Julius Baer: Sustainable Finance, Net Zero & Clean Energy
Julius Baer, the Zurich-headquartered private banking group founded in 1890, is a recognised leader in global wealth and investment management.
With more than 60 locations across 25 countries, the firm caters to high-net-worth individuals and families, offering tailored financial services.
Beyond its role in managing hundreds of billions in assets, Julius Baer has also set an ambitious climate agenda, anchored in sustainability, energy transition and net zero goals.
As the finance sector faces rising scrutiny for its environmental impact, Julius Baer is positioning itself as a progressive player through meaningful, science-based commitments.
Energy transition and efficiency
Central to Julius Baer’s decarbonisation efforts is a strategic shift towards energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The bank has transitioned all its Swiss offices to 100% renewable electricity and is replicating this model across its global footprint.
New office locations are selected based on energy efficiency criteria, with most premises adhering to green certification standards such as LEED or BREEAM.
By retrofitting or constructing buildings with sustainability in mind, Julius Baer is embedding climate-conscious infrastructure into its physical operations.
A further step has been the introduction of an internal carbon price of CHF100 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent on business air travel.
This initiative, aligned with UN Global Compact guidance, encourages behavioural change while generating funds to support low-carbon investments.
Sustainability and responsible management
Julius Baer’s broader sustainability strategy is built around two pillars: responsible wealth management and responsible citizenship.
The bank supports clients in aligning their capital with sustainable outcomes, offering ESG reports, climate transparency and bespoke investment mandates.
It aims to shift 36% of its discretionary mandates and balance sheet into companies with validated Science Based Targets by 2025 and 100% by 2040.
“I joined Julius Baer as Head Sustainability and Director of the Sustainability Board in 2019,” writes Yvonne Suter, Head of Sustainability, Member Sustainability Board and Member Responsible Investment Committee at Julius Baer, writes on LinkedIn.
“Together with my team, I oversee and implement the Group’s sustainability strategy, with its two key pillars of responsible wealth management and responsible citizenship.
“I am dedicated to applying credible insight in order to empower investors on their sustainability journey.
“To this end, I am working in partnership with sustainability thought leaders and investment experts to enable positive impact beyond financial returns.”
To further reduce its environmental footprint, the bank has invested in high-impact nature-based projects, including mangrove reforestation in Indonesia and tropical forest restoration in Panama.
It was also the first Swiss financial institution to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in partnership with major airlines, using proceeds from its internal carbon levy to fund these greener alternatives.
Julius Baer was an early adopter of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and a founding signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking.
Internally, it drives sustainability through active governance, employee networks such as “Bärs4Sustainability” and sustainability-themed workshops.
Regular stakeholder engagement and transparency, including sustainability roadshows, reinforce its commitment to responsible practice.
Towards net zero
Julius Baer has laid out clearly defined, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved net zero goals.
It is committed to achieving net zero emissions from its own operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030, with a 90% reduction in emissions from a 2019 baseline.
The bank is also working to reduce emissions from business air travel by 30% by 2025.
Beyond operational boundaries, Julius Baer is addressing its indirect (Scope 3) emissions through decarbonisation of its treasury, mortgage and lending portfolios by 2050.
Efforts to reduce mortgage-related emissions are ongoing, with a focus on green property criteria and client engagement.
This multi-decade net zero pathway aligns with the growing expectation that financial institutions must tackle the climate impact of both their operations and portfolios.
With internal carbon pricing, transparent governance and a strong push for sustainable investing, Julius Baer is laying the groundwork for a lower-carbon future in private banking.
