2020 Universal registration document and annual financial report - BNP PARIBAS598

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a Committed Bank: information ConCerninG the eConomiC, soCial, CiviC and environmental resPonsiBility of BnP PariBas Our environmental responsibility: accelerating the ecological and energy transition

BNP Paribas Real Estate Services, offering companies responsible real estate

BNP Paribas Real Estate, 100% of whose commercial property has been awarded environmental certification (through the two highest levels of certification), is now among the top 2% of companies assessed in the real estate sector by Ecovadis, the supplier CSR rating platform, with a rating of 72/100, an increase of 8 points compared to 2019.

In 2020 BNP Paribas Real Estate stood out in its asset management business. Its Diversipierre fund is one of the first to obtain the SRI certification, recognising an engaging assessment and monitoring process that began when the fund was created seven years ago. BNP Paribas Real Estate also launched the EIPF fund, the first European institutional real estate fund in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. With EUR 160 million in capital already, it is aiming for a 40% reduction in GHG emissions in its European portfolio over the next ten years.

To develop the circular economy in the real estate sector, BNP Paribas Real Estate participated in the launch, in September 2020, of the Re-Users Booster: this association of real estate contractors (project managers, structures project managers, general contractors) aims to generalise and streamline the reuse of materials in construction and renovation, which should lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste production. BNP Paribas Real Estate is one of the 30 real estate companies that will finance the project for three years and contribute to the platform by incorporating ongoing projects, with their actual offers and requests for actual materials.

In the United Kingdom, BNP Paribas Real Estate joined the Green Building Council UK to support the transition of the entire real estate industry.

Supporting SSE companies in the circular economy

Developing the circular economy often involves setting up shorter circuits and more local activities. This also often involves the implementation of collection, sorting and restoration activities in the regions. On all these aspects, social enterprises can provide significant added value and thus be major players in the circular economy. BNP Paribas supports numerous social and solidarity-based economy companies specialising in the circular economy, in France, Europe and around the world. In France, for example, the Bank supports: the Simone Lemon restaurant, which fights against food waste by designing its menu using off-grade fruit and vegetables, which are usually set aside, and by invoicing dishes by weight; Recommerce, a pioneer in the recovery, refurbishment and resale of used telephones; LemonTri which sorts and recycles more than 30 different types of waste (neon, wood, capsules, etc.). And in Italy: Vesti Solidale of the Consorzio Farsi Prossimo which recovers computers and printers from companies, refurbishes them and sells them by employing people in vulnerable situations.

Supporting companies in the shift towards carbon neutrality

Beyond efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, net carbon neutrality must be achieved to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. This involves offsetting residual carbon emissions (notably through carbon sequestration in soils and plants).

With this in mind, in 2018 BNP Paribas created ClimateSeed, its first Social Business, in collaboration with the team of Professor Yunus (winner of the Nobel Peace Prize), which helps organisations contribute transparently to carbon emissions reduction projects that support local communities and protect biodiversity. Two years after its launch, ClimateSeed offers 34 internationally certified projects, including forest conservation, reforestation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, community projects, water and waste management in 23 countries. ClimateSeed clients include BNP Paribas, Kering, Boehringer Ingelheim, Women s Forum for Economy and Society, Mediaperformances, Willis Re, Utopies, etc. ClimateSeed is one of six standards recognised by IFC, the financial institution which is part of the World Bank Group, for the carbon offsetting of its green buildings programme and has won several awards, including, in 2020, first prize as Best responsible solution at the Asset Managers Tech Days Award 2020.

Overall, the market for voluntary carbon credits is still immature. In order to contribute to its progress, in September 2020, BNP Paribas joined the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, which published practical recommendations in January 2021 to improve the functioning of this market.

SUPPORTING OUR INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS IN REDUCING THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION The Group is continuing to expand its offering to help individual customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes, via dedicated products or partnerships with industrial players. The Group has undertaken several initiatives to help its customers finance work to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and buy less polluting vehicles.

Retail Banking support

In France, to make the solutions offered to private individuals more visible and unified, BDDF has developed the Eco-solutions range, which includes: Mon Empreinte Carbone (My Carbon Footprint) on the mobile apps of MaBanque BNPP and Hello bank! to enable customers to estimate the carbon footprint of their daily expenses, and an offer of loans at preferential rates (eco-friendly car loan, Énergibio loan).

In the United States, Bank of the West launched a 1% for the Planet checking account. It provides customers with a carbon monitoring tool allowing them to visualise the impact of each purchase made with their debit card. In addition, Bank of the West donates 1% of the net revenues of the account to non-profit environmental partners.