UNEP Finance Initiative

General

About UNEP FI
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a unique global partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the global financial sector.

UNEP FI works closely with nearly 200 financial institutions who are Signatories to the UNEP FI Statements, and a range of partner organisations to develop and promote linkages between sustainability and financial performance. Through peer-to-peer networks, research and training, UNEP FI carries out its mission to identify, promote, and realise the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practice at all levels of financial institution operations.

Activities

• Research on the "business case" of internalising environmental, social and government externalities
• Guidelines and other implementation tools
• Training and capacity building
• Participation in environmental policy-making fora
• International, national and regional seminars and conferences
• Networking opportunities between Members and with stakeholders.

About Paul Clements-Hunt
Paul Clements-Hunt has been the Head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) since November 2000. UNEP FI, based in Geneva, is the largest partnership between the United Nations and the financial services sector, counting close to 200 banks, insurance companies and investment firms as members. UNEP FI was instrumental in the 2004-06 development and launch of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is backed by over 900 signatories from 50 countries. Mr. Clements-Hunt was one of the two lead United Nations representatives throughout the PRI negotiations in 2005-06 and sits as the UNEP representative on the PRI Board.

In 2007, he was invited to join the Financial Times Sustainability Banking Awards panel of judges and the United Nations special climate change panel on finance and investment. Mr. Clements-Hunt is a Board Member of Sustainable Finance Geneva, a network of professional finance executives committed to pushing forward sustainability practice in the Swiss financial services sector.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Clements-Hunt spent 1998-2000 representing the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce, directing the organisation's policy work in energy, environment and sustainable development. From 1991 to 1998, Clements-Hunt was based in Bangkok, Thailand, where he founded the country's first environmental strategy consultancy which developed projects throughout Southeast Asia. In 1994, he took the idea for an Asia-Pacific-wide environmental strategy service to the world's largest testing, inspection, and certification company, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). He developed the business for the SGS Group as the SGS-Environmental Information Unit.

For over 17 years, Mr. Clements-Hunt has presented and lectured internationally on sustainable finance and responsible investment issues. Clements-Hunt graduated with a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of East Anglia, and completed post-graduate studies in journalism at University College, Cardiff, Wales.