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Sumitomo Mitsui Financial GroupJapan

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Last update: 2024-12-17 11:10:39
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group head offices. Photo: 撮影。via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Active

This profile is actively maintained
Last update: 2024-12-17 11:10:39
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About
Website http://www.smbc.co.jp/global/index.html
Headquarters
1-1-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
100-0005 Tokyo
Japan
CEO/chair Toru Nakashima
Group CEO
Supervisor
Bank of Japan
Ownership
listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange

SMFG, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, is the holding company of which SMBC is a wholly owned subsidiary. SMFG's shareholder structure can be accessed here.
Subsidiaries
Bank BTPN – Indonesia (profile)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) was established in April 2001 through the merger of Sakura Bank and the Sumitomo Bank. Sakura Bank was a descendant of Mitsui Bank, founded in 1876, with operations dating back to 1683. Sumitomo Bank was a Japanese bank, founded in 1895. SMBC is the second largest bank of Japan and also holds branches in the United States, Canada and Europe. SMFG was established as a bank holding company in December 2002.

Sustainability
Commitments
Policies
Voluntary standards

SMFG's most important sustainability commitments can be found at the website sections listed below.

Links

Sustainability

Environment

Policies and statements

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management - Responsible investment

Statement on Principal Adverse Impacts of Investment Decisions on Sustainability Factors

Bank policy
2023-07-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management

Transition Finance Playbook

Document outlines SMBC Group’s definition of and approach towards transition finance
Bank policy
2023-05-24 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Strengthening efforts against climate change

Report over progress in advancement of climate change response
Bank policy
2023-05-15 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Statement on human rights

Bank policy
2023-03-30 00:00:00 | SMFG

Policies for integration of sustainability risks into our investment process and consideration of principal adverse environmental and social impacts

Bank policy
2023-01-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management

Group Environmental and Social Framework

Bank policy
2022-09-28 00:00:00 | SMBC

Modern Slavery Statement

Bank policy
2022-03-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

Reinforcing efforts against climate change

Bank policy
2021-05-12 00:00:00 | SMBC

Management of environmental risks

Date listed represents date as accessed on website
Bank policy
2021-01-14 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Environmental policy

Date listed represents date as accessed on website
Bank policy
2021-01-14 00:00:00 | SMBC

Group Statement on Sustainability

Bank policy
2020-04-24 00:00:00 | SMBC

Revision of ESG financing policies

Bank policy
2020-04-16 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Revision of group mission, vision and values

Bank policy
2020-04-01 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Policy for business associated with environmental and social risk

Bank policy
2018-06-18 00:00:00 | SMBC
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group has committed itself to the following voluntary standards:
Banking Environment InitiativeTags:
Carbon Disclosure ProjectTags: carbon | climate change | greenhouse gas emissions
Global Reporting InitiativeTags: sustainable development | human rights
Global Reporting Initiative- G3 Reporting FrameworkTags: transparency
ISO 14001Tags: transparency
Japan Climate Initiative (JCI)Tags: climate change | corporate social responsibility
Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)Tags: climate change | corporate social responsibility | energy | energy plants
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)Tags: carbon | corporate social responsibility
Poseidon PrinciplesTags: corporate social responsibility | shipping
Principles for Financial Action towards a Sustainable SocietyTags: climate change | environment | Japan
Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)Tags: climate change | corporate social responsibility | finance | sustainable development | United Nations | Voluntary Standards
Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)Tags: corporate social responsibility | sustainable development | United Nations
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)Tags: corporate social responsibility | finance
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)Tags: corporate social responsibility | finance
UNEP Finance InitiativeTags: United Nations | sustainable development
United Nations Global CompactTags: United Nations | human rights
Dodgy Deals

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is linked to a number of companies and projects that BankTrack considers controversial (so called Dodgy Deals), e.g. as a current or past financier or through an expression of interest. The profiles below provide more details on the nature of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's link to these deals.

Projects / Companies
Finance type
Year
News
BankTrack
Partners
Blog
External
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Global LNG fleet’s annual CO₂e emissions soar past 12 billion tonnes while orderbooks shrug off overcapacity warning

LNG shipping giants continue to ramp up vessel orders despite stranded asset risks, potential decades of carbon lock-in, and a mounting emissions toll
2025-05-13 | Seoul | Solutions for Our Climate
Blog
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Nippon Steel’s coal focus a risk for investors

2025-05-08 | Tokyo | SteelWatch
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Indigenous people opposed to the large-scale steel plant and coal-fired power plant planned in India by JSW Steel have filed a "human rights complaint" against the three Japanese megabanks that continue to lend to the company

インドの鉄鋼大手のJSW Steelが、同国内で計画中の大規模製鉄所と石炭火力発電事業に反対する先住民らが、同社に融資を続ける日本の3メガバンク等に対して「人権侵害の申し立て」
2025-05-07 | RIEF
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Environmental concern? Global NGO leads campaign urging banks to cut ties with Odisha steel project

BankTrack mentioned
2025-05-04 | Counterview
Blog
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Indian steel-affected communities launch complaint against Australian and Japanese banks

New complaint alleges banks failed to uphold human rights standards by lending to JSW Steel in India
2025-05-02 | BankTrack
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JSW Steel: Human rights complaint filed against ANZ, Japanese banks over alleged ties to Dhinkia abuses

All four banks have policies in place committing them to act in line with international human rights standards, including a direct commitment to the principle of ‘free, prior and informed consent’
BankTrack mentioned
2025-05-02 | Down to Earth
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Indian steel-affected communities launch complaint against banks

BankTrack mentioned
2025-05-02 | Steel Times International
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

India: BankTrack urges Australian & Japanese banks to exit controversial Odisha steel project citing land grabs and environmental injustice

BankTrack mentioned
2025-05-02 | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Blog
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Ditching net zero is a dangerous gamble for Japan’s megabanks

MUFG and SMBC’s UN climate exit signals a troubling retreat from sustainability
2025-03-27 | Market Forces
Blog
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International CSOs call on banks to rule out finance for controversial Indian steel and coal project

Of 22 financiers of JSW Steel, none committed not to finance the much-opposed Utkal Steel project in Odisha
2025-03-13 | BankTrack
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Japan’s SMFG joins Wall Street in exiting net zero banking group

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG) will leave the banking industry’s main climate-finance alliance, the first major Japanese lender to join an exodus led by institutions from Wall Street and Canada.
2025-03-04 | The Edge Malaysia
Blog
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New report: "At Great Cost: The companies building nuclear weapons and their financiers”

2025-02-18 | ICAN, PAX
Blog
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Elk Valley in Canada: With money from global banks, Glencore sacrifices entire mountain ranges for coal, polluting the water irreversibly.

But the Ktunaxa Nation is fighting back
2025-02-04 | BankTrack, ING Fossielvrij, Wildsight
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Mozambique LNG: Financial institutions so far refrain from taking a stance on allegations of severe human rights violations associated with the project

2025-01-22 | BankTrack, urgewald, Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth Japan, Friends of the Earth United States, Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Les Amis de la Terre France, Milieudefensie, Reclaim Finance, ReCommon
Blog
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Serious rights violations in Asia’s transition minerals supply chains linked to US, European, and Asian electric vehicle manufacturers and Japanese and ASEAN banks, Fair Finance Asia analysis finds

2024-12-19 | Fair Finance Asia
Blog
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Banks urged to refuse MUFG’s call to finance Papua LNG

2024-12-18 | ActionAid Australia, Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR), Friends of the Earth Japan, Japan Center for Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES), Jubilee Australia Research Centre, Market Forces, Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks and investors’ unrestricted finance for LNG is fueling a future climate bomb

2024-12-05 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
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Most large banks still failing to implement UN human rights principles, new BankTrack benchmark finds

Despite gradual progress, banks show little action in addressing impacts, protecting vulnerable groups and supporting affected communities.
2024-11-27 | BankTrack
Blog
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‘The land belongs to Mozambicans, not to France’

Two week long protest continues against TotalEnergies and its Mozambique LNG gas project for resettlement violations in Afungi Communities, Palma District, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
2024-11-15 | Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Major ‘coal banks’ refuse to stop financing coal power boom in Asia

To stop a wave of new coal development across Asia, the End Coal Finance coalition is asking likely financiers to pledge not to back new coal power projects.
2024-11-14 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Inclusive Development International, Recourse
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Japan’s flawed strategy to keep burning coal

2024-11-06 | Tokyo | Kiko Network, Reclaim Finance
Blog
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Major banks fueling biodiversity collapse by $395 billion since the Paris Agreement; Governments failing to reign in banks

New reports reveal escalating financing to destructive sectors and highlight the urgent need for financial sector regulations to achieve Global Biodiversity Goals
2024-10-16 | San Francisco | BankTrack, Amazon Watch, CED Cameroon, Friends of the Earth US, Milieudefensie, Profundo, Rainforest Action Network, Repórter Brasil, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, TuK INDONESIA
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

LNG shipping emissions: A growing climate crisis

2024-10-10 | Stand.earth
Blog
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Energy supply financing ratios: the next milestone in banks’ climate strategy

The energy supply financing ratio is a key indicator that synthesizes two major challenges in limiting global warming to 1.5°C: the phase-out of fossil fuels and the development of sustainable alternatives.
2024-10-07 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

TotalEnergies and financial markets: Financial institutions engaged for decades of pollution

2024-09-30 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
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Global protests call on major banks to stop financing coal miner Adaro

2024-09-30 | Jakarta | BankTrack
Blog
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International NGOs call for immediate official investigation into reports of series of atrocities committed by Mozambican security forces near TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG premises

2024-09-27 | BankTrack, Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth Japan, Friends of the Earth US, Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Les Amis de la Terre France, Milieudefensie, Reclaim Finance, ReCommon
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks must overhaul climate targets to deliver emissions cuts, new analysis finds

Reclaim Finance is urging banks to rethink their targets, and in particular to jettison the widely used “financed emissions” and “facilitated emissions” targets.
2024-09-19 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Activists call on Japanese banks to stop funding coal miner Adaro

2024-09-13 | Tokyo, Japan | BankTrack, Eko, Kiko Network, Market Forces
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

BankTrack set to publish 2024 Global Human Rights Benchmark in November

50 of the world’s largest banks were invited to provide feedback on draft assessments of their human rights disclosures
2024-07-23 | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Giulia Barbos – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Gulf Coast residents and major organizations call on financial institutions to phase out financing of LNG projects in the Rio Grande Valley

“We will hold any financial institutions that choose to support these projects accountable for such impacts.”
2024-07-22 | New York City | Sierra Club
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks fail to substantially respond to communities impacted by ArcelorMittal on climate and human rights concerns

2024-07-18 | BankTrack, Fair Steel Coalition, Reclaim Finance, SteelWatch
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Pulp Fiction: the dystopian reality of the origin of your paper

A new report by Environmental Paper Network International debunks the story that paper is ‘green’ and ‘renewable’. Evidence piles up on the ecological and human impacts of the pulp expansion frenzy.  
2024-07-16 | Environmental Paper Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Coalition calls on European and Japanese banks to stop financing methane gas export projects on the United States Gulf Coast

2024-06-28 | BankTrack
Blog
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Banking on Nippon Steel is a high risk bet on climate chaos

Financiers of Nippon should be wary of the steel company's coal-expansion plans
2024-06-21 | Cherry Achando – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Biggest banks finance more carbon pollution than emissions of Italy, Germany, France and UK combined

New report by ReCommon exposes carbon pollution financed by the world’s biggest banks ahead of G7 finance ministers meeting
2024-05-21 | Rome, Italy | ReCommon
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks financed fossil fuels by $6.9 trillion dollars since the Paris Agreement; $705 billion provided in 2023 alone; JPMorgan Chase, Mizuho, and Bank of America are worst 3 funders

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report with an updated methodology offers comprehensive look at who’s bankrolling the climate crisis
2024-05-13 | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks fall for ArcelorMittal’s shiny claims and finance its dirty flames

Don’t be fooled by ArcelorMittal's “low carbon” sponsorship of the Olympic Games
2024-05-08 | Julia Hovenier – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks have not quit coal, 8 years after the Paris Agreement

Banks in China dominate global coal financing; those in Indonesia are outliers in having increased finance for coal since 2016
2024-05-03 | Nijmegen | Will O'Sullivan – BankTrack
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Japanese Banks Pour Billions Into Fossil Fuel Industry

Analysts warn that the continued fossil fuel support from the Japanese financial industry, showcased by the actions of various banks, insurance companies, asset owners and asset managers, is enabled by loose policies or loopholes. Fixing them is critical for addressing the climate crisis.
BankTrack mentioned
2024-04-24 | Energy Tracker Asia
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Residents of Kobe City, Japan, are fighting a coal power plant financed by Japanese megabanks

A Frontline Story of resistance to air pollution and climate change in Japan
2024-04-09 | BankTrack, Kobe Climate Case, No Coal Kobe, Rainforest Action Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

The banks financing dirty steel

The world’s major banks continue to support the largest and most polluting steel producers
2024-03-26 | Paris, France | Reclaim Finance
Blog
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Four of the world’s top five banks supporting metallurgical coal expansion are Japanese

2024-03-07 | Tokyo, Japan | Reclaim Finance, SteelWatch
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

We’re calling on banks to do their part to stop POSCOs coal expansion

Unless POSCO scraps its relining plans, banks should rule out future finance for the Korean steelmaker
2024-02-27 | BankTrack, Solutions for Our Climate
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Financiers warned of huge risks to communities and biodiversity as Rio Tinto approves world’s biggest mining project

2024-02-26 | Accra, Ghana and Nijmegen, Netherlands | BankTrack, Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA)
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New EACOP Finance Risk Update highlights numerous risks for financiers exposed to oil pipeline

2024-02-12 | BankTrack, AFIEGO, Both ENDS, Inclusive Development International, Insure our Future, Just Share
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Climate & frontline groups demand banks, insurance, & private equity end LNG backing

Over 100 climate and frontline groups wrote to the finance industry to stop its LNG support
2024-02-05 | The Sunrise Project
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Three years after attempted coup, international banks still ignore the junta’s violent capture of the Myanmar-China pipelines

2024-02-01 | BankTrack
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Asia’s top banks are still financing coal due to massive loopholes: report

Despite major Asian banks, namely in Singapore and Japan, announcing coal exclusions in recent years, growing captive coal power in Indonesia and lax restrictions on corporate finance to developers offer new coal financing “havens”, a study finds.
BankTrack mentioned
2024-01-23 | Eco-Business
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Coal Havens - Asia’s biggest banks still open for coal business after COP28

The largest banks in India and Indonesia – global hotspots of the coal industry's growth – have no coal exclusion policy
2024-01-23 | Will O'Sullivan – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

POSCO is relining coal-based steel furnaces to prolong their lifetimes. This jeopardises its financiers' climate commitments.

Financiers of POSCO should be wary of capital expenditures that are misaligned with climate commitments
2023-12-18 | Julia Hovenier – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Confronting a Fossil Future: Stopping the gas detour in renewable-rich Southeast Asia

Massive plans for gas undermine energy transition in renewables-rich Southeast Asia, new research reveals at COP 28
2023-12-03 | Dubai, UAE | Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Met coal: financial institutions’ missing policies

Since 2016, the world’s biggest banks have provided US$ 557 billion in finance to the 50 biggest developers in the metallurgical sector
2023-11-23 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

124 civil society organisations call on financial institutions to withdraw support for TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project

2023-11-17 | BankTrack, and partners, Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Les Amis de la Terre France, Milieudefensie, Reclaim Finance, ReCommon
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Environmental groups urge funding halt for TotalEnergies' Mozambique project

2023-11-17 | Reuters
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New report and blog: Barclays' bond with Adani

For the sake of the climate, human rights - and for its own good - Barclays should cut ties with Adani after the company's recent scandals
2023-09-18 | BankTrack, The Sunrise Project
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Silent, invisible danger on Cirebon coast

How coal-power plants slowly compromise people’s lives in Indonesia
2023-08-31 | Jakarta Post
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

UN warns Aramco and its financiers over their role in driving climate-fuelled human rights violations

2023-08-26 | ClientEarth
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Decarbonization: steel not making the cut

Analysis by Reclaim Finance shows that few financial institutions have steel targets, and that those that have been adopted are riddled with flaws
2023-08-23 | Reclaim Finance
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Convictions in Bribery Investigation at the Cirebon Coal Plant in Indonesia

Friends of the Earth Japan leads request to Japanese public bank and ministry of finance for prompt suspension of their support for the project
2023-08-18 | Friends of the Earth Japan
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks finally dump Whitehaven Coal

2023-07-17 | Market Forces
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Japan megabanks to tighten loan screening over human rights

Move comes in response to pressure from outside groups to address issue
2023-06-28 | Nikkei Asia
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group distances itself from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline

The announcement follows growing pressure from climate activists and StopEACOP
2023-06-05 | BankTrack, #StopEACOP
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Activists call on Japanese megabanks to pull out of Cirebon coal plant

Frontline residents and NGOs visited Japan from Indonesia, petitioning banks to abandon finance for one Cirebon unit and to retire the other
2023-05-31 | Friends of the Earth Japan
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

SMBC follows StanChart, disavows EACOP role

The NGO called on EACOP’s other two financial advisors, Standard Bank and the International Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), to drop the project.
BankTrack mentioned
2023-05-17 | Energy Voice
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

EACOP Financial Advisor SMBC is no longer involved with the project

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has reportedly previously acted as one of three financial advisors and as a joint lead arranger for the project loan.
2023-05-17 | BankTrack, #StopEACOP
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Standard Chartered refuses financing for controversial $5 billion Ugandan oil pipeline

The decision is particularly significant as the bank had previously confirmed that it was undertaking due diligence on financing for the project
2023-05-02 | Kampala, Uganda | BankTrack
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Betting on a sinking ship: banks behind the Barossa Gas Field’s FPSO

Drilling Approval Invalidation Increases Uncertainty Around Barossa Gas Project with $1.15bn Debt Financing
2023-04-19
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New report: Canadian bank RBC the #1 financier of fossil fuels, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
2023-04-13 | San Francisco | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Financial and reputational risks of EACOP pile up amidst growing opposition to project

EACOP: Finance Risk Update No. 4
2023-04-12 | BankTrack, AFIEGO, Both ENDS, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Inclusive Development International, Insure our Future, Just Share
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Global banks pledged to cut emissions – but still invest billions in US gas exports

Many banks promised to work toward net-zero emissions – but their targets explicitly exempt liquefied natural gas projects
2023-04-06 | The Guardian
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Australia’s big four banks face human rights complaint over Santos Barossa financing

2023-04-05 | Market Forces
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Who dares to finance Eni and Exxon’s dangerous Rovuma gas plans in Mozambique?

Two banks made clear they will avoid financing Rovuma LNG, but plenty remain in the frame.
2023-03-20 | BankTrack, Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Les Amis de la Terre France, ReCommon
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Mozambique shows how JPMorgan Chase and other banks back war and climate chaos

New Banking on Climate Chaos case study
2023-03-16 | BankTrack, Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Rainforest Action Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Global protests against multinational banks funding East African Crude Oil Pipeline

2023-02-22 | BankTrack, #StopEACOP, 350.org
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Throwing fuel on the fire: GFANZ members provide billions in finance for fossil fuel expansion

2023-01-17 | Paris, France /Nijmegen, Netherlands | BankTrack, Reclaim Finance
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New human rights assessment of banks shows slow progress and lack of action to address key gaps on reporting and remedy

BankTrack’s 2022 Global Human Rights Benchmark finds reporting at a standstill, remedy still lacking and no clear leaders
2022-11-17 | BankTrack
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

As banks fund oil pipeline, campaigners question their environmental pledges

Activists say some banks that have signed up to the Equator Principles are failing to live up to their pledge of properly assessing the environmental and social risks of the projects they finance.
BankTrack mentioned
2022-11-01 | Mongabay
Blog
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Rio Grande Valley: at risk from fracked gas terminals

Big banks step away
2022-10-18 | Rainforest Action Network
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Santos announces refinancing of syndicated debt facilities

Santos announced it had executed documentation to amend and extend its two syndicated bank loan facilities totalling US$1.25 billion.
2022-08-30 | Santos
Blog
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Japan’s megabanks: no net-zero banking ambition

All 3 banks keep financing companies with coal expansion plans, without any restriction
2022-08-24 | Reclaim Finance
Blog
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Jackdaw shows once again Shell is failing on climate. So why are its bankers failing to act?

2022-07-19 | The Hague, The Netherlands | Sumeyra Arslan – BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Banks have arranged US$2.7 trillion in bonds for fossil fuel companies

2022-07-12 | Australia | The Sunrise Project
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

BankTrack hosts webinars on the 2022 Banking on Climate Chaos report

Webinar programme organized along with Reclaim Finance, Amazon Watch and 350 Latin America featured frontline community activists from Uganda to Ecuador
2022-06-30 | Savon van den Berk
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Shareholders urge Japanese companies to take urgent climate action

2022-06-29 | 350.org Japan, FOE Japan, Kiko Network, Market Forces, Rainforest Action Network
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Publication: Japanese bank financing of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline

Backgrounder on Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk (June 2022)
2022-06-06 | #StopEACOP, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Oil Change International
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Protests around the world demanding stronger climate measures ahead of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group shareholders’ meeting

2022-06-03 | Japan | Fossil Free Japan
Blog
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Climate groups call on Shell’s bankers to stop Jackdaw gas field

UK government’s regulatory approval opens the door for Shell to move ahead with the Jackdaw field
2022-06-03 | BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

SMBC Group's updated climate policy still not aligned with 1.5°C target: NGO shareholders continue climate shareholder proposals

2022-05-18 | Japan | 350.org Japan
Blog
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Banks injected USD 37.7 billion in mining companies at risk of causing forest destruction and human rights violations

2022-04-12 | Forests & Finance Coalition
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

NGOs reveal top international companies, banks, and investors that fuel Russia's war machine

2022-04-04 | Berlin | urgewald, Ecodefense
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New report: Despite ‘net zero’ rhetoric, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion in 2021

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
2022-03-30 | San Francisco, Bemidji, Nijmegen, Oakland, Paris, Sassenberg, Washington DC | BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, Urgewald
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

At least $132 billion in finance for fossil fuels is locking Africa out of a Just Transition, shows new report

African countries kept in fossil fuel stranglehold by Overseas money
2022-03-03 | BankTrack, 350.org Africa, AFIEGO, Africa Coal Network, Alerte Congolaise pour l’Environnement et les Droits de l’Homme (ACEDH), Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities (AERC), Centre for Alternative Development (CAD), Environment Governance Institute (EGI), Friends of the Earth Ghana, Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Friends of the Earth Togo, Innovation for the Development and Protection of the Environment (IDPE), Laudato Si, Lumière Synergie pour le Développement (LSD), Milieudefensie, Oil Change International, Save Okavango (SOUL), Solidarité pour la Réflexion et Appui au Développement Communautaire (SORADEC), Synergie de Jeunes pour le Développement et les Droits Humains (SJDDH), Women Environmental Programme Nigeria, WoMin, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA)
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Investment funds injected US$ 54.1 billion into mining companies with interests in Indigenous territories in the Amazon

New report by APIB and Amazon Watch reveals main investors of eight large mining companies that wish to explore Indigenous territories in Brazil.
2022-02-22 | Brazil | Amazon Watch, Association of Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples (APIB)
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Who is still financing the global coal industry?

New research reveals banks and investors behind the world’s worst climate offenders
2022-02-15 | Berlin | Urgewald
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Total’s EACOP pipeline another step closer to going ahead

They can’t build the pipeline if they don’t find enough money to pay for it. They’re short by at least $2.5 billion so we still have a chance to stop this this planet-wrecking project.
2022-01-31 | 350.org, Isabelle L'Héritier
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Proposed conversion of former coal plant to biomass is a high risk for investors, new study shows

Portugal to decide on future of Pego power station by late February
2022-01-27 | Portugal | Biofuelwatch, Environmental Paper Network, Global Forest Coalition, ZERO
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Repeat offenders NAB, ANZ and Westpac bankrolling “bet against the Paris Agreement”

NAB, ANZ and Westpac are among 18 global banks that have loaned to a gas processing facility that paves the way for a carbon bomb at the scale of 15 coal power stations.
2022-01-20 | Market Forces
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Major Japanese banks linked to Myanmar military cartel

2021-12-21 | Adrian Lakrichi – BankTrack, Justice For Myanmar
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Banks failing to address severe human rights impacts transparently, finds BankTrack research

Findings reinforce the need for regulators to ensure access to effective remedy for people affected by bank finance
2021-12-14 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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A future without coal: banking on Asia's just energy transition

2021-11-10 | Fair Finance Asia
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JBIC and private banks must reconsider decision to finance LNG Canada project

NGOs strongly condemn JBIC’s decision to provide public finance that ignores climate crisis and rights of Indigenous peoples ahead of COP 26
2021-10-29 | 350.org Japan, Friends of the Earth Japan, JACSES, Kiko Network, Mekong Watch
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Meet the banks funding the owners of the Cambo oil field

New research shines a spotlight on the banks backing Shell and Siccar Point Energy
2021-10-29 | #StopCambo
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Equator Banks involved in financing at least 200 fossil fuel projects since Paris

BankTrack research sheds new light on finance for fossil fuels by Equator banks
2021-10-26 | BankTrack
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Participation in the “Net-Zero Banking Alliance” and Other Global Initiatives

2021-10-18 | SMBC
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Campaigners take action as part of Global Call to end Japan’s fossil fuel finance

2021-10-07 | BankTrack
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Japan’s SMBC advising on Aramco’s gas pipeline deal: CNBC Arabia

2021-09-26 | Arab News
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Fossil Banks No Thanks demands banks commit to end fossil fuel finance before Glasgow Climate Summit

210+ groups support urgent call to action
2021-09-23 | BankTrack
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Forests & Finance Coalition warns foreign investors about the risk of the anti-environment agenda in the Brazilian Congress

2021-08-19 | Forests & Finance
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East African Crude Oil Pipeline: new update on risks and impacts for financiers

2021-08-09 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Japan's banks face rising climate activism despite vetoed motions

2021-06-29 | S&P Global
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Uganda’s Huge Fossil Fuel Venture Raises Fears of Environmental Damage

2021-06-25 | The Elephant
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Bondholders challenged JICA to stop supporting coal projects in Bangladesh and Indonesia

2021-06-24 | BankTrack, 350.org Japan, Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute (AFII), Friends of the Earth Japan, JACSES, Kiko Network, Mekong Watch
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World’s 50 largest banks and investors driving deforestation through weak policies and major investments, new study finds

Top investors BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, PNB, EPF, GPIF, and KWAP all amongst lowest scoring
2021-06-08 | Forests & Finance
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Intl banks asked to suspend investments linked to Myanmar junta

BankTrack mentioned
2021-05-27 | La Prensa Latina Media
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Nine international banks invest over US$24 billion in companies linked to Myanmar regime and atrocities

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, JPMorgan Chase, UBS, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and BNP Paribas among the top banks investing in companies linked to the Myanmar military junta
2021-05-27 | BankTrack, Justice For Myanmar
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စစ်ကောင်စီနဲ့ဆက်စပ်တဲ့ ကုမ္ပဏီ ၁၈ ခုမှာ နိုင်ငံတကာဘဏ် ၉ ခု ပါဝင်ပတ်သက်နေ

(In Burmese) Nine international banks are involved in 18 companies affiliated with the military council
2021-05-27 | Radio Free Asia
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Banks called upon to take action to protect biodiversity ahead of UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming

Civil society organizations urge banks to adopt stringent “No Go” policy for biodiversity rich areas
2021-05-26 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Revealed: Businesses and banks behind global plastic waste crisis

Just 20 companies produce over 50 per cent of all single-use plastic - Top financial institutions enabling plastic waste identified
2021-05-18 | Minderoo Foundation
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Loopholes remain in SMBC Group’s new coal policy

Japan’s megabank still not aligned with the Paris Agreement
2021-05-12 | 350.org Japan, FOE Japan, JACSES, Kiko Network, Mekong Watch, Rainforest Action Network
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Japan's SMFG to halt all new financing of coal-fired power plants

2021-05-12 | Reuters
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Gov’t not bothered about banks refusing to finance EACOP

2021-04-27 | Kampala, Uganda | The Independent
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East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) will disenfranchise local communities in Uganda and Tanzania (By Charity Migwi, Edwin Mumbere and Evelyn Acham)

2021-03-26 | Africa News
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NGOs call on 39 JICA bond underwriters and bondholders to urge JICA to stop supporting coal projects in Bangladesh and Indonesia

2021-03-25 | JACSES, Kiko Network, Friends of the Earth Japan, 350.org Japan, Mekong Watch
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Banking on Climate Chaos 2021: World’s 60 largest banks have poured USD 3.8 trillion into fossil fuels since Paris Agreement

Even amidst the global economic downturn, fossil fuel financing numbers were higher in 2020 than 2016
2021-03-24 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
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Coal-backing Japanese bank bids for Green Climate Fund partnership

2021-03-15 | Climate change news
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Standard Bank reviewing oil pipeline financing concerns

2021-03-03 | Daily Monitor
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NGOs' pressure on banks threatens $3.5bn pipeline project financing

BankTrack mentioned
2021-03-02 | The East African
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263 ONG appellent les banques à ne pas financer la construction de l’oléoduc ougando-tanzanien

2021-03-01 | Agence Ecofin
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Más de 260 ONG piden a bancos no financiar un polémico oleoducto de África

2021-03-01 | Swiss Info
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Standard Bank targeted in appeal to avoid financing oil pipeline in East Africa

2021-03-01 | Business Live
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NGOs ask banks not to finance East African oil pipeline

2021-03-01 | Business Maverick
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In Brief: Nonprofits urge banks not to finance oil pipeline in East Africa

2021-03-01 | Devex
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Banks targeted in StopEACOP campaign

2021-03-01 | Energy Voice
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Organisations call on Standard Bank, others not to finance East African oil pipeline

2021-03-01 | Engineering News
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Organizations aim to block funds for East African oil pipeline

BankTrack mentioned
2021-03-01 | Mongabay
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Banks urged to steer clear of East Africa oil pipeline financing

2021-03-01 | Reuters
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South Africa's Standard Bank to assess 'way forward' on East Africa oil pipeline

2021-03-01 | Reuters
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Over 260 organisations call on banks not to finance Total’s East African Crude Oil Pipeline

With a final investment decision nearing, African and International organisations warn banks against joining $2.5 billion loan for a “manifestly irresponsible” project • New stopeacop.net campaign website launched.
2021-03-01 | International | BankTrack, 350.org Africa, AFIEGO, Inclusive Development International, IUCN NL
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Groundbreaking research reveals the financiers of the coal industry

Today, Urgewald & partners published an analysis of the financiers & investors behind the entire coal industry for the 1st time. One of the shocking results was that banks provide more money to coal than in 2016.
2021-02-25 | urgewald, Reclaim Finance
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Greta Thunberg joins Asian charge against Vietnam coal plant

2021-02-01 | Tokyo | Nikkei Asia
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Bank lending to plastics industry faces scrutiny as pollution concerns mount

2021-01-07 | Reuters
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Five years lost - How the finance industry is blowing the Paris carbon budget

2020-12-10 | Paris | urgewald, Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), Friends of the Earth US, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, ReCommon
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Equator Banks fail communities on consultation and grievance mechanisms, new study finds

BankTrack research into nine projects financed ‘under Equator’ finds routine failures to conduct proper community consultation and a lack of effective project-level grievance mechanisms
2020-11-24 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Crude Risk: Risks to banks and investors from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline

Civil society groups issue new finance risk briefing
2020-11-18 | BankTrack, AFIEGO, Both ENDS, Inclusive Development International, Just Share
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Bankrolling Extinction: The top 10 banks financing biodiversity loss

Report names HSBC, Bank of America, Mitsubishi Financial & others
2020-10-28 | portfolio.earth
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A call to action on the Principles for Responsible Banking: End climate-destructive financing now

2020-10-20
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Uganda oil start date in doubt despite crucial agreements

2020-10-13 | Petroleum Economist
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Principles for Responsible Banking no obstacle to finance climate destruction

Twenty PRB banks provided over US$1.25 trillion in fossil fuel financing since Paris Agreement
2020-09-22 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network
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New BankTrack Equator Principles reporting tracking tool launched

2020-09-21 | BankTrack
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Banks are fueling deadly fires, Covid-19 threatens to compound the risks

2020-09-08 | forestsandfinance.org
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Banks funnelled over USD 150 billion into companies driving deforestation since Paris Agreement, new data analysis shows

First-ever database reveals true scope of financing of forest-risk commodity companies, amidst global rainforest fires
2020-09-01 | San Francisco | BankTrack, Forests & Finance, Rainforest Action Network
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Equator Principles requirements missing for most projects, finds new BankTrack study

Research into 37 projects financed 'under Equator' finds project-level grievance mechanisms or stakeholder engagement processes cannot be evidenced in 65% of cases
2020-08-11 | BankTrack
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Japan’s big bet on LNG looks increasingly risky

2020-07-08 | Greig Aitken - Global Energy Monitor
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International petition: Japan must not support Vung Ang 2 coal power plant in Vietnam

127 organizations from more than 40 countries and regions sign petition to Japanese public and private sectors
2020-05-26 | 350.org Japan, Friends of the Earth Japan, Kiko Network, The Asian Peoples
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Saudi Aramco closes US$10bn loan

2020-05-12 | London | Reuters
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CSOs react to African Development Bank’s statement rejecting claims of potential pipeline funding

2020-04-24 | BankTrack, 350.org, Africa Institute for Energy Governance, Inclusive Development International
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Japan’s 2nd largest bank – Mizuho – announces strictest ESG policies to date in Japan

Japan’s 2nd largest bank – Mizuho – adopts NDPE criteria for forest sector clients and announces strictest ESG policies to date in Japan – This puts the bank well ahead of its competitors SMBC & MUFG
2020-04-22 | Forests & Finance
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SMBC misses critical opportunity to be a climate leader

SMBC’s new climate policy falls well short of Mizuho’s
2020-04-20 | Tokyo | Rainforest Action Network
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Japan's SMFG to end lending for new coal-fired power plants

2020-04-17 | Tokyo | Reuters
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Major blow to Keystone XL pipeline as judge revokes key permit

Campaigners welcomed Wednesday’s ruling as a victory for tribal rights and environmental protection
2020-04-16 | The Guardian
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Reckless Keystone XL decision by TC Energy endorsed by JPMorgan Chase, Citi and Canadian peers

Big banks lead multi-billion dollar bond issuances days after company pushes pipeline forward amid global pandemic
2020-04-03 | San Francisco | 350 Seattle, Amazon Watch, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rainforest Action Network
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Sumitomo Mitsui to suspend new loans for coal-fired power plants

2020-04-02 | The Japan News
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Global finance sector failing to apply conservation criteria to pulp and paper funding

2020-03-21 | New York/Amsterdam | Environmental Paper Network
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Banking on Climate Change – Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2020

New report reveals global banks funneled USD 2.7 trillion into fossil fuels Since Paris Climate Agreement, with financing on the rise each year 
2020-03-18 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club
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Pobladores/as se toman terrenos de Forestal Arauco en Laraquete

2020-03-12 | Resumen.cl
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Japan’s megabanks complicit in destroying critical carbon sinks & fueling illegality

2020-01-31 | Tokyo | Rainforest Action Network
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Total abuses in Uganda: French High Court of Justice declares itself incompetent in favour of the Commercial Court

2020-01-30 | Friends of the Earth France
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SMBC seeking partners for ESG ventures

2020-01-16 | The Asset - ESG Forum
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Asia's appetite for coal grows, with China the key decider

India's consumption forecast to climb even as renewables flourish
BankTrack mentioned
2020-01-13 | Nikkei Asian Review
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4 out of 5 banks failing on human rights, new BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark shows

Lloyds, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Société Générale among the poorest performers in BankTrack ranking, alongside Canadian and Chinese banks
2019-11-26 | BankTrack
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Aramco IPO: These are the banks and advisers on world's biggest sale

2019-11-03 | Bloomberg
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Uganda and DRC CSOs communique on failures in EACOP ESIA public hearings

2019-10-25 | Africa Institute for Energy Governance
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Total’s suspension of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline is a chance for Standard Bank and others to think again

2019-09-19 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
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Advocates urge International Olympic Committee to prioritize climate action, highlight hypocrisy of touting “sustainable” Tokyo Olympics while Japan finances new coal

Two Japanese megabanks sponsoring the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are major backers of coal
2019-09-16 | Oil Change International
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Japan seeks climate leadership at G-20 summit but can’t kick its coal habit

BankTrack mentioned
2019-06-27 | The Washington Post
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Duty of Care: Total served formal notice for its activities in Uganda

2019-06-27 | Friends of the Earth France
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BankTrack 2019 Human Rights Benchmark: criteria and scope announced

2019-06-25 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Citigroup cancels financing of Indonesian food giant Indofood over palm oil labor abuses

Major Asian, European banks and US brands still linked to controversial company
2019-06-18 | San Francisco, CA | Rainforest Action Network
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Activists urge banks not to finance Ugandan oil pipeline

2019-06-07 | Reuters
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International Call on Banks: Don’t finance the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline

African and international groups voice opposition to pipeline development
2019-05-28 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Inclusive Development International
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Global Banks, Led by JPMorgan Chase, Invested $1.9 Trillion in Fossil Fuels Since Paris Climate Pact

2019-03-20 | Desmogblog.com
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Banking on Climate Change – Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2019

World's top banks have poured $1.9 trillion into fossil fuel financing since the Paris Agreement was adopted, with financing on the rise each year
2019-03-20 | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | BankTrack, Honor the Earth, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club
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Every two weeks a bank, insurer or lender announces new coal restrictions

Major financial institutions restricting coal funding tops 100
2019-02-27 | IEEFA
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Banks massively financing fossil fuels unclear about future of ... fossil fuels

Few banks acknowledge relation between fossil fuels and climate breakdown
2018-12-20 | Nijmegen
Blog
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Where are Japan’s banks in the climate conversation?

2018-12-13 | Shin Furuno - 350.org
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Explosive reports expose illegal logging and human rights abuses by forestry giant Korindo Group

Tokyo 2020 Olympics implicated in sourcing tainted wood - Japanese and Indonesian banks found financing rainforest destruction
2018-11-11 | Jakarta | Rainforest Action Network, WALHI
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Gunvor joins other commodity players with sustainability-linked loan led by ING

Participating banks in the Gunvor facility include ABN Amro, CA Indosuez, Credit Suisse, DBS Bank, KfW Ipex-Bank, Mizuho, MUFG Bank, Nedbank, Rabobank, Raiffeisen, Société Générale, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and UniCredit.
2018-10-17 | Global Trade Review
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Major banks are failing Vietnam by violating Equator Principles commitments in financing coal power projects

2018-10-11 | Market Forces
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Pipeline: Stepping stone for Japanese financiers

2018-10-08 | Daily Monitor
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New report reveals Japanese financial institutions’ substantial role in climate crisis

2018-09-10
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These 3 coal plants might not get Japan funds under new rules

2018-08-27 | Bloomberg
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Is Japan finally turning away from coal? Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Nippon Life start the race to move beyond coal in Asia

2018-07-28 | The Diplomat
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プレスリリース：三井住友FG株主総会で森林保護方針強化を求めてアピール(2018/6/28)

Press Release: Mitsui Sumitomo FG General Meeting of Shareholders Seeking to Strengthen Forest Protection Policy Appeal (2018/6/28)
2018-06-28 | Tokyo | RAN
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Indofood: the perfect microcosm of how the financial system is still part of the problem

2018-05-31 | RAN
Blog
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Environmental NGOs respond to statement by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group CEO on restricting coal-fired power financing

2018-05-17 | FOE Japan, Greenpeace Japan, Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society
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Sumitomo Mitsui signals it may curb coal-fired power financing

BankTrack mentioned
2018-05-16 | Bloomberg
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Cracks emerge in coal haven as insurers mull funding curbs

BankTrack mentioned
2018-05-14 | Bloomberg
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Japanese banks betray their commitments and the environment by funding more dirty coal

2018-04-18 | Market Forces
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Japanese banks betray their commitments and the environment by funding more dirty coal

2018-04-18 | Market Forces
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NGOs Sound the Alarm on Japanese Banks’ Continued Coal Financing

2018-04-09 | Tokyo | Greenpeace Japan, Rainforest Action Network
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Report finds major banks ramped up fossil fuel financing to $115 billion in 2017

Despite 2017 being the costliest year on record for weather disasters, new report reveals that banks increased extreme fossil fuel financing last year, led by a more than doubling in lending to tar sands companies and pipelines.
2018-03-28 | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | BankTrack, Honor the Earth, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club
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New report: Towards responsible and inclusive financing of the palm oil sector

2017-11-15 | Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Profundo
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Japanese Banks ill-Equipped to Reform Banking Practices in Line with the Paris Agreement

2017-10-12 | Tokyo, Japan
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Indigenous Groups Lead Movement to Call on Banks to Drop Enbridge’s Controversial Line 3 Pipeline

Tribal Nations based in Minnesota oppose the project and the Minnesota Department of Commerce has condemned it
2017-09-21 | Minneapolis, MN | Honor the Earth, Rainforest Action Network
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Financiers of pulp and paper industry projects will cause environmental and social harm, says new report

2017-08-01 | Mandy Haggith – Environmental Paper Network
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Japanese Banks Failing to Respond to Climate Risks, New Reports Find

2017-06-22 | Rainforest Action Network
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28 major banks warned not to finance Trans Mountain pipeline expansion

Over 20 Indigenous and environmental groups deliver urgent letter.
2017-06-09 | BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network, others
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Banks provide billions for Dirty Diesel traders while failing to act on human rights, says new briefing

- Oil traders Trafigura and Vitol received over $100 billion in loans since 2012
- Of 26 banks contacted, not one has pressured companies over toxic fuel exports to Africa
2017-05-23 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Indigenous leaders launch new campaign to defund all four proposed tar sands pipelines

2017-05-09 | Turtle Island | Mazaska Talks
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Major international banks and investors finance devastating impacts of forest-risk commodities

New report finds eight corporate giants in palm oil, pulp and paper, timber and rubber involved in social and environmental scandal; exposes financial banking
2017-04-24 | Tokyo | Rainforest Action Network
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Energy Transfer: Which banks continue to support the company behind DAPL?

2017-04-06 | Alison Kirsch - Rainforest Action Network
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Banks risk breach of sustainability standards over Indonesian coal plant finance

New report from BankTrack and Greenpeace
2017-04-03 | Nijmegen, Netherlands | BankTrack, Greenpeace
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Who's bankrolling TransCanada?

Banking on TransCanada means banking on Keystone XL
2017-03-24 | Alison Kirsch - Rainforest Action Network
Blog
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Japanese and Singaporean banks step in to finance Indonesian coal plant in face of opposition from communities and environmentalists

After French banks ditch project, BankTrack, Friends of the Earth Japan and 350.org Japan strongly criticise all banks involved
2017-02-28 | Tokyo, Japan and Nijmegen, Netherlands | BankTrack, Friends of the Earth Japan
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New online platform reveals banks and investors financing companies linked to tropical forest loss in Southeast Asia

Financial sector under the spotlight in new international push to protect forests and forest communities
2016-09-06 | Singapore | Rainforest Action Network
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BankTrack condemns Japanese and Singapore bank financing of Batang coal project in Indonesia as reckless to people and climate

2016-06-06 | Nijmegen, The Netherlands | BankTrack
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New BankTrack Human Rights Impact Briefing: Labour standards violations in IOI Corporation’s Malaysian plantations

2016-02-16 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Call for banks to divest from APRIL

Social conflict and environmental destruction are rife in its operations
2014-12-10 | Nijmegen | BankTrack, Mandy Haggith – Environmental Paper Network
Blog
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Banks not yet living up to UN human rights principles, finds BankTrack

New research finds inadequate reporting on human rights impacts, and failure to establish mechanisms to allow complaints.
2014-12-02 | Geneva | BANKTRACK
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Equator Principles goes beyond project finance, improves transparency

2012-08-13 | Environmental Finance
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While BankTrack criticizes Equator Principles, IFC celebrates Community of Learning

2011-10-25 | Washington | prizmablog.com
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Time to Improve the Equator Principles, BankTrack Says

BankTrack mentioned
2011-10-24 | Washington | Social Funds
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BankTrack to Equator Principles banks; ‘get the Outside Job done’

Equator Principles update must lead to new Principles focused on people and planet
2011-10-23 | Washington | BankTrack
Blog
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Financiers search for sustainable future

BankTrack mentioned
2011-10-20 | Washington | Environmental Finance
Blog
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Decommissioning cost of Fukushima Daiichi might be over US$90billion

2011-04-03 | Tokyo Japan | Finance GreenWatch
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BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New rules for Equator Principles, but no new commitments from banks

New governance rules represent missed chance for Equator Principles to take bold steps forward on transparency and accountability
2010-07-01 | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

BankTrack calls upon banks to Close the Gap on investment policies

New report evaluates quality of investment policies of 49 banks; more policies in place, overall quality below what is required
2010-04-27 | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Equator Principles: Action, not words needed

BankTrack calls upon Citi, new chair of Equator Principles to take bold steps forward
2010-03-15 | Nijmegen, The Netherlands | BankTrack
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Civil society groups call for bold steps forward with Equator Principles

Major reforms needed on transparency, accountability, implementation and climate change
2010-01-14 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Top financial institutions still invest US$20 billion in cluster bombs

Activists call on banks and pension funds to disinvest from banned weapon
2009-10-29 | London | Netwerk Vlaanderen
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

NGOs criticise private banks irresponsible investment in Kazakhstan

2008-10-07 | Italy | CRBM
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Environmental groups condemn Japanese and French banks for financing Sakhalin II oil and gas project in Russia

2008-06-17 | Tokyo, San Fransisco, Moscow, Nijmegen | Pacific Environment
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

Japanese Banks Blasted for Investment Plans in Sakhalin II

Banks to Stay out of Environmentally Unsound Oil and Gas Project in Russia
2008-06-12 | Tokyo | Friends of the Earth Japan
Blog
BankTrack news BankTrack blog Partner news Partner blog

New WWF-BankTrack report: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Finance

New report by BankTrack and WWF on bank policies
2006-01-26 | Davos, Switzerland | WWF UK
Resources
Documents
Videos
Links

Letter from BankTrack to SMBC on Finance to PLN

Correspondence
2025-03-19 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Which banks have ruled out finance for the JSW Utkal Steel and Coal Project?

BankTrack publication
2025-03-13 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from BankTrack to SMBC on JSW Utkal Steel

Correspondence
2025-02-20 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter to financiers of Mozambique LNG to support call for independent investigation into alleged human rights violations

NGO document
2025-01-21 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Justiça Ambiental, Les Amis de la Terre France, SFOC, Milieudefensie, ReCommon, Urgewald, Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth United States, Reclaim Finance, Friends of the Earth Japan

Banking on biodiversity collapse 2024

Partner publication
2024-10-16 00:00:00 | Forest and Finance Coalition

Banking on a climate shipwreck

Exposing the role of global banks in the expansion of maritime fossil gas
NGO document
2024-10-10 00:00:00 | Stand.earth

NZBA 2024 Progress Report

Other document
2024-10-01 00:00:00 | NZBA

Sustainability report 2024

Other bank document
2024-08-29 00:00:00 | SMBC

Response Tracking – Letter to 20 banks on ArcelorMittal, sent June 10th 2024

NGO document
2024-07-17 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Suzano's Pulp Fiction

Comparing words and deeds of the world’s largest eucalyptus pulp producer
NGO document
2024-07-16 00:00:00 | EPN

Annual report 2023

Annual report
2024-07-04 00:00:00 | SMBC

Open letter to EU & Japanese banks to end finance for LNG in the Gulf South, US

NGO document
2024-06-28 00:00:00 | BankTrack

His Profits, Our Loss

How Daniel Křetínský’s EPH Keeps Profiting from Poverty and Climate Collapse
NGO document
2024-06-19 00:00:00 | Platforma Re-Set

UNSUPERVISED - The carbon pollution of the world’s largest banks

NGO document
2024-05-21 00:00:00 | ReCommon

Banking on climate chaos 2024

Fossil fuel finance report 2024
BankTrack publication
2024-05-13 00:00:00 | BankTrack, urgewald, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Reclaim Finance & Sierra Club

Still Banking on Coal press release

Commercial Banks Still Deep into Coal 8 Years After Paris
Partner publication
2024-05-02 00:00:00 | Urgewald

Commercial Banks Still Deep into Coal 8 Years After Paris

NGO document
2024-05-02 00:00:00 | Urgewald

Finance for War. Finance for Peace

How values-based banks foster peace in a world of increasing conflict
Other document
2024-02-28 00:00:00 | Banca Etica Group and the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)

Coal Havens

The banks and loopholes keeping coal finance alive in Asia
BankTrack publication
2024-01-23 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from BankTrack to SMBC on Ending support for metallurgical coal

Correspondence
2023-12-07 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from BankTrack to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group on posco relining plans

Correspondence
2023-11-29 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from BankTrack, ACA, CTEA to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group on the risks of investing in Rio Tinto and Winning International Group’s Simandou Project in Guinea

Correspondence
2023-11-20 00:00:00 | BankTrack, ACA, CTEA

今なお続く製鉄用石炭への融資

なぜ銀行は原料炭から撤退すべきか
BankTrack publication
2023-10-12 00:00:00 | Julia Hovenier, BankTrack

TCFD Report 2023

Other bank document
2023-09-28 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Statement on Principal Adverse Impacts of Investment Decisions on Sustainability Factors

Bank policy
2023-07-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management

Will San Miguel Power a World Made Better?

Partner publication
2023-06-12 00:00:00 | CEED

Transition Finance Playbook

Document outlines SMBC Group’s definition of and approach towards transition finance
Bank policy
2023-05-24 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Strengthening efforts against climate change

Report over progress in advancement of climate change response
Bank policy
2023-05-15 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Betting on a Sinking Ship

Banks Behind the Barossa Gas Field’s FPSO Vessel
NGO document
2023-04-18 00:00:00 | Solutions for our Climate (SFO°C), JACSES, Jubilee Australia, Environment Centre NT, Urgewald, Reclaim Finance

Banking on Climate Chaos 2023

Annual Banking on Climate Chaos report follows the money and details massive bank support for the world’s worst climate-destroying corporations
BankTrack publication
2023-04-13 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, Urgewald

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP): Finance Risk Update No. 4

BankTrack publication
2023-04-12 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Annual report 2022

Annual report
2023-04-03 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Statement on human rights

Bank policy
2023-03-30 00:00:00 | SMFG

Policies for integration of sustainability risks into our investment process and consideration of principal adverse environmental and social impacts

Bank policy
2023-01-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management

Background briefing: Just 7% of global banks' energy financing goes to renewables, new data shows

BankTrack publication
2023-01-27 00:00:00 | Profundo for Sierra Club, Fair Finance International, BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network

BankTrack Global Human Rights Benchmark 2022

BankTrack publication
2022-11-17 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Who is financing fossil fuel expansion in Africa?

BankTrack publication
2022-11-15 00:00:00 | Urgewald, BankTrack, 350.org Africa, Africa Coal Network & Oilwatch Africa, et al.

Responses received to letters sent to signatories of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero

Other document
2022-10-17 00:00:00 | London Stock Exchange

Group Environmental and Social Framework

Bank policy
2022-09-28 00:00:00 | SMBC

TCFD report 2022

Other bank document
2022-08-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP): Finance Risk Update No. 3

June 2022
BankTrack publication
2022-06-28 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from OCI, Kiko Network, 350Japan, RAN, CIEL to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group board of Directors on EACOP

Correspondence
2022-06-24 00:00:00 | OCI, Kiko Network, 350Japan, RAN, CIEL

Letter from OCI, Kiko Network, 350Japan, RAN, CIEL to SMBC Board of Directors on EACOP

Correspondence
2022-06-24 00:00:00 | OCI, Kiko Network, 350Japan, RAN, CIEL

東アフリカ原油パイプライン（EACOP）に対する 邦銀の融資について

ESGリスクの背景
NGO document
2022-06-23 00:00:00 | Oil Change International, CIEL, #StopEACOP

Letter from BankTrack, 350.org, Bank on our Future and Uplift to 25 banks on Shell's proposed Jackdaw gas field

Correspondence
2022-06-03 00:00:00 | BankTrack, 350.org, Bank on our Future and Uplift

Japanese Bank Financing of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)

Backgrounder on ESG risks
NGO document
2022-06-01 00:00:00 | Oil Change International, CIEL, #StopEACOP

[PRESS RELEASE] Strengthening Efforts against Climate Change

Other bank document
2022-05-13 00:00:00 | SMBC

Modern Slavery Statement

Bank policy
2022-03-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

Banking Asia's Future

How to Align with National Climate Plans
Other document
2022-03-31 00:00:00 | Aviva: Asia Research and Engagement

Banking on Climate Chaos 2022

Despite ‘net zero’ rhetoric, world’s biggest banks continued to pour billions into fossil fuel expansion in 2021
BankTrack publication
2022-03-30 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, urgewald

EACOP Finance Risk Update No. 2

January 2022
BankTrack publication
2022-01-09 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Actions speak louder: Assessing bank responses to human rights violations

BankTrack publication
2021-12-14 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter from BankTrack to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group on lithium mining in Serbia’s jadar valley

Correspondence
2021-12-12 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Drill, baby, drill

How banks, investors and insurers are driving oil and gas expansion in the Arctic
NGO document
2021-09-23 00:00:00 | Reclaim Finance

Commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions

Other bank document
2021-09-09 00:00:00 | SMBC

SMBC interim 2050 commitment TCDF Report 2021

Other bank document
2021-08-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

Recipients of the letter about the risk of the anti-environment agenda in the Brazilian Congress

NGO document
2021-08-19 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Asian Banks Continue to Finance the Palm Oil Refining Sector as Leakage Declines

NGO document
2021-06-28 00:00:00 | Chain Reaction Research

Forests & Finance 2021 Briefing - Is Your Money Destroying Rainforests or Violating Rights?

NGO document
2021-06-23 00:00:00 | Forests and Finance

Reinforcing efforts against climate change

Bank policy
2021-05-12 00:00:00 | SMBC

Japan: Major Financier and Buyer of Leakage Palm Oil and Plywood

NGO document
2021-04-12 00:00:00 | Chain Reaction Research

Annual report 2021

Annual report
2021-03-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

CSR report 2020

Annual report
2021-03-08 00:00:00 | SMBC

Open Letter from over 260 civil society organisations to banks on EACOP

NGO document
2021-02-25 00:00:00 | 263 CSOs

Management of environmental risks

Date listed represents date as accessed on website
Bank policy
2021-01-14 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Environmental policy

Date listed represents date as accessed on website
Bank policy
2021-01-14 00:00:00 | SMBC

"Trust Us, We're Equator Banks": Part II

BankTrack publication
2020-11-24 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Letter to banks and investors on Indofood labor exploitation

NGO document
2020-11-19 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network

Crude Risk: Risks to banks and investors from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline

BankTrack publication
2020-11-18 00:00:00 | BankTrack, AFIEGO, Both ENDS, Inclusive Development International, Just Share

Bankrolling Extinction: The top 10 banks financing biodiversity loss

NGO document
2020-10-28 00:00:00 | porfolio.earth

A Call to Action on the Principles for Responsible Banking: End Climate-Destructive Financing Now

Joint civil society statement
BankTrack publication
2020-10-20 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network, and others

Annual report 2020

Annual report
2020-07-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

CSR report 2019

Annual report
2020-07-31 00:00:00 | SMBC

Fool's Gold

The financial institutions risking our renewable energy future with coal
BankTrack publication
2020-07-15 00:00:00 | Europe Beyond Coal, BankTrack, BlackRock’s Big Problem, Ember, Fundacja "Rozwój TAK - Odkrywki NIE”, Friends of the Earth Finland, Friends of the Earth France, Greenpeace, Reclaim Finance, Re:Common, ShareAction, Urgewald, 350 Japan

Annual report 2019

Annual report
2020-05-19 00:00:00 | SMBC

Group Statement on Sustainability

Bank policy
2020-04-24 00:00:00 | SMBC

Revision of ESG financing policies

Bank policy
2020-04-16 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Revision of group mission, vision and values

Bank policy
2020-04-01 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Banking on Climate Change - Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2020

BankTrack publication
2020-03-18 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club

Letter from BankTrack to SMFG on the bank's progress on its fossil fuel finance since COP24

Correspondence
2019-12-10 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Civil Society Statement on the new Principles for Responsible Banking

BankTrack publication
2019-09-22 00:00:00 | BankTrack and others

Letter from SMBC to BankTrack on PRB implementation

Correspondence
2019-09-13 00:00:00 | SMBC

CSR Report 2018

Date listed represents date as accessed on website
Annual report
2019-08-07 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Letter from Inclusive Development International and BankTrack to Standard Bank, Stanbic Bank Uganda and SMBC on Standard bank's role in arranging finance for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline

Correspondence
2019-05-28 00:00:00 | Inclusive Development International and BankTrack

Fool's Gold

The financial institutions bankrolling Europe’s most coal-dependent utilities
NGO document
2019-05-21 00:00:00 | Europe Beyond Coal

Bank Policy Matrix

NGO document
2018-12-10 00:00:00 | Forests & Finance Coalition

Letter from BankTrack and 120 organisations to SMFG on Demands FBNT campaign

Correspondence
2018-10-16 00:00:00 | BankTrack and 120 organisations

Annual Report 2018

Annual report
2018-06-30 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Policy for business associated with environmental and social risk

Bank policy
2018-06-18 00:00:00 | SMBC

Letter from FoE Japan and 170 NGOs to Japanese government, JBIC, JICA, NEXI on Japanese government must stop financing Cirebon and Indramayu coal power plants

Correspondence
2018-05-18 00:00:00 | FoE Japan and 170 NGOs

CSR Report 2017

Annual report
2018-03-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Annual Report 2017

Annual report
2018-03-31 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

How banks contribute to human rights violations: responses to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

NGO document
2018-02-28 00:00:00 | Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Major international banks continue to finance palm oil company Indofood despite evidence of systemic labor abuses

Forest & Finance Briefing
NGO document
2017-11-30 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK Indonesia & Profundo

The human cost of conflict palm oil - revisited

How PepsiCo, Banks and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil perpetuate Indofood's worker exploitation
NGO document
2017-11-30 00:00:00 | RAN, OPPUK & International Labor Rights Forum

Japanese and Malaysian banks and investors continue to pump billions of dollars into forest-risk companies, without adequate environmental and social safeguards

NGO document
2017-06-13 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK Indonesia & Profundo

Letter from RAN and 13 others to 14 banks that underwrote Kinder Morgan Canada IPO on warning to finance the IPO

Correspondence
2017-06-06 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network et al

CSR Report 2016

Annual report
2017-04-06 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

The Cirebon 2 coal power plant and the Equator Principles

BankTrack publication
2017-04-03 00:00:00 | BankTrack and Greenpeace

Financiers of IOI and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) face material ESG risks from failure to respect land tenure rights

NGO document
2017-03-27 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK & Profundo

CSR Report 2016

Annual report
2017-03-26 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

IndoAgri's new sustainable palm oil policy ails to address key environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks

NGO document
2017-02-28 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK & Profundo

Dirty Bankers

How HSBC is financing forest destruction for palm oil
NGO document
2017-01-17 00:00:00 | Greenpeace

Letter from 500 organisations to SMBC on financing DAPL

Correspondence
2016-11-30 00:00:00 | 500 organisations

Protecting the Leuser Ecosystem

A Shared Responsibility
NGO document
2016-11-07 00:00:00 | Rainforest Action Network

Sumitomo Mitsui response to BankTrack

Other bank document
2016-09-13 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui

Performance and Goals of CSR Initiatives of SMFG Companies

SMBC
Other bank document
2016-08-15 00:00:00

Green Paper, Red Lines

Requirements for pulp and paper industry finance
BankTrack publication
2016-06-02 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Environmental Paper Network

Human Rights Impact Briefing #1:Labour standards violations in IOICorporation’s Malaysian plantations

BankTrack publication
2016-02-16 00:00:00 | BankTrack

The end of coal?

2015 Coal Finance Report Card
BankTrack publication
2015-05-04 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club

Tycoon-controlled oil palm groups in Indonesia - Executive Summary

NGO document
2015-02-16 00:00:00 | TuK, Profundo

Japanese Banks' Involvements in Human Rights Violations based on 4 Cases

Executive Summary of Fair Finance Guide Japan 1st Case Study
NGO document
2015-01-09 00:00:00 | Published by A SEED JAPAN, JACSES and PARC

Letter from EPN to Banks investing in April on APRIL

Correspondence
2014-12-10 00:00:00 | EPN

Worldwide investments in Cluster munitions, a shared responsibility

NGO document
2012-06-20 00:00:00 | IKV Pax Christi & FairFin

Letter from BankTrack to EPFIs on issues around Equator Principles Review process

Correspondence
2010-12-18 00:00:00 | Banktrack

Close the Gap

Benchmarking investment policies of international banks
BankTrack publication
2010-04-27 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Worldwide investments in CLUSTER MUNITIONS, a shared responsibility

NGO document
2009-10-01 00:00:00 | Netwerk Vlaanderen, et. al.

EACOP: a crude reality, documentary

2023-02-27 18:04:11
Accountability
Grievances
Response tracking

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) does not operate a complaints channel for individuals and communities that may be adversely affected by its finance.

Stakeholders may raise complaints via the OECD National Contact Points (see OECD Watch guidance).

SMFG is an Equator Principles signatory. While the Equator Principles have no official grievance mechanism, complaints relating to this bank's financing of Equator Principles projects can be filed through our own website www.equator-complaints.org.

This page evaluates Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's responses to instances of alleged human rights violations linked to its finance, raised by civil society organisations. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but covers selected impacts raised by BankTrack and other civil society partners since 2016. For the full scoring methodology, see here. For more information about BankTrack's evaluation of bank responses to human rights impacts, see the 2021 report "Actions speak louder: assessing bank responses to human rights violations".

Impacts reviewed
Responded?
Total score
Response
Action
Monitoring
JSW Utkal steel and coal, India (February 2025)
0
0
0
n/a
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank responded, but chose to "refrain from commenting on the individual project."
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank stated it had shared the letter with the relevant departments, but no information is available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
n/a
Rationale for score
The impact was not raised over a year ago and therefore is not scored on monitoring progress.
More info
International CSOs call on banks to rule out finance for controversial Indian steel and coal project, March 2025
Banks and Dirty Diesel: Vitol and Trafigura (May 2017)
0
0
0
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank did not respond.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank monitored progress.
More info
BankTrack Human Rights Briefing, May 2017
Complicity in Destruction IV: Mining and Indigenous Rights in the Amazon (March 2022)
0
0
0
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank did not respond.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank monitored progress.
More info
"Investment funds injected US$ 54.1 billion into mining companies with interests in Indigenous territories in the Amazon", February 2022
East African Crude Oil Pipeline (March 2021)
1
0.5
0.5
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0.5
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank publicly said it is not "currently involved" in financing EACOP, but it did not speak to the substance of the issues raised.
Action
0.5
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank took appropriate action by stating that it would not provide finance to the project; however, the bank remains exposed to TotalEnergies, the project developer, and it has not (yet) set out specific actions that it requires (or will require) the company to take to address the impacts raised.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank monitored measures taken by its client to address the impacts associated with the project.
IOI Corporation labour standards violations (February 2016)
0
0
0
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank publicly responded only to say that they could not comment.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank monitored progress.
More info
BankTrack Human Rights Briefing, February 2016
UN human rights complaint regarding Saudi Aramco and its financiers (July 2023)
0
0
0
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank responded publicly but it did not acknowledge a link to the impacts raised or to the company in question.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank did not provide information on whether it has engaged with its client or took appropriate action on the impacts raised. In its response, the bank outlined its approach to climate change and human rights more broadly.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank monitored progress.
More info
, ClientEarth, UN warns Aramco and its financiers over their role in driving climate-fuelled human rights violations, June 2023
Santos' Barossa gas project, Australia (July 2023)
0
0
0
0
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank did not respond.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
SMBC did not acknowledge the grievance brought by Equity Generation Lawyers or respond to it, despite having committed to the UNGPs.
More info
Equity Generation Lawyers, Bank Responses to Human Rights Grievances report, July 2023
ArcelorMittal steel impacts (June 2024)
0
0
0
n/a
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank's confirms that the information has been shared with relevant departments, but the response neither acknowledges its link to the impact, nor ArcelorMittal.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
n/a
Rationale for score
The impact was not raised over a year ago and therefore is not scored on monitoring progress.
More info
See the summary of bank responses here. See this bank's response here.
Impacts of Indonesia’s state electricity company PLN (March 2025)
0
0
0
n/a
Dodgy Deal profile
Response
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
The bank's response neither acknowledges its link to the impact, nor addresses the issues raised.
Action
0
Out of 1
Rationale for score
No information is available on whether the bank engaged with its client or took appropriate action.
Monitoring
n/a
Rationale for score
The impact was not raised over a year ago and therefore is not scored on monitoring progress.
More info
See the letter BankTrack sent the bank here.
Average
67%
0.11
0.06
0.06
0
Banks and Climate

Banks and Climate

The 2024 Banking on Climate Chaos report showed that Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation provided US$ 212.158 Billion in financing to the fossil fuel industry between 2016 and 2023. In 2023 only, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation provided US$ 11.463 Billion for oil, gas and coal companies expanding fossil fuels. Find further details on Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation fossil fuel portfolio and how it compares to other large banks globally on Fossil Banks No Thanks and in the Banking on Climate Chaos report.

Fossil fuel finance data Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Banking on Climate Chaos fossil fuel finance data

Partner organisation Reclaim Finance tracks the coal, oil and gas policies of financial institutions, including banks, in their Coal Policy Tool (CPT) and the Oil and Gas Policy Tracker (OGPT). BankTrack works closely with Reclaim Finance and endorses their policy assessments. Find further details on their assessment of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s fossil fuel policy below.

Assessment of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation coal policy in the Coal Policy Tool

Assessment of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation oil and gas policy in the Oil and Gas Policy Tracker
Banks and Human Rights

Banks and Human Rights

BankTrack assessed Sumitomo Mitsui Financial in its 2024 Global Human Rights Benchmark, where it achieved 7.5 points out of 15 and was ranked as a “moderate achiever”.

The bank scored 0.5 out of 3 points on the new “specific rights indicators”, which assess how banks address human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples’ right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent and environmental rights in their policies and practices. 

In addition, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial scored 0.14 out of 3 on how it responds to alleged human rights violations linked to its finance, which were raised by civil society organisations. More information is detailed in the “Accountability” section of this profile.

The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark

The table below shows BankTrack's assessment of how Sumitomo Mitsui Financial has implemented the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Please click on 'expand all details' and 'explanation' for further information on the methodology.

Our policy assessments are always a work in progress. We very much welcome any feedback, especially from banks included in the assessments. Please get in touch at humanrights@banktrack.org.

Global Human Rights Benchmark 2022

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
JPN
5
Follower 5
Explanation
Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 3 points
3.5 - 6.5 points
7 - 10 points
10.5 - 14 points
For more details see this page.

Global Human Rights Benchmark 2024

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
JPN
7.5
Moderate achiever 7.5
Explanation
Laggard
Follower
Moderate achiever
Leader
0 - 3 points
3.5 - 7 points
7.5 - 10.5 points
11 - 15 points
For more details see this page.
Banks and Nature

Banks and Nature

SMFG’s policies for forest-risk sectors (beef, soy, palm oil, pulp and paper, rubber and timber) have been assessed by the Forests & Finance coalition, achieving an overall score of 3.9 out of 10 and ranking it as a follower. SMFG achieved a score of 2.9 out of 10 specifically for its policies related to the beef sector and 6.3 out of 10 for its policies related to the palm oil sector.  In addition, BankTrack and the Environmental Paper Network have assessed SMBC’s policies related to the pulp and paper sector.

Between 2016 and 2022, SMFG provided USD 6,007 million in credit to companies operating in these forest-risk sectors and held investments amounting to USD 79 million as of 2022. For more information, see the links below.

Forests & Finance

Banks and beef

Banks and palm oil

Banks and pulp & paper

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Overall scores

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
2022-09-27
JPN
3.9
Follower 3.9
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its policies. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Beef

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
2022-09-29
JPN
2.9
Follower 2.9
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its beef policy. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.

Forest & Finance Policy Assessment 2022: Palm Oil

BankLast update
Country
Score
Ranking
Details
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
2022-09-29
JPN
6.3
Front runner 6.3
Explanation

A bank can obtain a total of 10 points for the quality of its palm oil policy. The total score is based on their scores per sector, weighted against their financing and investment for each sector. For further details on this see here. Based on their overall score, banks are then classified as Laggards, Followers, Front runners or Leaders, as follows:

Laggard
Follower
Front runner
Leader
0 - 1 points
1 - 4 points
4 - 7 points
7 - 10 points
For more details see this page.
Tracking the NZBA

Tracking the Net Zero Banking Alliance

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is a member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and has therefore committed to reduce its financed emissions to net zero by 2050; within 18 months of joining the alliance set interim targets for 2030 (or sooner) for high emission priority sectors, and within 36 months set further sector targets; set new intermediary targets every 5 years from 2030 onwards; annually publish data on emissions and progress against a transition strategy including climate-related sectoral policies; and take a robust approach to the role of offsets in transition plans. BankTrack track's implementation of these commitments in the NZBA compliance tracker.

 

Tracking NZBA banks commitments
Banks and Russia

Banks and Russian Aggression in Ukraine

BankTrack is keeping track of the public response of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) did not publicly condemn the war. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) is considered by Leave-Russia.org to be "pausing investments" with its operations in Russia. We consider its exposure to Russia as limited, with over $3.7bn of financial assets. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) supports the Russian fossil fuel industry through investments, loans, and underwriting. For further details, see the table linked below.

Bank responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Banks and Steel

Banks and Steel

Partner organisation Reclaim Finance’s 2023 report on metallurgical coal financing showed that SMBC Group provided US$ 12 billion in loans and underwriting to developers of new metallurgical coal between 2016 and 2022. Find further details on SMBC Group’s metallurgical coal financing and and how it compares to other large banks globally in the report.

Reclaim Finance tracks the metallurgical coal policies of financial institutions, including banks, in their Coal Policy Tool. BankTrack works closely with Reclaim Finance and endorses their policy assessments. Find further details on their assessment of SMBC Group’s metallurgical coal policy below.

According to a report by Reclaim Finance, between 2016 and June 2023, SMBC Group provided $6.7 billion in finance to the fossil-steel industry, making it the 15th largest financier worldwide. Find further details on SMBC Group's steel financing and how it compares to other large banks globally in the report. 

Metallurgical Coal Financing: Time to call it off 2023

Coal policy tool

Steeling our future: The banks propping up coal-based steel
Good Moves

Good moves

Year:

2023

EACOP Financial Advisor SMBC is no longer involved with the project

The StopEACOP coalition welcomes the recent announcement by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group) stating its current non-involvement in the East African crude oil pipeline project (EACOP). Since 2017, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a subsidiary of SMBC Group, has reportedly acted as one of three financial…