18 October 2019

UNEP Finance Initiative: Taking stock of energy efficiency finance and investment by the G20

Innovation in business models, financing practices, data management, digitalization and technology is enabling the optimization of transport, buildings and industry as whole systems. As digitalization is disrupting energy efficiency technologies, the financial system needs to move in tandem with these real economy innovations.

Increased asset-level transparency will improve the ability of the financial system to price and incentivize investment into energy efficiency and innovation by enabling a better understanding of the contribution of the energy performance of real estate and industry to improved risk profiles and financial performance.

The 2019 stock take report summarizes the results of the G20 Global Summit on Financing Energy Efficiency, Innovation and Clean Technology and identifies future elements of action as reflected in the Tokyo Declaration that emerged from the summit. It brings together insights gained from policymakers, banks, investors, public financial institutions and technology companies and places these insights in the context of wider sustainable finance trends.

In the context of Japan´s G20 presidency, the report collects for the first time a range of insights from the Asia region in addition to insights from other world regions. As efforts to align with the Paris Agreement are gathering pace, this report provides a number of findings from UNEP FI member institutions about the role of energy efficiency in driving the climate performance of the real assets held by investors and banks particularly in real estate and industry. It also places these insights in the context of wider clean technology and innovation trends and for the first time includes examples from technology companies as well, who are working alongside financial institutions as a source of innovation in business models and financing practices.

Full press release on UNEP Finance Initiative

Full report

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