How should banks govern the environment? Challenging the construction of action versus veto

A.B. Coulson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Over the last two decades, banks have been developing environmental credit risk assessment policies and procedures. Today, even NGOs who had been at the forefront of campaigns naming and shaming bad practices acknowledge banks are taking environmental risk management seriously. Nonetheless, they now challenge banks to go further, advocating a no harm approach based on a so-called veto of investments. The author draws a post-structuralist position on risk perception to argue a characterization of environmental governance in terms of action and veto may mislead debate. Instead, the author proposes the starting point for debate on the part banks can play in governing the environment lies in mutual agreement on precautionary action.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-161
Number of pages13
JournalBusiness Strategy and the Environment
Volume19
Early online date22 May 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Keywords

  • banks
  • NGOs
  • credit
  • risk
  • governance
  • environment

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