This document specifies requirements and recommendations for strategic transition planning by financial institutions, designed to protect and enhance value by supporting institutions’ response and contribution to a global net zero and climate-resilient economy. The requirements and recommendations are designed to enable financial institutions to develop and maintain transition planning objectives and targets that advance the temperature and resilience goals of the Paris Agreement[23], and establish robust policies and processes to integrate these into their financial activities.

This document is applicable to any financial institution, regardless of size, type and geographic location, with a particular focus on banking, insurance and investment institutions. Its provisions are applied in the context of the institution’s particular business model.

NOTE 1        Some considerations specific to particular institution types are included in guidance notes. Additional guidance on product attributes specific to different types of financial institution can be found in Annex A.

This document is applicable to all financial activities (including lending, insurance, asset owner investing, asset manager investing and capital market activities) that the institution determines it can either control or influence, using a life cycle perspective (e.g. those described in 7.2.2). It can also be applicable to relevant financial activities within real economy institutions and emerging financial institution types, many of which leverage digital technologies and can be subject to different or bespoke regulatory frameworks (e.g. decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms).

NOTE 2        This document is intended for global application, recognizing that some financial institutions, including those in some emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), can face constraints in the local enabling regulatory environment and data availability. It therefore seeks to ensure flexibility and proportionality in application, as appropriate.

NOTE 3        Documents on asset management developed by ISO/TC 251, including ISO 55000[18], ISO 55001[19] and detailed guidance in ISO 55002[20], can be useful for financial institution asset management activity, particularly as it relates to alignment of asset management with business objectives (e.g. those related to transition planning).