Our climate approach and the Green Finance Framework

Our climate approach

Achmea Bank and Achmea Group B.V. are committed to and supportive of the Paris Climate Agreement as part of the Dutch financial sector.

Climate change poses significant social, economic, and financial challenges. Financial institutions play a crucial role in the transition towards a carbon-neutral society that is resilient to the impacts of climate change. We endorse the objectives of the Paris Agreement and strive to align our activities with a climate scenario that limits global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects have been identified as key sustainability themes. Achmea Bank aims to support its customers in taking both climate mitigation and climate adaptation measures. The Environmental, Social & Governance chapter (pages 19 to 30) of the Achmea Bank Annual Report describes how we, as a bank, are working to achieve our climate ambitions for both our business operations and mortgage portfolio.

Achmea Bank Annual Report

Green Finance Framework

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Guidelines for sustainable investing

As a major investor, Achmea wants to take its responsibilities. If Achmea Bank invests money for periods longer than one year, it will align with the investment policy of Achmea. The knowledge and focus within our sustainable investment policy is bundled. Through our investments, we aim to create long-term social value. We do this by applying (international) guidelines for responsible investment. Below you can read which guidelines these are. We use various instruments to implement these guidelines in the investment process. This includes the exclusion policy, engagement, voting, ESG integration and impact investing. We also expect our service providers to act in line with these guidelines and to work with us to achieve our objectives.

Global Compact UN

Achmea tests its responsible investment policy against the Global Compact of the United Nations. We use these principles as a guideline when conducting engagement and completing part of the exclusion policy. Global Compact includes: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the UN Convention against Corruption.

Climate Agreement

Achmea supports the 2019 Climate Agreement. We do this, among other things, by investing in renewable energy and by appealing companies in which we invest, to take measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Achmea Bank has its own climate transition plan, which focuses primarily on mortgages.

Sustainability of services

Achmea's services, and therefore also Achmea Bank, will be climate neutral by 2050 at the latest. Or as soon as possible. We determine this on the basis of scientific data that helps us to define our goals as clearly as possible. We have the ambition to make sustainable solutions accessible to all Dutch people. We do this on the basis of adaptation, becoming resilient to the consequences of climate change, and mitigation, combating further climate change. We have adopted the following measures in the field of services:

We develop services that help our customers to become resilient to the consequences of climate change. Examples of this are the ‘Groene Daken’ that we offer through Interpolis and the ‘Duurzaam Woongemak’ of Centraal Beheer.
We also develop services that help to combat further climate change. This includes solar panels from Centraal Beheer, encouraging homeowners to become more sustainable via our mortgage.

Climate transition path

* Achmea Bank currently does not have an independent CSRD obligation, based on the “stop the clock” ruling. The outcome of the Omnibus legislation will determine whether Achmea Bank will have a standalone CSRD obligation in the longer term.