The aim of climabiz was to trigger the timely adaptation of the market to the risks and opportunities of climate change.
The award was received on behalf of the Bank by Mr. Vrasidas Zavras, General Manager of Piraeus Bank, Head of Green Banking Sector, at a special event held on Wednesday, 4 June in Brussels, during the Green Week, which this year was on “Circular economy-saving resources, creating jobs.”
On the occasion of receiving the award Mr. Vrasidas Zavras stated: “Piraeus Bank’s pivotal strategy is to support and finance companies, institutions, organizations and projects which offer added value and which benefit people and the environment by supporting deposit accounts holders and investors wishing to promote individual and corporate social responsibility in a sustainable society.”
It is worthwhile to mention the leading role Piraeus Bank has, as a financial institution, in tackling climate change, both by measuring economic risks and by identifying business opportunities deriving from global warming.
Mr. Vrasidas Zavras is also reporting that in the context of its overall Environmental Policy, the Bank has committed to applying strategies that reduce its environmental impacts from both its operation and business activities.
The first LIFE-Environment project GREENbanking4Life (2006-2009) carried out by Piraeus Bank, actually set the foundations of its “green” policy. In fact, Piraeus Bank is the only bank in Greece and Europe that has taken advantage of the LIFE funding instrument and has completed two projects approved by the EU.
In October 2013, the Bank embarked upon a third project LIFE-Stymfalia, which is co-funded through “LIFE+Nature and Biodiversity”. The restoration of Lake Stymphalia at Peloponnese Region, Greece, and its long-term conservation, through a systematic re-financing process, is the aim of the project. Through LIFE-Stymfalia it is expected to combine business and biodiversity and to provide practical solutions to funding Natura 2000 sites in the European Union.
Up to date, Piraeus Bank financed green projects with 1.58 billion euros, supporting a total of 3 billion euros investments in the field of circular economy. Over 7,000 SMEs have been supported so far in their green choices. It is also important to mention that over 17,700 green -Full Time Equivalent- jobs have been supported by Piraeus Bank green financing.
Piraeus Bank, having a firm strategy, acknowledges that dealing with contemporary environmental challenges, paves a path for new business opportunities through investments in clean technologies, energy saving, and in other sectors that invigorate the economy, create new jobs and improve life quality.