The listening banks: the development of stakeholder relations with NGOs

When one considers how important the environment is in terms oflender liability on environmentally damaging activities or long-term economic development, it is curious that every bank does not address environmental issues with more urgency. However, the

tide is turning and there are increasing instances of banks accepting their responsibilities and adopting various sustainable development programmes. Helping the tide tum are NGOs who provide an additional means by which poor environmental and social performance can be translated into financial risks (see Chapter 17).