First, banks’ financial statements appear to be ignoring climate risks, which means financial institutions are probably also leaving those dangers out of their capital calculations. Second, a regulatory regime that understates the expected consequences of climate change is allowing the banks’ blind spot to persist. The few banks that refer to climate risks in their accounts tend to conclude that it is not material. Second, banks need to take a prudent view of climate risks in their financial statements. The sooner the banking sector internalises climate risks in its accounting, the better the chance of building a sustainable future.

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Persons: Wells Fargo’s, Banks, Natasha Landell, Mills, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, HSBC, HK, “ Management, prudential, The, Greening, Central, Institute, Faculty of Actuaries, University of Exeter, Institutional, Sarasin, Partners, Thomson