Barclays has become the second bank of the United Kingdom to abandon the global industry alliance to establish climatic objectives.
The lender announced that he would leave the net Banking Alliance (NZBA) on Friday after “the departure of most global banks.”
HSBC became the first British institution to leave the Alliance earlier this month following several important banks of the United States.
The activists called Barclays's decision to remove “incredibly disappointing”, since it marks a new blow to international efforts to coordinate climate action.
Gathered in 2021 by the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative, but directed by Banks, the NBZA compromises members to align their loans, investments and capital markets with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the planet to zero net by 2050.
In a statement published online on Friday, Barclays said: “After considering, we have decided to retire from the Net Banking Alliance.
“With the departure of most global banks, the organization no longer has membership to support our transition.”
The bank said that it is still committed to its ambition to be a Net Zero Bank by 2050, as well as its objectives to reduce financed emissions, and to mobilize 1 billion US dollars of sustainable financing and transition.
“We continue working with our clients in their transition, financing the transition and scale climate technology, while we help to guarantee energy security for our clients and customers,” said the lender.
“This is an important commercial opportunity for Barclays; in 2024, we generate approximately half a billion pounds in revenues of sustainable activities and related to the transition.”
The bank made the announcement three days after he published an update of his climate transition plans, which reiterated his green commitments.
Jeanne Martin, co -director of Corporate Participation in Shareaction, who campaigns for responsible investment, said Friday's announcement has sent “mixed signals” to governments and companies around the world.
“Barclays's decision to abandon Nzba is incredibly disappointing and a step in the wrong direction at a time when the dangers of climate change are rapidly increasing,” he said.
“As the financial risks of global heating multiply and climatic impacts, such as heat waves, floods and extreme climatic events, become more intense and frequent, we cannot afford the measures.
“Responsible investors will observe closely and increase the pressure on the bank to protect the long -term economic prosperity and the livelihoods of people everywhere.”
The withdrawal of the corporate world of diversity policies and green commitments has accelerated since Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Six of the largest American banks, JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs, left the NZBA after their choice in November.
But the United Kingdom banks had stayed with the alliance until HSBC announced their departure this month.
Now that Barclays left, the British lenders who appear as members of Nbza from Friday afternoon still include Lloyds, Natwest, Standard Chartered and Nationwide.
The alliance said that its members have been making “important progress” with more than 100 banks that establish objectives based on individual and independent science for their financed emissions.
A spokesman said: “Nzba is still focused on complying with the future vision overwhelmingly supported by member banks a few months ago.
“He is supporting its members to lead the climate addressing the barriers preventing its customers from investing in the net transition.
“As the largest global initiative focused specifically on supporting the climate mitigation action by banks, Nzba is in a unique position to provide the practical support that banks need to take advantage of opportunities and administer the risks of movement to zero net.”
