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Société Générale says it has trained over 40,000 employees on climate awareness and action in 18 months, as the bank aims to embed an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) culture.
The bank says it embarked on a journey to train 30% of its workforce in partnership with Climate Fresk, an NGO that runs workshops offering climate education to people and organizations.
"Objective surpassed!" the company wrote in a blog post about the milestone
SocGen hit the 30% milestone earlier than planned, after recently training nearly a thousand employees over two days on June 19 and June 20.
The workshop was part of a worldwide “40 hours of the Climate Fresk” event.
Climate Fresk’s website says its workshop “prompts participants to take constructive action to help tackle climate change.”
The bank describes itself as a “responsible employer,” and says it is deploying the ESG workshops to develop business-critical knowledge of climate change among its workforce.
“This training plan is designed to develop the expertise of our employees, so that they can better support the Group's clients in their own transition,” the post says.
“These training initiatives are part of a wider sustainable transformation programme within the Group,” it continues.
ESG is currently a divisive topic in corporate America, with conversative pressure and lawsuits prompting some employers to re-evaluate their committment to climate action.
Tractor Supply recently announced it would scrap its carbon emission goals following pressure from a right-wing activist Robby Starbuck, alongside cutting its DEI program.
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A disgruntled pilot also recently sued American Airlines claiming the airline’s $26billion 401(k) plan improperly favored environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related funds.
Recent data from the UCEM also revealed mentions ESG in financial reports in the US have plummeted by 60% over the past year.
However, according to Société Générale’s Group website, the bank remains committed to the “environmental transition” it has undertaken in recent years.
“In line with our corporate purpose, we have placed sustainable development – and the energy transition in particular – at the heart of our strategy,” it states.
“We want to contribute to a transition that is both proactive and responsible by supporting our clients and the real economy as they move towards carbon neutrality.”
Among the bank’s commitments include a €300billion ($350billion) investment in its energy transition between 2022 and 2025, and the deliver of ESG training programs to enable staff to “act responsibly in favour of the climate and become actors of the energy transition.”
Société Générale employs 126,000 staff in 65 countries worldwide, including around 2,500 employees in North America across the US, Canada, and Mexico City.
SocGen says the bank’s sustainable transformation program enabled it to win the IFR 'Best Bank for Sustainability' award, and believes its climate training will embed sustainability within the fabric of the company.
“Societe Generale is mobilising all its business lines in a transformation trajectory aimed at promoting an ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) culture at all levels of the organisation,” the blog post about the training says.
The bank will continue to roll out further training, including the Climate Fresk workshop, to its workforce. It will also offer programs to educate employees on the transition to low-carbon and raise awareness of environmental issues like the preservation of biodiversity, water-related issues, and the circular economy.
