Swedbank joins the business network Haga Initiative. An important reason is the willingness to contribute through cooperation between different industries to influence the business community and policymakers to raise their climate ambitions. The Haga Initiative already includes the following well-known companies: Axfood, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Folksam, HKScan Sweden, JM, Lantmännen, Löfbergs, McDonald’s, Preem, Stena Recycling, Stockholm Exergi, and Sveaskog.

With just over 7 million private customers and 552,000 corporate customers, Swedbank is a key player in the financial industry. Green investments need to be carried out at a large scale during this decade to meet the 1.5-degree goal.

– Banks have an important role to play in the climate transition. Both as advisors and financiers of green investments, for example through green mortgages or energy efficiency improvements. Sustainability is the core of Swedbank’s business strategy! Together with others, we want to influence the development and contribute to Sweden and the Baltic countries’ transition to achieve the climate targets, says Jens Henriksson, CEO of Swedbank.

An increasing number of companies are seeing the benefits of collaboration, both for creating new business opportunities and for knowledge exchange. Many set ambitious climate targets but recognise that politics in Sweden and the EU need to have high targets and be predictable. The Haga Initiative brings together companies that are committed to reducing their climate impact and to achieving the vision of profitable business within the planetary boundaries.

– To meet the 1.5-degree target, large investments in society are required. The financial sector is important for financing the climate transition, pricing the climate correctly, phasing out the unsustainable, minimizing corporate risks and acting on opportunities. We welcome Swedbank into the Haga Initiative and are extremely happy to bring in an ambitious company that is and wants to be a driving force in climate change, says Nina Ekelund, Executive Director of the Haga Initiative.

Press contact:
Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Group Sustainability, Swedbank, phone: +46 (0) 76 773 19 26

Nina Ekelund, Executive Director, Haga Initiative, phone: +46 (0) 735 022464