Recently, the China Banking Association released the latest green banking evaluation results, and China's Industrial Bank (CIB) was rated as an "Advanced Green Banking Unit" for the fifth consecutive year. CIB has steadfastly pursued sustainable development principles and robustly advanced its ESG management, deepening its commitment to green banking.
The Green Banking Evaluation, conducted by the China Banking Association, the world's first industry association to assess green performance of banking institutions, is an important initiative guided by the National Financial Regulatory Administration to implement the spirit of the Central Financial Work Conference and the advance the great project of green finance. The evaluation covers 21 major banks in China and aims to encourage financial institutions to actively engage in green finance, fostering the healthy development of green finance in China's banking sector.
CIB has thoroughly implemented national strategies, serving green development, achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, and contributing to Beautiful China construction. The bank has continuously taken proactive measures to advance the great project of green finance, upgrading its green financial products and services system of "diversified group products + specialized carbon peaking and carbon neutrality service products + key industry solutions."
In the environmental (E) dimension, CIB has built a group product system encompassing four major categories including green financing, green investment, green capital market intermediary services, and green asset management, providing customers with comprehensive green financial services. The bank has actively developed a range of carbon finance service scenarios, including carbon market, corporate carbon reduction, low-carbon transitions, carbon consulting, and carbon account establishment, offering financial support for energy conservation, carbon reduction, and green transformation of enterprises and guiding retail customers toward green consumption. Focusing on policy trends, industry advancements, and customer needs, CIB has formulated tailored solutions and provided comprehensive financial services for six key sectors: energy conservation and environmental protection, clean production, clean energy, ecological environment, green infrastructure upgrades, and green services. As of the end of 2024, CIB's green financing balance reached RMB 2.19 trillion, a 15.88% increase from the previous year, with green financing balance in carbon reduction growing to RMB 1.27 trillion, accounting for 57.97% of the total. In addition, CIB continues to improve its green operations by setting a goal to achieve carbon neutrality in its own operations before 2030. By conducting group-wide carbon inventories, accelerating the construction of green data centers and green branches, and promoting green travel, green procurement, and paperless office practices, the bank aims to reduce carbon emissions at the source.
As a pioneer in ESG, CIB has innovatively built an ESG practice model of "aligning profits with ethics." By integrating ESG initiatives with building a value-oriented bank, serving the "Five Major Topics," implementing new development philosophies, exploring an ESG development path with Chinese characteristics, the bank actively practices the principles of sustainable development.
In the governance (G) dimension, CIB thoroughly implements new development philosophies and actively explores an ESG development path with Chinese characteristics to drive sustainable development. CIB has established an industry-leading ESG decision-making and management mechanism, creating a management framework featuring four modules: strategy, execution, performance, and communication. The bank has established an ESG leadership team, with the Chairman and President serving as the team leader and deputy leader, respectively, to advance ESG management efforts from the top down. The bank has also outlined annual priorities for building its ESG management system, fully integrating ESG into corporate strategy, major decisions, daily operations, and employee conduct, continuously enhancing internal governance capabilities.
In the social (S) dimension, CIB has consistently regarded talent as its primary resource, prioritizing employee development, fostering a strong culture of respecting, valuing, and utilizing talent, and establishing a talent echelon training and management system covering all development stages and hierarchical levels. Over the past three years, CIB's average employee turnover rate has remained below the industry average. By the end of 2024, CIB stood out among nearly 100,000 companies to win the title of "China's Best Employer of the Year." CIB actively upholds the political and people-oriented nature of financial work. It focuses on key areas and underserved segments of the real economy, such as technological innovation, rural revitalization, common prosperity, and inclusive finance for SMEs, bridging the "last mile" of financial services to promote sustainable socio-economic development.
In 2024, CIB has accelerated its ESG efforts comprehensively and achieved remarkable results. The bank's MSCI ESG rating was elevated to AAA, the highest level in the global banking industry, making it the only bank in China to receive MSCI's highest ESG rating for six consecutive years. While maintaining a leading position in several major domestic ESG ratings, CIB became the first bank in China to be included in S&P Global's 2024 Sustainability Yearbook (China) and the only bank in China to be rated as "Industry Mover" by S&P Global.