The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form a core element of the ambitious and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – the first global development agenda to be fully negotiated by all UN member states, adopted in 2015. They range from achieving gender equality and combating climate change to promoting sustainable economic growth, amongst other topics. As the SDGs are based on a participatory process, responsibility for achieving them is shared between states, the private sector, the scientific community and civil society. The target date for the realization of the goals is 2030. The SDGs explicitly call on all businesses to apply their creativity and innovation to solve sustainable development challenges. Beyond that, companies can only achieve long-term success if they operate in an economically stable and socially cohesive environment. Also, the SDGs are anticipated to generate at least USD 12 trillion worth of market opportunities.
Sustainable Development Goals. Our contributions.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ratified by UN member states, set forth ambitious global development goals. These include environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainable development. We are contributing to this effort in a variety of ways.
Credit Suisse and the SDGs
Credit Suisse believes that it is in the interest of both our organization and our clients for us to develop and support measures that contribute to a more sustainable economy. Since the introduction of the SDGs by the UN, we have been pursuing activities designed to contribute to their realization in our role as a global financial institution. Credit Suisse does so in various ways, including in our role as a financial intermediary and employer. Furthermore, we have been active in the sustainable investment space for more than 16 years. We are constantly broadening our sustainable investment offering and aligning it more and more closely with the SDGs. Other activities in support of the SDGs include our environmental management system as well as our long-standing global initiatives in education and financial inclusion.
Apart from active support, companies can contribute to achieving the SDGs by addressing potential negative impacts on people and the environment. Our focus on sustainability risk management can help us to reduce potential negative impacts that certain business activities might have on the realization of the SDGs.
Overview of our activities relating to selected SDGs
Goal 4
Goal 4
Quality education
Objective
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Our contribution
- We promote financial education and future skills though our respective programs
- We offer our clients the opportunity to make a contribution to SDG 4
- We invest in young talent as an employer by providing attractive opportunities for young professionals and graduates
Goal 5
Goal 5
Gender Equality
Objective
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Our contribution
- We run special programs to foster the development of female professionals within and outside our Organisation
- We address female empowerment across the globe through our Corporate Citizenship programs, such as our Financial Inclusion Initiative or our Financial Education for Girls Program
Goal 7
Goal 7
Affordable and clean energy
Objective
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Our contribution
- We focus on energy management in our own operations
- We contribute to the expansion of renewable energy through our various business activities
- We further integrate climate change into our risk management processes
Goal 8
Goal 8
Decent work and economic growth
Objective
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Our contribution
- We are a leader in the field of financial inclusion and microfinance, providing financial services to microenterprises and individuals
- We aim to strengthen the financial inclusion sector through our Financial Inclusion Initiative, providing technical assistance and capacity building
Goal 11
Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Objective
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Our contribution
- We invest in sustainable real estate
- We are committed to continuously improving the ESG performance (environmental, social and governance performance), energy efficiency and carbon footprint of our real estate investment portfolio
Goal 15
Goal 15
Life on land
Objective
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Our contribution
- We are active in the area of conservation finance
- We have an ongoing advisory role to the Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT)
- We focus on sustainability risk management and have sector-specific policies and guidelines in place
Goal 4
Quality education
Objective
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Our contribution
- We promote financial education and future skills though our respective programs
- We offer our clients the opportunity to make a contribution to SDG 4
- We invest in young talent as an employer by providing attractive opportunities for young professionals and graduates
Goal 5
Gender Equality
Objective
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Our contribution
- We run special programs to foster the development of female professionals within and outside our Organisation
- We address female empowerment across the globe through our Corporate Citizenship programs, such as our Financial Inclusion Initiative or our Financial Education for Girls Program
Goal 7
Affordable and clean energy
Objective
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Our contribution
- We focus on energy management in our own operations
- We contribute to the expansion of renewable energy through our various business activities
- We further integrate climate change into our risk management processes
Goal 8
Decent work and economic growth
Objective
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Our contribution
- We are a leader in the field of financial inclusion and microfinance, providing financial services to microenterprises and individuals
- We aim to strengthen the financial inclusion sector through our Financial Inclusion Initiative, providing technical assistance and capacity building
Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Objective
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Our contribution
- We invest in sustainable real estate
- We are committed to continuously improving the ESG performance (environmental, social and governance performance), energy efficiency and carbon footprint of our real estate investment portfolio
Goal 15
Life on land
Objective
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Our contribution
- We are active in the area of conservation finance
- We have an ongoing advisory role to the Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT)
- We focus on sustainability risk management and have sector-specific policies and guidelines in place
We annually report on our contribution to the realization of the SDGs in our Corporate Responsibility Report.