From Banker’s Point Of View
Green Banking calls for banking business in such areas and in such a manner that helps the overall reduction of external carbon emission and internal carbon footprint. To aid the reduction of external carbon emission, bank should finance green technology and pollution reducing projects. Internally the banking operations have considerably increased the carbon footprint of banks due to their massive use of energy e.g. lighting, air conditioning, electronic / electrical equipments, IT, high paper wastage, lack of green buildings etc. Therefore, to adopt green banking, bank should adopt technology, process, and products which result in substantial reduction of their carbon footprint as well as develop sustainable business.
Green Vision Of The Central Bank
Recent development in green banking initiatives conveys much significance. Bangladesh Bank has introduced annual report on green banking featuring a remarkable disbursement of Tk 27,092 crore under green finance in 2012. Ours is the first Central Bank in the world to have a clear vision on promoting green banking and safeguarding the environment from unusual weather pattern, rising greenhouse gases and declining air quality. A fund of Tk 200 crore has been put in place to refinance lending from renewable energy generation as well as effluent treatment plants and energy efficient kilns for manufacturing bricks. A revolving refinancing fund is also in place in the areas of solar irrigation pumps, solar home systems, biogas plants, effluent treatment plants, brick kiln and solar photo voltaic module assembling plants.
Green Banking As A Safeguard Against Risk
Green banking is potential to shield against certain risks. Green baking can act as a tool to mitigate some form of credit risk, legal risk, reputation risk, security risk etc.
Dhaka Bank On The Road To Green Banking
Realizing the importance of green banking and policy guidelines from Bangladesh Bank, the Central Bank, Dhaka Bank Limited has already formulated its Green Banking Policy and gets it approved from its Boar of Directors. Dhaka Bank Ltd. has developed innovative green banking financial products which can directly or indirectly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. The Board of Directors of Dhaka Bank Limited has approved budget for “Green Finance” and “Climate Risk Fund” and working closely for its utilization. The bank is actively looking to finance green projects such as ETP, Hybrid Hoffman Kiln (HHK), Zigzag or equivalent Technology in Brick Field, Bio-Gas Plant, Solar Power System etc. The Bank has signed participation agreement for “Refinancing in Hybrid Hoffman Kiln (HHK) or equivalent Technology of Brick Field” between Bangladesh Bank and Dhaka Bank Limited has been singed at the conference room of Bangladesh Bank. Under this agreement, Dhaka Bank Limited will finance brick field using environment friendly technology and will obtain refinancing facility from Bangladesh Bank in this respect.
Green Finance By DBL
During 2013, the Bank had 25 projects having ETP and fully disbursed under approved limit with total finance reaching Tk 7,672 million. The Bank financed Tk 652 million to 19 Hybrid Hoffman Kiln (HHK). Received refinance amount of Tk …………….. million from Bangladesh Bank against green finance including solar panel and biogas plant. Across the year, the Bank disbursed Tk 87 million to 6 bio-gas plants and Tk 0.06 million to 4 Solar Panels. We encouraged paperless banking by expanding online banking, mobile banking and internet banking, use of e-mail and introduction of IP message system. Added deposit alert to mobile banking solution (MBS). Besides, we arranged 02 training courses on the topics of green banking and impact on environment in participation of 100 bank officials in total and conducted by Bangladesh Bank. Also incorporated topics on ‘green banking and awareness building’ in all foundation training courses.
MRP & MRV Fee Collection
In light of Green Banking Policy of Dhaka Bank Limited, a general instruction has been issued on the followings green activities/practices as part of in-house environment management and to promote Green Banking within the bank:
Electricity Consumption:- Ensure economic use of electricity;
- Use energy saving lights in bank premises;
- Shutdown your computer properly and switch off your computer monitor before leaving office each day;
- Ensure that light, fans, air conditioner have been switched off before leaving office each day; and
- Use energy efficient electronic equipments;
Fuel Consumption:- Ensure economic use of fuel;
- Buy energy efficient cars to reduce gas and petroleum consumption.
Paper Consumption:- Where possible use online communication (e-mail, IP message etc.) instead of printed communication;
- Think twice before taking a print;
- Take print on the both side of paper to save paper consumption;
- Use scrap paper for taking draft print and as note pads;
Water Consumption:- Do not misuse drinking water; and
- Ensure economic use of water in all other cases.
Others:- Avoid use of disposable cups/glasses to become more eco-friendly;
Towards A Safe Habitat
Green Mortgages: Dhaka Bank Ltd. will offer special discount to the borrower who will provide mortgage of land and buildings which are greener. This initiative will induce use of more energy-efficient materials and building plans. Dhaka Bank will not allow the land as mortgage that is prone to environmental impacts by virtue of its geographical location and polluted by the operation business activities. As a mortgage preference will be given to the buildings those are designed and constructed with energy efficient items such as solar panels and improved insulation. Carbon Footprint Reduction: Dhaka bank has taken the following measures to reduce the carbon footprint: (a) paperless banking (b) energy consciousness, (c) establishment of green building for its own use etc. Environmental Risk Rating: Environmental Risk Rating of projects will be carried out to assess its impact on environment at large. Social Responsibility Services: As part of the green banking strategies, Dhaka Bank has initiated a number of social responsibility services like tree plantation campaign, park development, etc. As a token of the initiatives Dhaka Bank Ltd. has already developed a green square in front of the High Court named “Kadam Fountain” and another small park in front of the Dhaka Bank head office. Dhaka Bank also decorated the road island from Central Idgah to Kakrail Mosque with plantation of tree and flower plant as part of the Government beatification program.
