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An equitable, inclusive financial system that enables a resilient, sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand.
Advance a financial system that is more resilient, inclusive, robust and agile through the incorporation of environmental, social and economic considerations in financial decisions.
Connect finance experts and practitioners to remove barriers to sustainable finance.
Collaborate with government and financial market participants to develop sustainable finance policy and standards.
Catalyse cross-sector projects.
Track progress toward the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 Roadmap For Action.
Our History
In July 2021, The Aotearoa Circle’s Sustainable Finance Forum launched the Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua. The new entity, with an independent governing body, is tasked with coordinating the implementation of the 2030 Roadmap for Action.
Systemic in nature, the Roadmap outlines the steps we all need to make collectively to transform our financial system. A key driver for the Roadmap is the need for Aotearoa New Zealand to retain its international economic proposition in the face of rapidly changing investor, customer and consumer expectations, and actions, on climate change.Â
In 2022 the Centre coordinated the contributions of more than 80 market participants and sustainable finance practitioners, who helped to prioritise immediate actions across four key Roadmap recommendations in the areas of capability, governance, inclusion, standards and pathways.
2023 marked an important strategic shift from implementation groups to a consolidated workplan, targeted, system-level interventions, and a strong focus on Government engagement.
Working alongside the New Zealand government, was a strategic focus to building a robust sustainable finance market, supported by the vision, plans and tools that enable an equitable, nature-positive transition and prosperity for Aotearoa New Zealand in the critical decades ahead.
In 2024 CSF was appointed delivery partner to the New Zealand Government to support the acceleration of innovating financing solutions in key transition sectors.
Our 2024 priorities are grounded in the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 Roadmap for Action and build on the focused programme of work the Centre established in 2023. They aim to support continued access to international green capital flows, enable financial institutions to better support small and medium enterprises with transition finance and unlock pools of institutional capital that drive long term value in the real economy.
The Centre was established to accelerate progress towards an equitable, inclusive, sustainable financial system. Our work is anchored in the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 Roadmap for Action, which calls for financing transformation, transforming finance and changing mindsets.
Implementing these recommendation strategically positions Aotearoa New Zealand both domestically and internationally, where international markets are rapidly embracing similar recommendations. This Roadmap for Action will enable Aotearoa New Zealand to maintain our global reputation and market presence.
The Roadmap was developed over a two-year timeframe in consultation with 200+ market participants. The Sustainable Finance Forum was convened by The Aotearoa Circle. Secretariat was provided by Pip Best, Climate Change & Sustainability Partner, EY.
Sustained change in this arena requires consistent financing. To achieve this, we work towards developing resilient funding pathways. This involves improved prudential regulation over environmental risks and developed standards and pathways that encourage investments which deliver positive environmental, social and economic outcomes.
This priority is central to our work at the Centre for Sustainable Finance. In the 2030 Roadmap for Action, there is a call for improved data, disclosure, coordination, and value alignment. CSF exists as a coordinating body overseeing and implementing the needs identified by the 2030 Roadmap. Given this need, we strive to improve the data availability and identify, as well as facilitate, integrated pathways to an inclusive financial system that facilitate a whole-system strategy for sustainable finance.
As we see it, this requires Responsibility, Capability, and Governance. Changing Mindsets requires financial system actors to consider, manage and account for environmental and social risks and opportunities and real-world impacts. Necessary for this is increased education and training in sustainable finance to increase the capability of involved parties. To support this an improvement is needed in public and private sector governance for sustainability.
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Read more about the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Grounded in the Sustainable Finance Form’s 2030 Roadmap for Action
Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners.
We are experts in sustainability and finance.
Our key priorities for 2024.
Learn more about ongoing projects.
ESG metrics for SMEs.Â
Classifying economic activities according to their environmental performance.
Enabling sustainability goals through strategic investment.
View publications, and announcements made by CSF.
Expert submissions on critical topics.
Comprehensive annual reports from the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Comprehensive annual reports from the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Comprehensive annual reports from the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
View our online webinars and in-person events.