Our sustainability goals

Net zero emissions. Responsible financing and investments. Advisory services and training with the aim to reduce the wealth gap between men and women.
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Our goal is net zero emissions by 2040 at the latest

Carbon neutrality 

Handelsbanken’s climate goal is to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases as soon as possible, and by 2040 at the latest. Our goal applies to our business operations, i.e. lending, leasing and investments. But it also includes us ourselves – the emissions deriving from our energy consumption and business travel. The EU’s goal is net zero emissions by 2050, while Handelsbanken has decided to adopt the more ambitious goal of 2040. We are convinced that a rapid, co-ordinated transition, aimed at limiting global warming to as close to 1.5°C as possible, would be best for our customers, for the communities we operate in, and thus also for us.

Where we are today 

Handelsbanken’s own operations have been carbon neutral since 2017, and we climate compensate for the carbon dioxide emissions we cannot avoid. We work tirelessly to reduce these emissions, to the extent that we have achieved a decrease of 48 per cent since 2013.

Goals, sub-goals and strategies are reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis, to align with developments in scientific knowledge and the IPCC’s reports. In order to ensure the work of achieving Handelsbanken’s climate goal is correctly prioritised, the Bank has signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), meaning that we commit to applying these methods and to set reduction targets in line with scientific knowledge.

What does net zero emissions mean? 

Net zero emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere means those emissions that are made are not out of balance with the ecological cycle, or can be removed with the help of technological solutions. At this point, the emissions would no longer contribute to the greenhouse effect.

How we will become an even more sustainable bank

Watch the interview with Catharina Belfrage Sahlstrand, Head of Sustainability and Climate action at Handelsbanken about our sustainability goals.

Our goals in responsible financing, investment and advisory services

Responsible financing 

By 2025, 20 per cent of the Bank’s financing volume shall consist of green financing, social financing or financing that contributes to the borrower’s measurable, sustainable transition.

Responsible investment

The investment portfolios shall be in line with the goals and transition pathway of the Paris Agreement, achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2040 at the latest, and increase the funds’ contributions to the 2030 Agenda. Interim targets include reducing our emission intensity by 50 per cent, doubling investments in climate-related solutions by 2030, a 30 per cent increase of the share of investments classed as sustainable by 2025 and annual increases in positive outcomes of engagement activities.

Gender-equal advisory services

Handelsbanken’s aim is to create opportunities for an improved financial situation for women, and thus promote a gender equal economy. The objective is to increase the proportion of women among Handelsbanken’s customers who consider themselves to have strong skills in financial matters from 62 per cent in 2023 to 75 per cent by 2026, at the latest. This is to be achieved through training initiatives and advisory services that lead to:

i. the proportion of the relevant group of advisors with strong skills in gender equal economy and financial health increasing from 28 per cent in 2023 to 95 per cent in 2026, and

ii. the proportion of women in the customer group covered by the initiatives who assess their skills in financial matters as being strong increasing from 62 per cent in 2023 to 75 per cent in 2026.

The target regarding gender-equal advisory services applies to Sweden. The other home markets will implement their own metrics aimed at contributing to an improved financial situation for women.

Governance and transparency

Handelsbanken will provide regular reports to executive management and the Board on progress relating to the processes for adapting the Bank’s operations to the principles and the fulfilment of the Bank’s goals.

Read more about how we plan to achieve our sustainability goals