J. Safra Sarasin

J. Safra Sarasin has engagement policy where it describes its approach on sustainability themes and impact topics with clients and investees. The financial institution publishes active ownership report describing how the engagement policy is applied in practice. In terms of its approach towards impact management, the financial institution acknowledges that its financing activities have both positive and negative impacts. The financial institution discloses a list of trade associations of which it is a member including sustainability- and non-sustainability-related organisations.

As a member of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, J. Safra Sarasin has set a target of net-zero financed emissions by 2050. The financial institution discloses that alignment with the Paris Agreement is one of its engagement topics. As a member of Climate Action 100+, the financial institution discloses that it collectively engages with its clients on the topic of climate change. As a signatory to the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, the financial institution is committed to minimising its negative impacts on nature and biodiversity. Furthermore, the financial institution provides evidence that it collectively engages with companies to which it provides financial services on the topic of their nature- and biodiversity-related impacts.

J. Safra Sarasin discloses the proportion of its total direct operations workforce for each employee category by age group.  The financial institution discloses the proportion of women in its total direct operations workforce for each employee category.

In terms of its approach to senior leadership accountability, there is no evidence that J. Safra Sarasin links the remuneration of its executive or management teams to sustainability performance criteria. No evidence was found that the financial institution is committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment. It has an opportunity to disclose the proportion of women in senior leadership roles as well as how it addresses any gender pay gaps. There is no evidence that the financial institution’s engagement policy includes clear frameworks with success criteria and escalation points. Moreover, there is no evidence that the financial institution publishes case studies describing where it has engaged successfully or unsuccesfully with clients/investees on sustainability themes and impact topics.

J. Safra Sarasin could disclose interim emissions reduction targets at the group level, such as a 45% reduction in financed emissions by 2030. There is no evidence that the financial institution discloses key sectors or companies identified as priorities to engage with on climate issues, specifically alignment with the Paris Agreement. There is no evidence that J. Safra Sarasin discloses that it requires companies to which it provides financial services to have a strategy aligned with the Paris Agreement. There is no evidence that the financial institution discloses its financing activities devoted to climate solutions.

There is no evidence that J. Safra Sarasin has a publicly available policy statement committing it to respect human rights laid out in the UNGPs and the ILO declaration on fundamental rights at work. The financial institution has an opportunity to describe a comprehensive process for identifying its human rights risks and impacts across all its activities, especially its financing activities. To provide transparency on financial inclusivity, the financial institution has an opportunity to disclose the amount of finance directed towards, for example, women-owned businesses, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or low-income developing countries.