512 2019 Universal registration document and annual financial report - BNP PARIBAS

7 a Committed Bank: information ConCerninG the eConomiC, soCial, CiviC and environmental resPonsiBility of BnP PariBas

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All the informations presented in chapter 7 of the Universal registration document has been collected by specific requests addressed to the functions, business lines or territories of BNP Paribas, or by the use of the Group s internal management tools. It is expressly noted when the scope covered by information differs from that of the entire BNP Paribas Group.

In the area of its economic, social, civic and environmental responsibility, BNP Paribas has distinguished itself through its many accomplishments and areas of progress in 2019:

■ the Group has consolidated its position as a world CSR leader in the eyes of extra-financial rating agencies, with scores considerably higher than the banking sector average. Following its rating by RobecoSAM, BNP Paribas has been listed in the Europe and World Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, and was awarded FTSE Russell s highest rating of 5/5;

■ the Group has also been recognised as the World s best bank for corporate responsibility 2019 by the magazine Euromoney, while for the sixth year running, Corporate Knights has included it in its 2020 Classification of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations (leading French bank and third bank worldwide);

■ in New York, during Climate Week NYC 2019, the Bank signed up to the Principles for Responsible Banking alongside 130 banks wishing to align their strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement;

■ the Group was involved in the preparation of the Women s Forum Charter for Engagement: Taking the Lead for Inclusion: Women Leading Climate Action , which it signed in Kyoto in June ahead of the G20 summit. The charter aims to raise awareness about the link between women and the climate, and to help to develop more inclusive actions.

■ in 2019, the Group made three major commitments to combating climate change and protecting biodiversity:

■ it has gone the extra mile in reducing its support for the highest greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources by announcing its decision reduce financing of the coal industry to zero from 2030 within the European Union and from 2040 in the rest of the world. The Bank had already stopped financing coal-fired power plants in 2017, as well as stakeholders whose main business was related to the unconventional hydrocarbons sector;

■ in parallel, BNP Paribas has continued its proactive strategy of financing renewable energy. It channelled EUR 15.9 billion into the sector in 2019, and increased its target amount to EUR 18 billion by the end of 2021;

■ the Group has made a public commitment to protecting the oceans, which hold a key role for humanity and are rapidly deteriorating. In order to play an active role in protecting marine biodiversity, BNP Paribas is shoring up its financing of sensitive sectors in line with SDG 14 Life Below Water , by providing proactive support to initiatives for a sustainable economy which meet the needs of both marine ecosystems and humanity. One of the Group s main commitments is to contribute EUR 1 billion to the ecological transition of ships between now and 2025.

■ in 2019, the Group played an active role in the areas of financial and social inclusion:

■ BNP Paribas celebrated 30 years of microfinance initiatives. More than 2 million people have been able to borrow microloans, indirectly with the support of BNP Paribas. Over the past 30 years, the Group has channelled EUR 900 million into 84 MFIs across 33 countries;

■ BNP Paribas also helped to launch L Ascenseur (The elevator ). This unique European location brings together around 20 stakeholders with the shared goal of improving access to education, jobs, sport and culture for youngsters from disadvantaged areas.

■ regarding the Group s Human Resources policy:

■ BNP Paribas actions to promote workplace diversity were welcomed by employees in the annual Global People Survey, with a 77% favourable opinion;

■ with employees declaring 1.5 million skills on the dedicated platform designed as part of its 2020 HR Strategy, the Group can expect short and long-terms skills needs in the context of profound banking sector transformation;

■ the Bank also consolidated its #1MillionHours2Help, programme with a goal of achieving one million hours of skill-based volunteering work in 2020. By the end of 2019, more than 450,000 hours had already been completed.

■ concerning corporate purpose, a text was prepared by the BNP Paribas Executive Committee, based on three texts resulting from our work with many different employees in recent years. These include: the Shared Convictions (Mission and Vision), the Code of conduct and the Engagement Manifesto. The Board of directors then carried out a thorough review of the BNP Paribas missions and objectives with Senior Management.