Green Banking
The scientific name of environmental study is Ecology. More specifically
if we define Environmental study or Ecology it means "the scientific study
of relation of plants and living organisms to each other and their
surroundings." We know this planet "Earth" is the only green
planet created by Allah Subhanu Taala. Now, this planet is in danger due to
over exploitation and greediness of the humanity. All other fauna and flora are
also in danger and already many species have disappeared from this planet due
to rapid change of ecosystem.
The term Green Banking is now popular worldwide now-a-days. It is for stopping the environmental degradation and making this planet habitable. The concept of Green Banking developed in the western countries, which has been replicated by many developing countries. It means the eco-friendly or environment-friendly banking and it also refers to ethical banking or sustainable banking. We all know that the peoples of the whole world are concerned about the environmental degradation, especially the rising of global temperature and thereby melting of glaciers and ice-berg in the polar region and consequently rising of sea level, which will directly affect the low lying countries of the world. The world conscious people are also concerned about the increase of Green House Gases and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and thereby depletion of Ozone layer. As such, every person and especially the professionals must have greater role to check the environmental degradation.
Bankers are the important professional group who has interaction with the other groups of people and also with general masses. They can adopt different green activities within their in-house environment and also can initiate the protection of the air pollution, water pollution by their clients. Bankers can finance the green projects, which are environmental friendly and discourage the projects that damage the environment.
Environmental protection is not in a priority list of banks inBangladesh
Strategic plans of banks to protect the Environment: Banks must adopt a strategic plan to perform green activities on long term basis as well as short term basis. Government of Bangladesh (GOB) should also outline a broad guideline of green banking for environmental protection, conservation of biodiversity. Bangladesh Bank, the central bank, has a greater role in shaping up a concrete guideline for green banking practices inBangladesh
It will be obligatory for each person to show respect to the environmental issues. Otherwise, the environments where the concerned person lives will be inhabitable and as whole the country and the globe will no longer be safe place. We have to use resources carefully and keep in the mind that the reserve of the resources is not unlimited and its excessive use may endanger the future generation. We have to think that each of our activity has a specific impact on the environment. As a best creation of Almighty, we have greater role to conserve the environment, maintain biodiversity, not to endanger other fauna and flora and above all a green, healthy planet for safe and sound living of our future generations. Since banking industry is a vital institution in the economic and business activity round the world, bankers can not remain indifferent to this burning issue. A banker or a banking industry may address many issues to save environmental degradation and conserve the ecological balance.
Practice of in-house Green Banking: 1) Waste Management: A green banker must be cautious about wastage and waste management. We should try to control the wastage of resources like water, gas, electricity, paper, foods etc. For example, if we draft our letters on a computer rather than in paper, it will save millions of paper as well as thousands of trees that provide raw materials for paper production. Similarly, if we select a location of the branch of a bank with sufficient access to light and air, it will save huge electricity and create a healthy environment. Wastages must be grouped like organic and inorganic wastage. Organic materials like food, vegetables, animals etc. can be recycled for manure, gas and electricity etc. The inorganic material like paper, bottles, pots etc. can be recycled. Wet and degradable materials can be processed directly keeping under the soil. The recycling materials should be disposed off at the respective disposal site and the rotten items should be buried under the soil and as such, pollution can be protected.
II) Clean and hygienic environment: A green banker will not throw any waste, bottles or packing materials here and there. Each group of waste should be kept in a separate place, which does not pollute the environment and all the wastes must be disposed off separately. A green banker will not spit or cough on the floor, walls or on the road.
III) On line statements, emailing documents: We must send account statements and balance confirmation etc. to the clients through online and through email, which will save paper, time, cost and above all the environment. We may use these technologies for our clients as well as inter bank correspondence.
IV) Sound Pollution: We should keep our voice low when we converse and also convince our clients maintain this for the sake of healthy working environment in the branches.
V) Installation of solar panel in the rural branches and using high mileage vehicles or using shared vehicles instead of personal vehicle: Since Bangladesh is an energy deficit country we can install solar panels in all Branches as an alternative energy source. We can also use the vehicles which consume less fuel which will save huge fuel import of the country. We can also use big vehicles to carry the employees of the Banks instead of personal vehicle to reduce fuel as well traffic jam in the roads.
Green Banking Practices by the Bankers in their business area: I) Financing only the green projects: Bankers must be aware of the environmental issues and they must go for financing the projects that do not pollute the environment. The industries that are financed by the banks must have effluent treatment plant (ETP), recycling facilities and smoke and gas arresting unit. The industries must not release any kind of effluents, chemicals or smoke to the environment. Banks must not finance any dirty project that pollutes the environment.
II) Voluntary activities of Banks: Banks should take initiative to make their clients aware by organizing seminar and symposium. They can organise awareness campaign in schools and colleges. They can participate in the tree plantation and cleanliness programmes in city areas.
III) Working on specific green project: Our country has lot of problems of proper waste management, drainage and sanitation, and affected by river pollution, water pollution by pesticides etc. Every bank can undertake a specific green project for removal of existing polluting substances from the ecosystem.
Environmental conservation and protection of ecological balance should be maintained through combined efforts of multi stakeholders. The main stakeholders are businessmen, consumers and professionals, NGOs and government organisations. Since, banking industry deals with public money, they can not remain indifferent and must be more sensible to the maintenance of ecological balance. They must have effective role for the betterment of the environment and green banking practices.
The writer is a marine biologist, ecologist & AVP, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. He can be reached at
The term Green Banking is now popular worldwide now-a-days. It is for stopping the environmental degradation and making this planet habitable. The concept of Green Banking developed in the western countries, which has been replicated by many developing countries. It means the eco-friendly or environment-friendly banking and it also refers to ethical banking or sustainable banking. We all know that the peoples of the whole world are concerned about the environmental degradation, especially the rising of global temperature and thereby melting of glaciers and ice-berg in the polar region and consequently rising of sea level, which will directly affect the low lying countries of the world. The world conscious people are also concerned about the increase of Green House Gases and Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and thereby depletion of Ozone layer. As such, every person and especially the professionals must have greater role to check the environmental degradation.
Bankers are the important professional group who has interaction with the other groups of people and also with general masses. They can adopt different green activities within their in-house environment and also can initiate the protection of the air pollution, water pollution by their clients. Bankers can finance the green projects, which are environmental friendly and discourage the projects that damage the environment.
Environmental protection is not in a priority list of banks in
Strategic plans of banks to protect the Environment: Banks must adopt a strategic plan to perform green activities on long term basis as well as short term basis. Government of Bangladesh (GOB) should also outline a broad guideline of green banking for environmental protection, conservation of biodiversity. Bangladesh Bank, the central bank, has a greater role in shaping up a concrete guideline for green banking practices in
It will be obligatory for each person to show respect to the environmental issues. Otherwise, the environments where the concerned person lives will be inhabitable and as whole the country and the globe will no longer be safe place. We have to use resources carefully and keep in the mind that the reserve of the resources is not unlimited and its excessive use may endanger the future generation. We have to think that each of our activity has a specific impact on the environment. As a best creation of Almighty, we have greater role to conserve the environment, maintain biodiversity, not to endanger other fauna and flora and above all a green, healthy planet for safe and sound living of our future generations. Since banking industry is a vital institution in the economic and business activity round the world, bankers can not remain indifferent to this burning issue. A banker or a banking industry may address many issues to save environmental degradation and conserve the ecological balance.
Practice of in-house Green Banking: 1) Waste Management: A green banker must be cautious about wastage and waste management. We should try to control the wastage of resources like water, gas, electricity, paper, foods etc. For example, if we draft our letters on a computer rather than in paper, it will save millions of paper as well as thousands of trees that provide raw materials for paper production. Similarly, if we select a location of the branch of a bank with sufficient access to light and air, it will save huge electricity and create a healthy environment. Wastages must be grouped like organic and inorganic wastage. Organic materials like food, vegetables, animals etc. can be recycled for manure, gas and electricity etc. The inorganic material like paper, bottles, pots etc. can be recycled. Wet and degradable materials can be processed directly keeping under the soil. The recycling materials should be disposed off at the respective disposal site and the rotten items should be buried under the soil and as such, pollution can be protected.
II) Clean and hygienic environment: A green banker will not throw any waste, bottles or packing materials here and there. Each group of waste should be kept in a separate place, which does not pollute the environment and all the wastes must be disposed off separately. A green banker will not spit or cough on the floor, walls or on the road.
III) On line statements, emailing documents: We must send account statements and balance confirmation etc. to the clients through online and through email, which will save paper, time, cost and above all the environment. We may use these technologies for our clients as well as inter bank correspondence.
IV) Sound Pollution: We should keep our voice low when we converse and also convince our clients maintain this for the sake of healthy working environment in the branches.
V) Installation of solar panel in the rural branches and using high mileage vehicles or using shared vehicles instead of personal vehicle: Since Bangladesh is an energy deficit country we can install solar panels in all Branches as an alternative energy source. We can also use the vehicles which consume less fuel which will save huge fuel import of the country. We can also use big vehicles to carry the employees of the Banks instead of personal vehicle to reduce fuel as well traffic jam in the roads.
Green Banking Practices by the Bankers in their business area: I) Financing only the green projects: Bankers must be aware of the environmental issues and they must go for financing the projects that do not pollute the environment. The industries that are financed by the banks must have effluent treatment plant (ETP), recycling facilities and smoke and gas arresting unit. The industries must not release any kind of effluents, chemicals or smoke to the environment. Banks must not finance any dirty project that pollutes the environment.
II) Voluntary activities of Banks: Banks should take initiative to make their clients aware by organizing seminar and symposium. They can organise awareness campaign in schools and colleges. They can participate in the tree plantation and cleanliness programmes in city areas.
III) Working on specific green project: Our country has lot of problems of proper waste management, drainage and sanitation, and affected by river pollution, water pollution by pesticides etc. Every bank can undertake a specific green project for removal of existing polluting substances from the ecosystem.
Environmental conservation and protection of ecological balance should be maintained through combined efforts of multi stakeholders. The main stakeholders are businessmen, consumers and professionals, NGOs and government organisations. Since, banking industry deals with public money, they can not remain indifferent and must be more sensible to the maintenance of ecological balance. They must have effective role for the betterment of the environment and green banking practices.
The writer is a marine biologist, ecologist & AVP, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. He can be reached at
No comments:
Post a Comment