Commonwealth Bank signs up to Net-Zero Banking Alliance

In a further commitment of its support for the global transition to net-zero emissions, Commonwealth Bank has today announced it will join the UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA).

CBA expects to play an active role in the NZBA, contributing to the efforts required to limiting climate change in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and supporting the global transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

As a first step in delivering against its NZBA commitments, CBA plans to publish interim sector-level targets for power generation, thermal coal and upstream oil and upstream gas in its FY22 Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures aligned reporting later this year. CBA has separately partnered with Australia’s science agency, CSIRO, to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on the finance sector and help mitigate the risks involved.

CBA’s Chief Executive Officer, Matt Comyn, said of the decision to join the NZBA: “Successfully transitioning to net-zero emissions will require a transformation of the global economy. It requires coordinated effort across sectors; and is contingent on policy, regulation, and technological developments.

“The NZBA’s focus on sector-level targets is consistent with our focus on sector-level glide-paths. We are committed to set sector-level targets (including intermediate targets for 2030 or sooner) for priority sectors within 18 months, and for the remaining sectors within 36 months subject to availability of data and transition scenarios suitable for our markets.”

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