Recognition for exemplary work on sustainability will be broadened in this year’s edition of the Finance for the Future (F4TF) Awards with the introduction of two new categories under the Leadership banner. The awards are a joint venture between ICAEW, Accounting for Sustainability and Deloitte. 

Last year, judges selected four organisations and one initiative – Moody’s, SSE, the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, Deutsche Post DHL and the Deshkan Ziibi Conservation Impact Bond – as climate leaders, for their strong environmental focus.

This year, the Climate category will be joined by an award for leadership in biodiversity and nature, plus another for social impact, to recognise work that entrants are carrying out in increasingly challenging areas of sustainability.

In keeping with last year’s awards, each of the three Leadership categories will honour multiple contenders, selected from across the range of entrants.

As the drum roll for the new Leadership awards gets under way, F4TF’s organisers have also unveiled the shortlists of finalists for the five main categories:

Driving Change in the Finance Community

‘Accountability in a Sustainable World Quarterly’, Centre for Accounting Research and Education at the University of Notre Dame
Queen Mary University of London
The UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative
Value Balancing Alliance

Communicating Integrated Thinking

Aviva Investors
Itau Unibanco
Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
NatWest Group
Schneider Electric SE

Embedding an Integrated Approach

NatWest Group
Schneider Electric SE
ADM
EV Cargo
Suzano S.A.
The Crown Estate

Moving Financial Markets (small and medium organisations)

AGAM International
Net Purpose
Solas Capital AG

Moving Financial Markets (large organisations)

Aviva Investors
Caisse de dépȏt et placement du Québec
Moody’s
Santander Brasil
Teachers Mutual Bank Limited

As the shortlists emerged, some of last year’s winners weighed in with their thoughts on the awards’ impact, not just on their own organisations, but within the finance sector as a whole.

“Winning the F4TF award has greatly expanded our global capital markets presence among investors who make buying decisions with a focus on ESG and sustainable debentures,” said Steve Berna, COO at First Nations Finance Authority, last year’s winner in the Moving Financial Markets (small and medium organisations) category. He added, “For all remaining entrants, I recommend you market and communicate the fact you are a finalist for this prestigious global award.”

Make My Money Matter Campaign Director David Hayman said: “We were delighted to be nominated, then selected as winner, for F4TF’s Driving Change in the Finance Community award. It was a brilliant moment of recognition for the team, and wonderful to be considered alongside the other fantastic nominees.

“The award has really inspired the team and increased our profile – and pushed our campaign to go even further in its mission to make money matter.”

Rayne van den Berg, CFO of forest manager Forico, said: “We were so proud to be recognised for last year’s Embedding an Integrated Approach (non-listed companies) award among other distinguished businesses that are working hard to be part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss.

“As finance professionals we have an important role to play to help shape the conversations about where sustainable value really lies within our influence,” she added. “The F4TF award designation has been invaluable in helping drive these important conversations, both in our Australian base and globally, by showcasing Forico’s Natural Capital Reporting innovation and leadership.”

In anticipation of this year’s awards ceremony – to be held on 12 October, at Mansion House in London – ICAEW Director of Sustainability Richard Spencer says: “As we collectively accept that we face not just a climate emergency, but crises both of catastrophic loss of nature and rapidly increasing inequalities, it is only fitting that we recognise those organisations that are demonstrating leadership in combating them. 

“Looking at the finalists in the main categories, it is clear that a passion for sustainability cuts across a broad spectrum of organisational types – from businesses, rating agencies, asset management firms and banks to universities, think tanks and specialist journals, the whole finance community has a stake in this working.”

Find out more about the F4TF awards 

To experience the ceremony at home, book a place to watch a livestream of the event.