09/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2025 03:58
Hong Kong SAR, China, September 9, 2025 - Twenty commercial banks, collectively managing more than US$5.6 trillion in assets, have joined the Alliance for Green Commercial Banks (the Alliance), an initiative of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. This inaugural cohort marks an important step in accelerating the transformation of commercial banks towards excellence in green banking-integrating global best practices with innovative business models for sustainable finance across Asia-Pacific's emerging markets and developing economies.
The Alliance is a curated, by-invitation platform that convenes commercial banks committed to embedding sustainability into their core strategies while financing the transition to low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive economies. The Alliance promotes the full spectrum of green financing-covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, sector-wide transitions, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions and circular economy- to accelerate the transformation of banking in emerging markets towards sustainable and resilient growth.
As part of this selective, peer-to-peer community, members learn, connect, and lead through an action-oriented model that promotes best practices in green banking and supports their transformation journey. Leveraging its network of leading institutions, the Alliance facilitates access to specialized advisory and financing to help them scale solutions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental opportunities across key sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, and urban development.
Representing eight markets, the inaugural members make up a diverse mix of leading institutions recognized for their market leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainability:
"This inaugural cohort reflects the increasing commitment and leadership of commercial banks in green finance," said Allen Forlemu, IFC Regional Industry Director, Financial Institutions Group, Asia Pacific. "The Alliance is more than a network-it is a community of committed institutions working together to transform finance, close the multi-trillion-dollar climate finance gap, and position emerging markets at the forefront of sustainable economic growth."
The Alliance's work in Asia is anchored by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), with Bank of China (Hong Kong), Citi, Crédit Agricole CIB, HSBC, and Standard Chartered as five Cornerstone Banks. A broad group of Knowledge Partners-including CDP, CFA Institute, Convergence Blended Finance, Climate Capital Asia, Renewables Academy (RENAC), and the United Nations Environment Program-provides expertise, networks, and market insights to help accelerate the growth of green finance.