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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Responsible Investor or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), the UN-backed coalition of banks committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050, has voted to cease operations effective immediately
• Members agreed to dissolve the organization’s membership structure and transition NZBA’s technical guidance and tools into a public “framework” accessible to all financial institutions.
🔭 The context: Launched in 2021 under the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), the NZBA grew to over 140 member banks representing tens of trillions in assets
• However, its influence waned after major U.S. and European banks withdrew in 2024–2025, citing political backlash, regulatory uncertainty, and concerns over antitrust exposure
• In April, the alliance relaxed its commitment to the Paris-aligned 1.5°C target, signalling deeper internal fractures that culminated in the vote to disband
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The NZBA’s closure marks a major setback for coordinated climate action in global finance
• Without a central alliance, accountability for emissions targets will rely on voluntary disclosure and regulatory oversight rather than collective governance
• While NZBA’s methodology and tools will remain available, the end of a unified framework risks slowing progress and heightening greenwashing concerns — particularly among institutions that joined to signal ambition rather than enforce change
⏭️ What's next: Over the next 6–12 months, the NZBA secretariat will transition its guidance into a freely accessible platform hosted by the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
• Individual banks are expected to maintain internal targets, but the lack of shared verification or peer pressure could fragment standards
• Regulators in Europe and the UK may respond with stronger mandatory climate disclosure requirements to fill the gap left by the alliance’s dissolution
💬 One quote: “As a result of this decision, NZBA will cease operations immediately.” – Statement by the NZBA Secretariat
📈 One stat: At its peak, the NZBA counted over 140 member banks representing more than $74 trillion in global assets
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