The role of financial institutions in advancing responsible value chains

2015 was a landmark year for making businesses aware of the consequences of their actions on society. The adoption by the UN of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement are important steps in this regard. The private sector has an important role to play in the realization of the promises made. The financial services sector should be a key driver of public and private sectors to support (by research) and realize (by co-funding) this agenda. It is a business opportunity and a societal obligation. This article explores why and how this sector may become the key driver for the transformative momentum, what it can do itself, and how others (governments, civil society organizations) should support and enable it.