Sustainability and what it means for Close Brothers

Acting sustainably isn’t a choice – it’s imperative. At Close Brothers, behaving responsibly is integral to our actions and decision-making and this is reflected across sustainability objectives we set ourselves, including:

• Supporting our customers, clients and partners in the transition towards more sustainable practices

• Reducing our impact on the environment and responding to the threats and opportunities of climate change

We are committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement to achieve net zero by 2050. We are conscious that the emissions impact of the assets and sectors that we finance can contribute to climate change, and as a financial services provider we recognise the role we have to play in supporting the transition to a more sustainable future. This includes supporting our customers and partners with their own transition journeys.

Our efforts to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment continue at pace, and we strive to take actions that make a positive contribution to the world around us. Careful consideration of environmental factors and potential risks now plays an integral role in the actions we take, alongside thoughtful evaluation of where opportunities may arise for us to make a meaningful difference through our business decisions.

Today, our Renewable Energy team has funded around £1.3bn of onshore wind, solar and battery storage projects. This figure doesn’t include the smaller-scale projects, which account for another significant sum, making us an important player in the renewable finance sector.