On 9 March 2022, BPER Banca joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, the United Nations-sponsored industry alliance that mobilises banks around the world in a commitment to align their portfolios with the goal of zero emissions by 2050, thus reinforcing the goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement.
In October 2025 the Alliance ceased its mandate, becoming a technical guidance framework (i.e., “climate guidance”) without active governance, membership mechanisms, or commitment monitoring systems.
The methodological documentation developed by the Alliance during its mandate, including the criteria for defining climate alignment targets, remains available as a voluntary reference and best practice for the sector.
In keeping with the Alliance's original principles and ambitions, BPER Banca has confirmed its commitment by setting targets for 2030.
With the acquisition of the Banca Popolare di Sondrio Group, the Bank has expanded the scope of reference for defining its objectives. For this reason, the baseline values have been recalculated using data updated to December 31, 2025.
The updated targets are listed below:
August 2023
- Power Generation*: 36% reduction in the emission intensity of the counterparties in the portfolio by 2030.
- Oil & Gas: 24% reduction in emission intensity of the portfolio exposure level in the sector by 2030.
* Performance as of December 31, 2025, is significantly lower (-68%) than the scenario; the reduction is primarily attributable to the decline in turnover recorded by companies due to the post-2022 crisis price reduction and lower national electricity demand. Therefore, the energy intensity value, i.e., kWh per € of turnover, used as the metric for the sector, decreases from 1.77 in 2022 to 3.56 in 2023, resulting in a marked reduction in the calculated physical intensity.
December 2024
- Iron and steel: 29% reduction in emission intensity of the portfolio exposure level in the sector by 2030.
- Aluminum: 21% reduction in emission intensity of the portfolio exposure level in the sector by 2030.
- Commercial Real Estate: 51% reduction in emission intensity at the financed property level by 2030.
- Agriculture: 63% reduction in emission intensity of the portfolio exposure level in the sector by 2030.
Based on ad hoc technical-scientific scenarios and specific analyses of portfolio emissions, the definition of the targets underlines the Bank's commitment to promoting sustainable solutions.
For the remaining sectors identified by the Alliance and not subject to pubblication, the following reasons are specified:
- Cement: due to its limited relevance in terms of exposure.
- Transport: due to its limited relevance in terms of exposure, as well as the reduced applicability of target-setting methodologies to the counterparties actually present in the Group's portfolio.
|
Sector (Considered scope)
|
Metrics
|
Baseline
|
2030 target
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Power generation (1)
|
kgCO₂e/kWh
|
0,256 (2022)
|
0,165 (-36%)
|
|
Oil & Gas (1, 2, 3)
|
tCO₂e
|
464.315 (2022)
|
328.382 (-29%)
|
|
Aluminum (1, 2)
|
tCO₂e/€mln
|
460 (2023)
|
350 (-24%)
|
|
Iron & Steel (1, 2)
|
tCO₂e/€mln
|
275 (2023)
|
201 (-27%)
|
|
Commercial Real Estate* (-)
|
kgCO₂e/m²
|
36,8 (2023)
|
19 (-47%)
|
|
Residential Real Estate** (-)
|
kgCO₂e/m²
|
29,1 (2023)
|
-
|
|
Agricolture (1, 2)
|
tCO₂e/€mln
|
66,3 (2024)
|
24,5 (-63%)
|
*BPER recognizes its role in supporting corporate clients through financing sustainable properties and improving the energy efficiency of existing stock; however, the decarbonisation of the sector also depends on the actions of all parties involved, including the implementation of public policies to support the energy transition.
**The Group has decided, for the time being, to continue monitoring its portfolio but not to disclose a target that would not be achievable without effective public policies.
For the remaining sectors identified by the Alliance and not subject to pubblication, the following reasons are specified:
- Cement: due to its limited relevance in terms of exposure.
- Transport: due to its limited relevance in terms of exposure, as well as the reduced applicability of target-setting methodologies to the counterparties actually present in the Group's portfolio.
“BPER Banca Decarbonisation Plan for High-Emitting Sectors”
In line with its commitment to decarbonization targets and in keeping with the original principles and ambitions of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, the Bank has published its “BPER Banca Decarbonization Plan for High-Emissions Sectors”, which aims to inform key stakeholders about the decarbonisation journey and the challenges faced in supporting customers in the ecological transition. The Plan will be updated by the end of 2026, following the entry into the scope of the Banca Popolare di Sondrio Group.
For further information, please refer to the UNEP FI website.