UN SDG-specific content
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 form a core element of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. As the SDGs are based on a participatory process, responsibility for achieving them is shared among states, the private sector, the scientific community and civil society. Since their introduction, we have been pursuing activities designed to contribute to the realization of the SDGs in our role as a global financial institution. The following table provides an overview on our wide-ranging activities relating to selected objectives of most relevance to Credit Suisse, as also confirmed by stakeholder interactions. Furthermore, Credit Suisse published six case studies providing details on our SDG implementation efforts for selected SDGs, see: credit-suisse.com/sdg
SDG
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Our contribution
- We offer purpose-driven investments into venture and growth stage companies in the life sciences, health and well-being industries
- We prioritize mental and physical well-being in the workplace through education, events and digital tools
Goal 4: Quality education
Our contribution
- We promote financial education and future skills through our respective regional programs
- We support financial education programs for girls through our Financial Education Initiative in Brazil, China, Sri Lanka and Tanzania
Goal 5: Gender equality
Our contribution
- We take measures and set aspirations to increase our representation of women globally
- We address female empowerment across the globe through our Corporate Citizenship programs, including our Financial Inclusion and Education initiatives
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Our contribution
- We support our clients’ energy transition through the issuance of green, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds and loans
- We provide renewable energy financing
- We use climate-friendly energy sources for our business premises and have buildings certified according to energy efficiency standards
- We run an ISO 14001-certified environmental management system
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Our contribution
- We focus on developing a diverse and inclusive workplace and talent pipeline
Further information
Our key initiatives
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Our contribution
- We invest in sustainable real estate
Further information
Global Real Estate in Credit Suisse Asset Management Switzerland
Goal 13: Climate action
Our contribution
- We help companies identify new growth opportunities and sustainable finance solutions, accelerating the transformation of traditional industries and infrastructure systems
- We support the development of a transition financing market through thought leadership and innovative transaction structures for our clients
- In December 2020 we announced our 2050 net zero ambition and committed to develop interim 2030 science-based reduction goals for key sectors
- We have a Group-wide Climate Risk Strategy program and sector-specific policies and guidelines in place
- We are a signatory to a number of market-based initiatives, including the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and the Network for Greening the Financial System
- We are greenhouse gas neutral across all our operations globally
- We are a signatory of the Poseidon Principles
Goal 14: Life below water
Our contribution
- We offer sustainable and impact products targeting biodiversity and ocean conservation
Further information
Expanding our product reach
Goal 15: Life on land
Our contribution
- We are active in the area of conservation finance
- We embed biodiversity-related issues into our sustainability risk assessments and our sector-specific policies and guidelines
- We have an ongoing advisory role to the Zoological Society of London’s Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT)
- We are a member of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures Forum
- We are a signatory of the Financial Institution Statement for the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP15
Multiple SDGs
Our contribution
- We actively promote financial innovation and new forms of collaboration between public and private sector partners to mobilize private financing for the SDGs in developing countries
- We align our activities under our CHF 300 billion sustainable finance commitment to industry best practice using our Sustainable Activities Framework
- We align identified societal “supertrends” to the SDGs to enhance transparency and address the needs of investors using the SDGs as a reference point to measure and assess impact