In 2019, The Aotearoa Circle launched a bold initiative to transform Aotearoa New Zealand’s financial system-ensuring it better serves people, nature, and the economy.

This work began with the creation of the Sustainable Finance Forum (SFF) and the development of a Sustainable Finance Roadmap, released in 2020.

Co-designed with over 200 market participants across banking, insurance, iwi, government, and academia, the roadmap provides a practical framework for embedding environmental, social, and economic sustainability into financial decision-making by 2030.

To turn strategy into action, Toitū Tahua: Centre for Sustainable Finance was established in 2021 as an independent body driving implementation. Read more about their work.

Visit the Centre for Sustainable Finance

Sustainable Finance Roadmap for Action

The Aotearoa Circle released the Sustainable Finance Forum Roadmap for Action in 2021. This roadmap represents the collective efforts of the sustainable finance forum and provides a clear framework for embedding sustainability into the Aotearoa New Zealand financial sector.

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Roadmap recommendations

The Sustainable Finance Forum Roadmap for Action covers three key themes

Changing mindsets

Responsibility: Explicitly require financial system actors to consider, manage and account for environmental and social risks and opportunities and real-world impacts
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Capability: Raise capability in sustainable finance through education and training

Governance: Improve public and private sector governance for sustainability

Transforming the financial system

Data: Improve data and information quality and availability, including through the use of FinTech

‍Disclosure: Improve and extend external reporting and disclosures

‍Coordination: Establish and fund a (mandated) agile and independent Centre for Sustainable Finance to oversee and coordinate implementation of the Roadmap

‍Value: Integrate environmental, social and cultural outcomes into investment decisions to ensure we operate within planetary and societal boundaries

‍Inclusiveness: Recognise that financial services and products are a utility and create an inclusive financial system

‍Government leadership: Develop a Whole-of-Government strategy for sustainable finance

Financing the transformation

Resiliency: Improve prudential regulation over environmental risks

Standards and pathways: Develop standards and pathways that encourage investments which deliver positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.

Who was involved

Co-Chairs

Leadership Group

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Finance

Sustainable Finance Roadmap

In 2019, The Aotearoa Circle launched a bold initiative to transform Aotearoa New Zealand’s financial system-ensuring it better serves people, nature, and the economy.

Sustainable Finance Roadmap for Action

Who was involved

Co-Chairs

Leadership Group

Related work

Become a Partner

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