Climate and nature strategy

Human activity is rapidly pushing the biosphere towards tipping points that will accelerate both the climate and biodiversity crises. Our planet’s climate is changing at an alarming rate, with the effects—wildfires, extreme heat, and devastating floods—impacting communities, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. The evidence is clear: our collective actions fall short, with the current trajectory steering us up to 2.8°C rise in temperature, far above the critical 1.5°C target established in the Paris Agreement. Against this backdrop, Triodos Bank stands resolute in its commitment to impactful change, to counter this trajectory and accelerate the urgent transition to a just, fossil-free, and nature-positive economy.

Under the strategy Dare to Act. Now., Triodos Bank unites its climate and biodiversity ambitions in a single strategy for the first time, committing to short term action until 2030: 

 Cut absolute financed emissions by at least 42% by 2030 
Finance 275 energy-transition projects between 2025 and 2030, focusing on decentralised, next-generation and community-led solutions. 
Channel €500 million into high-integrity Nature-based Solutions, with positive biodiversity impact reporting starting in 2026. 
Advocate for systems change on climate and nature, for example an international agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, mandatory rules that align financial flows with 1.5°C and enabling conditions for Nature-based Solutions.

1Reduce real emissions

Reduce real emissions

To tackle the climate crisis, we must cut real-world emissions now. By working closely with our clients and investees, we help them decarbonise their businesses and inspire broader industry change. Although our own operational footprint is small, we reduce it at the same pace to lead by example.

Our aim is to hit the target without missing the point: reducing emissions within planetary boundaries while ensuring social inclusion. All our loans and investments are designed to improve social and environmental value. We do not finance fossil fuels or complex financial instruments. Instead, we connect people who want their money to make a positive difference with entrepreneurs building a sustainable future.

In 2024, we raised our ambition: by 2030 we aim to reduce our financed emissions by at least 42% (compared to 2020), focusing on the activities that account for 90% of our footprint:

Listed equities and bonds: through engagement, stewardship and portfolio shifts, we target a 63% emissions reduction by 2030.
Business lending: with engagement and incentives for reducing emissions, targeting 42% reduction by 2030.
Mortgages: energy-performance incentives and biobased construction support a 45% intensity reduction by 2030.

2Lead the change in financing the energy transition

Lead the change in financing the energy transition

Triodos Bank has played an active role in the energy transition for a long time; from financing the first wind turbine in the Netherlands in 1986, to being ranked first globally for the financing of renewable energy projects by total number of deals. We finance traditional renewables such as onshore wind, solar and hydro, alongside electric vehicle charging, battery storage and energy efficiency projects. Triodos Bank takes a proactive stance in seeking out energy solutions in technologies, creating new jobs on the way and paving the path to a fully sustainable renewable energy sector.  As a testament to this we have been recognised for many years, as the leading arranger of clean energy project finance worldwide.

Triodos Bank has set a target to finance 275 energy transition projects between 2025 and 2030. Building on our strong track record in renewable energy finance, we focus on next-generation solutions that remove bottlenecks, decentralise power and ensure the transition is fair, inclusive, and resilient. A deal-count target ensures finance not only flows to big utilities but also to cooperatives, innovators and smaller community led-solutions who often struggle to access mainstream capital.

3Fund Nature-based Solutions

Fund Nature-based Solutions

We have committed to financing €500 million in Nature-based Solutions by the end of 2030 (with a base year of 2020). We plan to increase our investments in sustainable forestry, and nature restoration projects and regenerative organic agriculture, supporting biodiversity and local communities and store carbon from the atmosphere

In the UK we have already helped catalyse the creation and investment of new business models to support the restoration and conservation of nature. Whether it is peatland, wetlands, grasslands, or forests, there is a lot of potential to support the health of ecosystems in our living environment that each project can deliver whilst sequestering atmospheric emissions.

We are working on setting up a dedicated blended finance fund to finance sustainable forestry, nature conservation & restoration and smallholder agroforestry in Africa and Latin America.

4Advocate for systems change 

Advocate for systems change 

The climate and biodiversity crises cannot be solved without strong government action and coordinated system change. Today, regulation is incomplete, full of loopholes and often poorly enforced, while powerful lobbies weaken ambition. We believe financial institutions must not only align with climate and nature goals, but actively advocate for rules that redirect financial flows toward a sustainable future.

Our advocacy work focuses on three priorities:

We advance international agreements to phase out fossil fuels and other harmful industries. We actively support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and work through campaigns, coalitions to mobilise public and governmental action on fossil fuel phase-out.
We advocate for the enabling conditions needed to scale high-quality Nature-based Solutions. This includes shaping nature-market rules, supporting subsidy reform, influencing EU and national policy, and building partnerships, for example with Collectief Natuurinclusief and Finance for Biodiversity, to ensure NbS deliver real benefits for climate, nature and communities.
We push for effective, science-based regulation that embeds climate, nature and social justice into the financial system. For example, mandatory fossil-phase-out pathways for all banks, mandatory emissions reduction targets that are Paris-aligned with a transparent action plan, separate emissions reduction targets and carbon removal targets and robust integrity standards for Nature-based Solutions.

Climate and nature strategy

Accelerating the energy transition, investing in nature, reducing real emissions and advocating for systemic change

Reduce real emissions

Lead the change in financing the energy transition

Fund Nature-based Solutions

Advocate for systems change

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