worldwide, and many of them now integrate ESG data in their investment decision-making to have a positive impact on the environment and society. As a result, the assets of ESG funds worldwide increased considerably in recent years, reaching a value of *** billion U.S. dollars in 2023. ESG factors cover a broad spectrum of sustainability criteria, but environmental concerns are still the main drivers of ESG investing. Despite rising pressure on companies to decrease their impact on the environment, the carbon dioxide emissions of the largest banks worldwide are still far from sustainable.