Our Guiding Principle

Sustainability is Part of NRW.BANK

In accordance with the law under which it was founded as the promotional bank of North Rhine-Westphalia, NRW.BANK accepts its corporate responsibility. Its activity is geared to the principle of sustainability, which it has defined as follows: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

In accordance with its sustainability strategy, NRW.BANK specifically promotes such projects and programmes which are designed to improve the economic and environmental living conditions, social development as well as environmental and climate protection (Ankerlink: Shaping Sustainable Promotion for the Customer) in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With its activities, the promotional bank makes an important contribution at the level of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations. The interactive chart below shows which specific goals benefited from the funds committed in the fiscal year 2023, measured as a percentage of NRW.BANK’s total volume of new commitments. Click on the individual SDG tiles to learn more about each goal.

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
1. No Poverty
Poverty means hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education, social discrimination and a lack of participation in decision-making processes. Developing sustainable, inclusive economic growth and building social protection systems are proven ways to fight poverty.
2. Zero Hunger
Eradicating hunger, achieving better and safer nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture that protects of the environment and people – with the right actions, food production can be directed towards these goals while preserving the environment.
3. Good Health and Well-Being
Further efforts are needed to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, increase life expectancy, reduce child and maternal mortality and cut deaths from non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030.
4. Quality Education
Education is the foundation of sustainable development because it provides the tools for innovative problem solving. Promoting inclusive, equitable and quality education is an investment in the future.
5. Gender Equality
Women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence in all parts of the world. Their right to gender equality is the foundation for a peaceful, modern and sustainable world. Measures to implement this legally protected right deserve to be promoted.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
The progress made over the decade in terms of access to drinking water and wastewater disposal must be built on to combat water scarcity and poor water quality in a sustainable matter
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy supports jobs, food production and prosperity. In the face of climate change, it is important to combine economic and ecological goals in a sustainable way.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
For everyone to share in progress, we need sustainable economic growth that creates quality jobs with good incomes, without damaging the environment.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Sustainable development has many dimensions: greater resource and energy efficiency, lower emissions, higher productivity, added value and income. Achieving all this requires investment in infrastructure.
10. Reduced Inequalities
The goal of reducing inequalities between and within countries is well on its way to becoming an international consensus. The sub-goals of this SDG are a more equitable distribution of resources, orderly and safe migration and an end to discrimination.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
All people should be able to live in safe, ecological, resilient and inclusive cities and communities. This requires, among other things, investment in affordable, sustainable housing and green mobility, so that cities can continue to provide opportunities for all in the future.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable consumption and production means preserving the environment and resources – whether by preventing waste, recycling waste or safely disposing of hazardous substances.
13. Climate Action
Action on climate change helps to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, achieve greenhouse neutrality and rebuild the economy ecologically after the pandemic.
14. Life Below Water
As the planet’s largest ecosystem, the oceans and their estuaries as well as inland waters require special protection. Measures to curb littering, water acidification and destructive fishing practices contribute to this, as do measures to promote science and the transfer of technology.
15. Life on Land
Ecosystems on land must be protected from deforestation, pollution, poaching and desertification, and degraded soils and forests must be restored and sustainably managed. This is the only way to halt the loss of biodiversity.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The sustainable development of the global community is linked to peace, the rule of law and a fair judicial system that is accessible to all. All forms of violence, corruption and exploitation must be stopped.
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Governments, the private sector, science and civil society must work together in order to achieve the UN’s global sustainability goals. The resources needed for their implementation must be unlocked, an equitable international system established and contributions made at all levels of society.

Information about the promotion volume:
Inner circle (from the inside to the outside):
1 % / 5 % / 10 % / 20 % / 30 % / 40 % / 50 %

The projects financed through NRW.BANK's promotion programmes can make a positive contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals mentioned here, depending on how the promotional funds are used by the funding recipients.

Methodology Paper

 

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