Universal registration document and annual financial report 2019

566 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

Our environmental responsibility: accelerating the ecological and energy transition

As a result of all the actions described above which enable it to cut its energy consumption, use clean energy and offset its residual emissions since 2017, BNP Paribas has been carbon-neutral within its own operations (covering its direct emissions, its indirect emissions relating to its energy supply and its indirect emissions relating to business travel)..

BIODIVERSITY ACTIONS

Biodiversity conservation at the Group s sites

Recognising that biodiversity is now under serious threat, BNP Paribas encourages various initiatives at its own sites to help protect the environment, promote the greening of urban areas and involve its employees in collective efforts to improve biodiversity. This is the case, for example, at its two international training centres in Singapore and Louveciennes, France, where floral and animal biodiversity are being successfully managed.

A prime example of this approach is the urban farm which BNP Paribas Real Estate created in spring 2018, covering an area of more than 640 m² on the roof of its headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Serving as a laboratory, community allotment, show garden for clients and relaxation space, experimenting with these urban crops has forged a community of employee-gardeners on the 26 dedicated plots which are home to nearly 70 plant species.

Responsible procurement and reduce waste production

The aim of the paper policy is to increase the share of responsibly sourced paper to 80% by 2020 (from recycling or sustainably managed forests, i.e. more than 50% recycled or PEFC(1) or FSC(2) certified). In 2019, 72% of paper was sustainable, compared with 62.5% in 2018, thus helping to protect forest ecosystems and their biodiversity.

In addition, the Group is committed to making progress each year on the proportion of waste recycled per employee (mostly paper) and on the quality of these data. Year on year, the data is becoming increasingly complete and detailed. The total waste collected, calculated for 2019, is 33,905 tonnes, or 170.5kg/FTE. 21% of the total volume of waste is recycled, or the equivalent of 26.7kg per employee.

(1) Forest Certification Recognition Programme.

(2) Forest Stewardship Council.

COMMITMENT 12: ADVANCE AWARENESS AND SHARING OF BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES

In addition to its commitments to support its customers in the energy and environmental transition and to minimise its direct environmental footprint, BNP Paribas is actively involved in the public debate on these issues, helping to improve and disseminate knowledge and best environmental practice within civil society.

SUPPORT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY

Support for innovative start-ups in the energy and ecological transition

The energy transition also involves developing innovative technologies. To this end, in late 2015 the Group pledged to invest EUR 100 million of its own funds by 2020 in innovative start-ups in the energy and ecological transition sector and thereby support their growth.

By the end of 2019, the Group had already committed EUR 56 million of its own funds to invest in 10 start-ups specialising in the energy and ecological transition and in three investment funds. Of this, EUR 20 million was invested in 2019.

The start-ups supported in 2019 include Sierra Energy, which converts all types of waste into energy without combustion, and EkWateur, a French company supplying green and renewable energy (electricity and biomethane) to households and local authorities.

The Group also helps start-ups involved in the energy and environmental transition to grow by launching on the stock market. In 2019, Portzamparc BNP Paribas, a specialised subsidiary, supported several firms in this sector with their initial public offering. These include: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies, established in 2014, which manufactures low-carbon cement; and BoostHeat, which specialises in efficient and sustainable heating solutions.

Support research and develop knowledge on climate change and biodiversity

The BNP Paribas Foundation supports scientific research programmes in the fields of climate change and biodiversity. Two corporate philanthropy programmes benefit from this in particular:

■ Launched in 2010 by the BNP Paribas Foundation, the Climate Initiative programme was expanded in 2019 to include biodiversity issues and has become the Climate & Biodiversity Initiative. It has already provided EUR 18 million for 27 research projects run by researchers, academics and engineers. Between 2020 and 2022, the BNP Paribas Foundation will showcase the nine winning projects of its fourth call for projects launched in 2019. This focused on various issues linked to the interactions between climate and biodiversity, such as the impact of melting glaciers on global biodiversity, the resilience of coastal ecosystems to extreme weather events, and the reforestation of disturbed ecosystems;