The natural environment

The climate policy sets out the directions of activities of Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A. aimed at counteracting climate change, adapting to climate change and achieving by the bank the emission reduction targets in accordance with the provisions of the ESG Strategy. The policy supports the implementation of tasks arising from documents on sustainable financing and reporting of climate-related information. The climate policy of BOŚ takes into account the provisions of the Paris Agreement and the legislative packages of the European Union such as the European Green Deal, Fit for 55 and national strategic documents.

The objectives of the Policy will be implemented through activities focused on:

• reducing the Bank's carbon footprint,
• supporting clients' climate transformation,
• limiting financing for carbon-intensive sectors and projects,
• managing the risks associated with climate change,
• taking advantage of opportunities and possible positive effects of climate change.

• Climate policy

The environmental policy of Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A. refers to the bank's impact on the natural environment, specifies plans and obligations that are to minimise the risks resulting from inappropriate use of natural resources. It is an update of the policy introduced by BOŚ in 2011 , which was extended to include: ESG aspects in business decisions and regular monitoring of the bank's carbon footprint.

The policy defines the obligations of BOŚ regarding, among others, meeting the legal requirements with regard to environmental protection that relate to the bank, promoting sustainable development among customers, preventing pollution, applying good market practices in the field of environmental protection and promoting environmental knowledge awareness stakeholders.

• Environmental policy

We pursue our environmental mission also with respect to our own operating activities. Since 2021, we have been calculating emissions related to the Bank’s operating activities annually and we have the calculations reviewed by an independent body. In line with the ESG Strategy, our ambition is to gradually reduce our carbon footprint. We would like to pursue this objective based on scientific knowledge, therefore we have joined the Science Based Targets initiative.

Data on the scope of calculations and greenhouse gas emissions in 2019-2021 is presented in our 2021 ESG Report.

The table below presents the Bank’s emissions calculated for 2021 by category and scope as well as emissions per employee:

Assuming calculations according to the market-based method, the Bank's emission reduction in the range presented was about 60% in 2020-2021 (3, 87 thousand tons vs. 1.51 thousand tons).

• Verification statement

Our knowledge of the directions of development of pro-ecological undertakings and transformation projects of our clients is based on the education and experience of our expert team, which includes engineers - environmentalists. Environmentalists of Bank Ochrony Środowiska support clients at every stage of the implementation of investment projects. They assist the bank's clients in preparing and financing the implementation of environmentally friendly projects and often inspire them to take additional measures to reduce the negative impact of their companies on the environment. They take care of, among others, to ensure that funds allocated to pro-ecological projects are spent in accordance with the rigours imposed by environmental law. BOŚ experts help in developing an optimal investment financing model, which is especially valuable where preferential financing conditions, subsidies from national and EU funds are at stake.

We monitor investments implemented with our financial support in terms of achieving the assumed business effects, as well as the environmental effects, which is our market distinguishing feature.

The bank's environmental staff are keen to share their knowledge, which is why the Chief Ecologists attend trade fairs, seminars and thematic conferences. They publish articles in the trade press and on internet portals. They take an active part in opinion-forming teams concerning nationwide programs, including “The Clean Air Programme” or “My Electrician Programme”. They prepare factual materials and analyses for the Management Board and other organisational units of the bank.

• Environmental engineers at BOŚ

Supporting the system of financing ecological investments in Poland is the most important task that has been carried out by BOŚ from the beginning of its existence. Our efforts to ensure the quality of the natural environment in Poland have a strong foundation in the bank's thirty-year history. We are particularly committed to constructing products that support the financing of broadly understood ecological investments. The pro-ecological financial products we offer are created taking into account the principles of sustainable development.

We are involved in initiatives related to the introduction of financial products that support the prevention and adaptation to climate change, the transition to the circular economy, reduction of pollutant emissions, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Bank Ochrony Środowiska closely cooperates with the most important institutions forming the national system of financing environmental protection: The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the Provincial Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management support the implementation of ecological investments in priority areas of the national environmental policy.

Our ECO offer complements the priority programmes of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. It broadens the availability and possibilities of financing ecological investments, which allows to meet ecological challenges to an even greater extent.

Bank Ochrony Środowiska has been regularly publishing its Ecological Report for over 22 years. This annual publication summarises the current challenges related to environmental protection on a global and national scale, issues related to climate change and environmental protection in various aspects, as well as specific activities of BOŚ in this area.

One of the key elements of the Ecological Report is the presentation of the specialist financial offer of BOŚ and a summary of the environmental effects resulting from projects financed by the bank. The reports also include case studies of investments carried out by the bank's clients.

From 2020, the Ecological Report of Bank Ochrony Środowiska has a new version, and its continuation is the ESG Report.