KORNYESZ 25-ben emlitett felmerest reszletekben kozlom. Barkinek
szivesen elkuldjuk a teljes valtozatot e_mail-kent avagy ha nagyon
szukseges hard-copy (korlatozott szamban) szinten elerheto: e_mail
to Mr. Terry Collins at  or to me 
snail mail address: UNEP/Regional Office for North America,
Two UN Plaza, Room DC2-806, New York, NY 10017 USA
* * *
Part 2 of 6
UNEP GLOBAL SURVEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY
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UNEP GLOBAL SURVEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY
I. Overview of the Study
Prior to the mid-1980's the financial services industry was
deemed to have a nominal impact on the environmental quality of
the world, on the sound use of natural resources, or on the
recently popularized concept of "sustainable development." Over
the last several years, however, industry watchers and
participants around the world have come to realize that the
financial service industry~s actions do, in fact, play a major
role in shaping the nature of a very broad range of environmental
and economic issues.
This research, conducted by the Environment and Finance Research
Enterprise, sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme
with additional financial support from Salomon Inc., serves as a
barometer of how the industry is currently looking at these key
environmental issues. The study succeeded in identifying a
number of key trends regarding the industry's commitment to
environmental programs over the next fifteen years. Due to its
international scope and the breadth of issues covered, the survey
contributes materially to understanding the importance of
environmental issues within the financial services industry. The
research and its findings will assist the United Nations
Environment Programme, other multilateral agencies, business
associations, national ministries and individual firms in
adopting a more proactive and global approach to supporting
environmental initiatives within the financial services industry.
What role does the financial services industry play in the area
of environmental stewardship or sustainable development and why
is it important? The answer is tied directly to the nature of
the industry's purpose ~ providing capital in all its various
forms to individuals, companies and governments for economic
development.
The extent to which financial institutions (i) perform
environmental reviews when making an investment or loan decision
or (ii) redefine the liability issue to consider not only risks,
but opportunities as well, will greatly impact the global
environment. This is true because these actions are significant
in determining what technologies and development activities are
supported, and conversely which remain unfunded.
II. Research Approach
1. Criteria for identifying and selecting an institution - The
research was designed to include institutions from all major
financial markets. Criteria were developed to identify firms to
be included in the survey. The target population was to be
composed largely of firms with home offices in countries with
developed financial markets. The United Nations Environment
Programme requested that the research team focus primarily on
commercial banks, and secondarily on investment banks, and also
that at least 20% of the initial target population be from non-
industrial economies.
2. Secondary research on industry - The population was selected
based on information obtained from the major banking source books
available in English (Moody's, Standard & Poor~s, Polk~s,
Thomson~s, etc.), as well as a review of several trade
publications and member lists of a number of major associations.
The process resulted in identifying close to 600 institutions
worldwide.
3. Phone qualification - Each selected institution (288) was
called at least twice. Where possible, the environmental
affairs/management department was contacted.
4. Mailing of Surveys - The survey was mailed to each
identified individual that agreed to participate (172).
5. Follow-up contact - If no written response was received within
5 weeks, a follow-up call was made. If the institution no longer
wished to participate, a reason for declining was requested.
A copy of the survey is included as Appendix A.
III. Respondents
A. Targeted institutions
288 Institutions identified as potential respondents
210 Institutions reached by phone
172 Institutions qualified on phone
172 Surveys mailed/faxed
131 Institutions responded (41 formally declined for
a wide range of reasons
ranging from not applicable to confidentially or
liability concerns)
90 Completed surveys received*
* Two of the 90 responses were received after the deadline of
October 15, 1994 and are only included in the data for Section
III.
B. Responses segmented by geography and development stage of
financial markets***
B. Responses segmented by geography and development stage of
financial markets***
The selection criteria limited the number of institutions
from any one continent to 40%. However, the selection criteria is
not maintained in the respondent population due to self-
selection by the potential respondents.*
42 Europe 75 Industrial
27 North America 14 Transitional
18 Asia/Pacific 1 Developing
3 Middle East Africa
0 South America
The complete lack of response from South America was the only
major disappointment of the study. A dozen surveys were mailed
to pre-qualified institutions who had expressed an interest and
or support for the study and its objectives. Follow-up phone
calls were either returned with further assurances of completion
or not returned. Given the nature of the study no reason for the
lack of response can be offered.
The number of responses from firms in transitional economies is
extremely encouraging since on a percentage basis they
participated at a level equal to firms in industrial economies.
Although we received only one response from a firm in a
developing economy, it most be noted that institutions from
developing economies (i) represented only 3% of the initial
sample of 288 institutions and (ii) accounted for only three of
the 172 pre-qualified institutions that received the survey.
A list of respondents is presented as Appendix C.
Gabor Szilagyi  >
United Nations Environment Programme
Regional Office for North America
TEL (212)963-7781
FAX (212)963-8193
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