Sustainable Finance

The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

Sustainable Finance

Together, we build a sustainable future.

Sustainable finance is all about putting money to work for a better world. If money makes the world go round, sustainable finance makes sure it spins in the right direction by redirecting funds towards sustainable activities, such as renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, green innovation, and initiatives that support social equity and responsible business practices.

A sustainable economy provides a good quality of life for people, stays within the planetary boundaries and helps keep global warming well below the 1.5°C threshold. Sustainable finance is key to achieving that in a timely way.

Transforming our economy requires bold leadership and a strong commitment to action. We cannot improve – or even maintain – our well-being on a business-as-usual path. At the same time, this transformation offers enormous opportunities to create a better future for everyone.

“The EU can lead the world’s transformation to sustainable and inclusive economies but only with an integrated strategy on climate and sustainability issues, and a substantial mobilisation of public and private finance."

Sébastien Godinot
Senior Economist

What WWF is doing

Finance is the backbone of our economy, and it must champion and reward efforts that protect our planet and uplift the communities that depend on it.

Achieving this requires both mobilising financial support for sustainable economic activities, and ending support for harmful ones. WWF remains committed to advocating for a sustainable transition through mobilising finance towards reaching the EU’s climate targets.

Our priorities:

Public finance: WWF is working with European public financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank to ensure that they lead by example and align their policies with the EU’s 2030 and 2050 sustainability objectives.
Defining transition finance: Ensure clarity on which activities, assets and financial products are sustainable or on the path to becoming sustainable, and which cannot be and should be phased out. This involves work on corporate transition plans and related EU laws, the EU Taxonomy, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
Setting strong standards for due diligence and engagement by financial institutions: Advocate for a robust design and implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and strengthening shareholders’ rights to promote more long-term corporate behaviour in the Shareholder Rights Directive.
Removing obstacles for consumers to invest sustainably: Push for a more ambitious legislative framework to provide people with access to adequate information, advice, products, incentives and opportunities via the EU Retail Investment Strategy, Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and other related policies.
Retail lending: Advocate for a sustainable retail lending framework with clear definitions for green financial products, including loans and mortgages - notably by reviewing the Mortgage Credit Directive. Ensure the affordability and accessibility of these products for households, and encourage the development of tools that enhance both private and public finance for energy-efficient building renovations in the EU.
Accounting for climate and sustainability risks in banking & insurance: Ensure that the banking and insurance sectors assess, disclose and mitigate their climate and sustainability-related financial risks. WWF engages with the financial European Supervisory Authorities and the European Central Bank to achieve this. WWF also supports adapting prudential rules, including capital requirements.
Ensuring meaningful corporate reporting on sustainability issues: WWF continues to work on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and its European Sustainability Reporting Standards, aiming for an EU regulatory framework that ensures companies and financial institutions properly report their sustainable impacts, risks and opportunities, including at sector-specific level and asset-specific level where relevant.

Contacts

Sebastien Godinot
Economist
+32 489 46 13 14

Thibault Girardot
Sustainable Finance Policy Officer

Dominyka Nachajute
Sustainable Finance Policy Officer

Mariana Gonçalves Felgar Ferreira
Sustainable Finance Policy Officer

Vedran Kordic
EU Taxonomy Coordinator

Carl Richter
EU Budget & Public Finance Policy Officer

Myrto Delkou
Communications Officer, Sustainable Finance

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Latest report

In everyone's interest: How the ECB can support the energy transition with green interest rates

Green refinancing operations could help shield Europe from fossil fuel price shocks and stabilise inflation, finds a new WWF study. By offering preferential rates to commercial banks for financing Taxonomy-aligned projects such as renewable power, upgraded energy grids, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transport, the European Central Bank (ECB) can strengthen price stability and accelerate the energy transition.

The report urges swift coordination between the ECB, the European Commission and the European Banking Authority to overcome remaining barriers and unlock the full potential of green refinancing operations, an essential step to secure Europe’s price stability and climate objectives.

Learn more

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In everyone's Interest December 2025

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Call for a review of the Mortgage Credit Directive

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From greenwashing to clarity: Excluding fossil fuels in SFDR categories

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Don't sideline sustainability: Balancing the simplification omnibus with the EU Taxonomy

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