70 - Wells Fargo exits climate banking group

Net zero blow up?

Climate commitment in question ā™»ļø

In a surprising move, Wells Fargo recently announced its exit from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following a similar decision by Goldman Sachs.

The alliance, a global coalition of banks committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, now faces challenges as major players reconsider their roles.

Why are these high-profile exits happening, and what does this mean for global climate goals and sustainable investing?

Let’s unpack the story.

The number of NZBA member banks continues to grow. Since its launch in April 2021, membership has more than tripled in number from 43 to 144 banks. The geographical spread of members has also increased. At launch, banks from 23 countries were represented. This has grown to 44 countries, with 65% of banks headquartered in developed markets and 35% in emerging and other markets. Europe remains the most heavily represented region in the Alliance’s membership. The number of member banks from Asia-Pacific has grown quickly from just three at launch to 29 at the end of August 2024, with almost a quarter of total assets.

Growth in number of NZBA members by region from 2021–2024

Subscribe to keep reading

This content is free, but you must be subscribed to The Climate Mentor to continue reading.

I consent to receive newsletters via email. Sign Up Terms of Service.

Already a subscriber?Sign In.Not now

Reply

or to participate.