Zurich, 23 September 2019 – On 22 September 2019, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. became one of the Founding Signatories of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking. In May 2019, the Bank endorsed these principles as the first Swiss bank. 

By formally having signed the Principles for Responsible Banking, Julius Baer joined a coalition of 130 banks worldwide, representing over USD 47 trillion in assets, in committing to taking on a crucial role in helping to achieve a sustainable future and in aligning the banking sector with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. The principles represent a single framework for the banking industry that aim to embed sustainability across all business areas. 

Philipp Rickenbacher, Chief Executive Officer Julius Baer, said: “We are delighted to participate in a remarkable push for sustainability and to send a clear signal by having signed the Principles for Responsible Banking. At Julius Baer, we consider it our responsibility to encompass all aspects of sustainability: economic, social, as well as environmental. As a signatory to the principles, we are committed to taking an active leadership role in sustainable changes for a prosperous future for coming generations.”

The official launch of the Principles for Responsible Banking, which took place at the start of the UN General Assembly, marked the beginning of the most significant partnership to date between the global banking industry and the UN. “The UN Principles for Responsible Banking are a guide for the global banking industry to respond to, drive and benefit from a sustainable development economy.  The Principles create the accountability that can realize responsibility, and the ambition that can drive action,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the launch event, attended by the 130 Founding Signatories and over 45 of their CEOs.

The Principles for Responsible Banking were developed by the UN Environment Finance Initiative and 30 banks from around the world.