Amsterdam tops world ranking for green finance
The seventh edition of Global Green Finance Index found Amsterdam is the world’s leading centre for sustainable financial services and products.
A global leader in green finance
Amsterdam has been ranked as the world’s leading city for green finance.
The Global Green Finance Index (GGFI) charts the progress of the world’s financial centres towards a financial system that delivers sustainable development, and values people and the planet as much as profit. The report from think tank Z/Yen is produced every six months and ranks global financial centres according to finance professionals’ assessments and 140 measures provided by organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.
Western Europe dominated the top 10 in the GGFI index, with Zurich and London taking second and third place respectively.
However the GGFI report warned the region’s “crown may be slipping” as growing confidence in the development of green finance in all regions posed a challenge to the index’s incumbents.
Green finance is defined as a financial product or service created to ensure a better environmental outcome, such as pollution prevention and energy efficiency. Corporations and governments are under pressure to adopt sustainable practices as climate change continues to have a devastating impact.
Amsterdam’s commitment to sustainability
The ranking consolidates Amsterdam’s reputation as both an impact-driven and forward-looking financial centre. Last year Dutch investment companies were ranked as some of the world’s most sustainable in a survey from ShareAction, which judged the firms’ strategies in responsible investment, climate change, human rights and biodiversity.
Amsterdam is also home to countless companies focused on circularity and sustainability across various industries, including fashion, transport and logistics.