Climate Change Principles for the Financial Sector (PDF - 72KB download)

Over 30 of Ireland’s leading domestic and international financial institutions have adopted the IBF Climate Change Principles for the Financial Sector  to promote environmental sustainability and mitigate climate change. 

The principles reflect a commitment to support viable, clean and green energy projects in the future.  They place Ireland in the vanguard of countries that promote the directing of investments towards a more sustainable and financially rewarding path.

Developed by an IBF working group, the Principles provide a common framework within which each financial institution will seek to operate in support of climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability in accordance with its own commercial considerations.  The Principles cover the following areas of activity:

• Energy Financing – a new direction of investment in energy efficiency, clean energy technology and the carbon market;

• Waste Management – investment in waste management infrastructure consistent with environmental sustainability;
• Customer Services – helping our customers by offering products and services that encourage and support sustainability;
• Operations Management – management of the institution’s own in-house policies and practices for a sustainable future.

IBF/DoE Protocol Agreement (PDF - 84KB download)
The Irish Banking Federation and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government agreed to work together with a view to reducing and ultimately eliminating litter pollution caused by ATM Advice Slips.

The Protocol contains three agreed measures:

• ATM cash withdrawal slips will be available on request only.  ATM machines will issue advice slips at the customer’s request, and not automatically as heretofore.  A changed sequence on the ATM screen will require the customer to consciously and specifically request an advice slip.
• Customer awareness of a cleaner environment will be enhanced through ATM-screen messaging.  Where customers specifically request an advice slip, they will be reminded through an on-screen message to support a cleaner environment by carefully disposing of the slip.
• Procedures for litter management and monitoring will be applied around ATMs.  Banks will ensure litter management plans are in place, including adequate provision and maintenance of litter disposal facilities for ATM advice slips.