For client-targeted policies
Opening and maintaining dialogue with clients is key to an effective monitoring of a number of issues,
including Human Rights, and can be an important drive towards positive change. The evolution of
the Group’s exclusion and monitoring lists (i.e. the companies BNP Paribas decided not to work with,
or that are closely monitored for progress on ESG criteria), is another indicator of the effectiveness
of BNP Paribas policies. At the end of 2020, the exclusion list numbered 1,271 companies, and the
monitoring list 175, for a total of 1,446 listed entities (against 1,087 in 2019).
Towards its clients (banking and financial activities)
BNP Paribas strives to reduce potential violation of social and environmental rights, including
human rights, from its financing and investment activities (please refer to Systematic integration
and management of Environmental , Social and Governance risks (ESG), Commitment 3). Its ESG
risk management system is based on:
the development of financing and investment policies managing the Group’s activities in
sectors with significant ESG issues;
the respect of the Equator Principles for major industrial and infrastructure projects;
the integration of ESG criteria in the Know Your Customer (“KYC”) process;
the progressive integration of ESG criteria in lending and rating policies;
the use of management and monitoring tools for these risks, including specific questionnaires
for activities with significant ESG issues;
the training of financing business lines and control functions on the ESG risk framework;
an operational control plan.6