Agribusiness Banking specialist Rabobank New Zealand today released its latest Sustainability Report covering the bank’s end-to-end ambition for sustainability and highlighting its progress in the 2023 calendar year.
The report follows the publication of its Climate Statements on 30 April which focus on climate risk and opportunities in Rabobank’s New Zealand business.
“As with our first Sustainability Report last year, this report provides a comprehensive view of our support and contribution to the rural sector and it’s transition toward a more sustainable future,” Rabobank NZ CEO Todd Charteris said.
“The report focuses on Rabobank New Zealand’s local environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and initiatives, and how these are contributing to our global commitments.”
The report says climate change creates both risks and opportunities for Rabobank and its clients and that the food and agriculture sector needs to recognise the potential for both.
Rabobank CEO, Todd Charteris.
‘’The transition pathway for New Zealand food and agriculture will ultimately be driven by market access considerations, given New Zealand agriculture’s dependence on regional and global trade,” Mr Charteris said.
‘’Transitioning to lower emissions intensity farming systems can support market access and can lead to improved efficiencies, reduced input costs and better profitability. Where appropriate, it can also support the growth ambitions of our clients within the context of increasingly stringent regulatory standards.
“The transition is also essential to us collectively managing the risks that we all share.”
Rabobank says that, with its own operational improvements only moving the emissions reduction needle so far, its sustainability efforts are largely focused on supporting its clients to reduce their emissions.
“It is in all of our interests to do our bit to minimise the impacts of climate change. For us that means supporting New Zealand’s farmers and growers to balance the priorities of providing food security to a growing world with reducing the impact agriculture has on the environment,” Mr Charteris said.
‘’Within our Climate Statements, we have assessed the relative risks and opportunities for Rabobank across a number of climate scenarios. It was a hugely valuable exercise that is increasingly informing the decisions we make as a bank. Many of our food and agri clients are also looking at climate scenarios for their own businesses, and we strongly encourage our clients who haven’t as yet done this, to go through the same exercise.”
The Sustainability Report outlines several initiatives undertaken by the bank to help transition its business, as well as those of its clients, to more sustainable business practices. Key initiatives highlighted include:
- The bank’s renewed accreditation with environmental and economic sustainability organisation Toitū
- Rabobank’s status as a signatory of the Global Net-Zero Banking Alliance
- Its shareholding in the AgriZeroNZ private-public joint venture
- And its regular workshops for clients on topics such as carbon, greenhouse gases and freshwater management.
Mr Charteris said the report also outlines Rabobank New Zealand’s 10-point Sustainability Plan, which localises actions from Rabobank Group’s global Sustainability Plan and provides a strategic focus on both mitigation and adaptation.
“The plan creates a roadmap of commitments for us to achieve by the end of 2025. We understand that we still have some way to go to achieve our mission and ambitions, but we are committed to achieving them and helping to Grow a better New Zealand together,” he said.
The Sustainability Report can now be accessed on the bank’s website here and the Climate Statements here.
Rabobank New Zealand is a part of the global Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 120 years’ experience providing customized banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 38 countries, servicing the needs of about 8.6 million clients worldwide through a network of close to 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank New Zealand is one of the country's leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the New Zealand food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 27 offices throughout New Zealand.
Media contacts:
David Johnston
Marketing & Media Relations Manager
Rabobank New Zealand
Phone: 04 819 2711 or 027 477 8153
Email: david.johnston@rabobank.com
Denise Shaw
Head of Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: +612 8115 2744 or +61 2 439 603 525
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com