Washington Life Magazine
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ABN AMRO banks award from World Environment Center
PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON

In early summer, the World Environment Center presented its 22nd Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development to ABN AMRO Bank during a reception at the Dutch Ambassador Boudewijn van Eenennaam's residence and a gala at the National Building Museum. The recipient, Mr. Rijkman Groenink, chair of ABN AMRO bank, was interviewed for Washington Life by Elizabeth Lowery, WEC chair and vice president of energy & water at General Motors.

ELIZABETH LOWERY: ABN AMRO was awarded the WEC Gold Medal for its groundbreaking work on the Equator Principles (which are a set of financial guidelines for project financing). Have the Equator Principles helped further ABN AMRO's sustainable development goals?
RIJKMAN GROENIN:
In 2002, when discussion first began about uniform environmental and social standards for project finance lending in the banking sector, our expectations were relatively modest. We wanted to improve cooperation on these issues and promote better risk management. Today, sustainability is a defining feature for ABN AMRO. Our objective is to create and maximize sustainable value for our clients, shareholders and other stakeholders, and to use sustainability as a measure of responsible financial services.

EL. How do you see the future of the international banking community's involvement in sustainable development?
RG:
We believe that collaboration and dialogue are the best ways to create sustainable change within and beyond our industry. We are proud to be affiliated with 40 other financial institutions that have adopted the Equator Principles. This award is recognition for them and for the process that we are all going through in integrating environmental and social issues into our lending practices. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the three banks we worked closely with in formulating the Equator Principles: Barclays, Citigroup and WestLB; and to recognize the valuable assistance from the International Finance Corporation.

EL: How does ABN AMRO view receiving this award?
RG:
While we are sincerely grateful for this award, we know that there remain many challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability as a core business value. It will inspire us to continue working for better outcomes for our clients and society in a changing world

 

Mike Kelly, Deborah Sigmund and Les Brownlee
Hafi za Shahyrar and Shahin Mafi

John Mizroch
ABN AMRO Chair Rijkman Groenink, Beth Lowery, Sandra Taylor and Tim Wirth

Rakela Ruperez
Netherlands Amb. Boudewijn van Eenennaam, Yvonne and Tom de Swaan and Jellie van Eenennaam

 



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