Garanti BBVA, the Turkish subsidiary of Spanish banking group BBVA, has released its 2025 sustainability report, detailing its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The report, published on Tuesday, highlights a 22% reduction in operational carbon emissions compared to the previous year, alongside a pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The bank reported that its sustainable finance portfolio reached £8.2bn in 2024, up from £6.5bn in 2023. This includes loans for renewable energy projects, green bonds and financing for energy-efficient buildings. Garanti BBVA said it had also increased its gender diversity targets, with women now holding 34% of senior management roles.
Analysts at Barclays noted that the report aligns with broader European banking sector trends, where lenders are under increasing pressure from regulators and investors to disclose climate risks. 'Garanti BBVA's targets are ambitious but achievable given its strong market position in Turkey, a country with significant renewable energy potential,' they said in a research note.
The report comes as UK-based investors with exposure to emerging market banks, including those holding shares in BBVA through London-listed exchange-traded funds, are paying closer attention to ESG credentials. The lender's sustainability strategy includes phasing out coal financing by 2030 and increasing green lending to £12bn by 2027.
For UK pension funds and asset managers with holdings in BBVA, the report provides updated data for ESG scoring. However, some campaign groups have criticised the bank for continuing to finance fossil fuel projects in the Middle East, a point Garanti BBVA did not address in the report.