The World Health Organization estimates
that 7 million people die prematurely every year from diseases caused by air
pollution, such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In
addition greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2),
trap heat, create smog and lead to even greater concentrations of pollution. Reducing
emissions will be vital if the ambition to create a cleaner and greener economy
to be realised.
In the UK, BNP Paribas has put pollution at
the heart of its recent community engagement and environment initiatives. The
‘Clean Air Zones’ greentech initiative – developed in partnership with Airlabs,
Chiltern Railways, and JCDecaux – adapts traditional out-of-home (OOH)
advertising to create four clean air zones in Marylebone station, next to BNP
Paribas’ UK headquarters. The solution is powered by Airlabs’ technology, and
combines atmospheric chemistry with airflow engineering, alongside a filter
system for nano-particles. The result is the removal of over 90% of particulate
matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, as well as gases such as NOx, SOx
and CO2, in the area immediately around the filter systems.
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Transitioning to cleaner technologies is a
core part of BNP Paribas’ approach to sustainable mobility. In particular, the
bank has embraced cleaner technologies in the automotive sector through
strategic partnerships. BNP Paribas
Arval – the bank’s vehicle leasing solutions business – partnered with ENGIE
late last year to launch a new electric mobility offer. Based on a monthly
rental fee, the integrated service includes electric vehicle leasing from Arval
and the installation and maintenance by ENGIE of charging points at company
sites in town centres or at drivers’ homes.
Advancing green mobility and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in the mobility sector is also a core theme at the World Summit on Sustainable Mobility in
Montreal, in which BNP Paribas is an event partner.
In Asia, CG Lai, China CEO for BNP Paribas,
is also sharing his insights on clean air in a panel at the United Nations
Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Regional Roundtable for
Sustainable Finance. Financing the transition to cleaner mobility has been
accelerated over the last few months, notably through sustainability linked
loans (SLL). Recent BNP Paribas
sustainable mobility transactions include a €900 million SLL for Spanish infrastructure and services operator Ferrovial, and a $30
million SLL to South African automotive group Motus in 2019.
As part of the bank’s broader
sustainability strategy and goal to accelerate the low-carbon energy
transition, BNP Paribas has also embarked on the following actions:
In 2017, BNP Paribas became carbon-neutral and is committed to
supporting clients in their transition to a low-carbon economy
At the end of 2018, BNP Paribas had exceeded its renewable energy
target and financed €15.4 billion of renewable energy
In early 2019, BNP Paribas Asset Management announced an enhanced
coal-exclusion policy, aimed at tackling climate change by divesting from the
largest source of carbon emissions.
