Sustainability and impact

Driving change that matters

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Banking on sustainability

The 2020 UBS Sustainability Report includes last year’s key achievements and the goals we’ve set ourselves for the future.

Why we get involved

Driving change in the world needs leadership. As one of the world's largest wealth managers, we have a responsibility to take a leading role in shaping a positive future. We're developing new financial products that have positive impact on the environment and society. With partners and clients we're constantly innovating in the field of philanthropy. And we're continuously establishing new standards of doing business sustainably.

What we do

Reshape finance

Innovative financing can be good for society, good for the environment, and give good returns. In fact, we think they all go hand in hand.

Innovative financing

Pioneer in philanthropy

We know how to make measurable, scalable and lasting impact.

Partnering for good

Support communities

We encourage employees to put their valuable skills to use for entrepreneurship and education.

Making a community impact

Manage our actions

We challenge ourselves and our peers to raise the bar, work in sync with each other, and be open about the impact our actions have on society and the environment.

Leading by example

What we have achieved

141 billion

USD in impact and sustainability focused investment, a 154% increase over 20191

100% of electricity

sourced from renewable energy1

3.7 million children

helped by the UBS Optimus Foundation in 20201

519,000

beneficiaries reached through our community investment1

One planet, one future

Our climate strategy supports our clients and our firm to prepare for success in an increasingly carbon-constrained world.

External Recognition

We’re vetted by industry-leading rating agencies to evaluate the performance of our sustainability practices. In 2020, UBS was recognized as an industry leader of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the sixth consecutive year.

Timeline of sustainability

 

At UBS our commitment to sustainability started years ago. In the 1950s. Browse these milestones to discover how we built up our engagement to a better world – through financial products, philanthropy, and our own business practice.

Travelling through time

1954

Beginnings of UBS Community Affairs at Wealth Management US

1997

First Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds2

1999

First bank to obtain ISO 14001 certification for worldwide environmental management system

2006

Introduction of comprehensive climate strategy and start offsetting all CO2 emissions resulting from business air travel. More

2014

Founding UBS in society, a program to further focus us on sustainable performance

2015

Sustainability Industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index3


World's first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education launched by UBS Optimus Foundation with "Educate Girls"4

2016

Launching the UBS Oncology Impact Fund, the largest oncology impact investment to date2

2018

First 100% sustainable cross-asset portfolio for private clients2


Reaching 2.8 million children through the UBS Optimus Foundation

2019

Banning project-level financing on new coal-fired power plants

Find out more

How we support the SDGs

Explore the real life stories of how we contributed to the 2030 UN Goals. Simply use the filter options below.

Read our reports

Our reports, standards and commitments are available for all to see. We believe it's important to be upfront and honest. And while we're proud of how far we've come, we also know there's still a lot more for us to do.

Visit our documents page

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Did not find what you were looking for yet? Have a look at some of our more specific webpages.

Invest for good

If you are a private investor, see how to invest for returns and drive change through sustainable investing

Private investors

Sustainable and impact investing

If you are an institutional investor, let's redefine the way you think about sustainable investing

Institutional investors

Impactful philanthropy

Breakthrough solutions to pressing social issues. See how you can have an impact

UBS Optimus Foundation

UBS Global Visionaries

Social enterprises that work to achieve the UN Sustainable development goals

Discover more
 

1UBS Sustainability Report 2020

Disclaimer: No affiliation, association, sponsorship or endorsement is suggested or implied by UBS to any person, entity, company or organization mentioned in this material.