3 Aug 2020
Our impact
As a mission-driven bank, NIB focuses on financing projects that improve productivity and benefit the environment in the Nordic–Baltic region.
Prior to making loan decisions, NIB assesses how the projects considered for financing promote productivity gains and provide environmental benefits in the Bank’s member countries. We follow up the project implementation, and once completed, we evaluate the extent to which the estimated impacts have materialised. In measuring the impact of our financing, we apply a set of predefined indicators. NIB also monitors its own environmental footprint annually.
What we report
The impact from our lending is measured according to a set of productivity and environmental indicators. We are constantly developing reporting parameters to provide our stakeholders specific data on the impact of NIB’s operations. Currently, we publish descriptions of newly agreed loans, visit Agreed Loans. In the annual reports, we disclose the aggregated productivity and environmental impact of our lending and we calculate the total net emissions of greenhouse gases for all projects. Impacts of projects funded through NIB Environmental Bonds (NEB) are presented in the annual NEB reports. In cooperation with other major international financial institutions, we contribute to harmonized frameworks for impact reporting, for example on renewable energy and energy efficiency. NIB also participates in Green Bond Principles working groups. Currently, the Bank is member of the “Green Bond Taxonomy” and “Green Bond Eligibility” groups. In this context, impact reporting metrics for sustainable water and wastewater management, waste management and resource efficiency projects were developed.
NIB reports its impact in accordance with the harmonized standards.
Further on this page:
NIB publishes detailed descriptions of all projects financed on its website. The aggregated productivity and environmental impact of our lending is disclosed in the Bank’s annual reports. When reporting our environmental impact, we prorate the emissions to our share of the financing in order to avoid double-accounting with co-financiers.
The total net emissions of greenhouse gases are calculated for all the projects. Impacts of projects funded through NIB Environmental Bonds are presented in the NIB Environmental Bond Report.
NIB's mission fulfilment
NIB’s mission is to finance projects that improve productivity and benefit the environment of the Nordic and Baltic countries.
All projects considered for financing are analysed for their potential impact on the environment and on producivity gains, and are rated according to the Bank's mandate rating system on a scale from negative to excellent. NIB's aim is for at least 90% of agreed loans to achieve a good or excellent rating.
The mandate rating system was revised in 2018.
NIB-financed projects and the UN SDGs
The seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a global roadmap for tackling economic, environmental and social challenges as part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
In line with its mission, NIB has identified the SDGs to which its financed projects, business strategy and sustainability approach can contribute:
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Change | |
| Electricity (MWh) | 1,300 | 1,308 | 1,316 | 0.6% |
| District heating (MWh) | 1,535 | 1,654 | 1,864 | 12.7% |
| District cooling (MWh) | 311 | 426 | 368 | -13.6% |
| Water (m3) | 2,990 | 3,576 | 3,293 | -7.9% |
| Business travel, air (million km) | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.7 | -7.5% |
| Business travel, CO2 (t) | 443 | 438 | 405 | -7.5% |
| Paper (t) | 6 | 5.7 | 3.8 | -33.3 |
| Paper recycled (t) | 10.1 | 10.1 | 5.1 | -49.5 |
| Other waste (t) | 22.2 | 25.6 | 22.4 | -12.5% |
| - Bio waste (t) | 14.1 | 15.4 | 13.7 | -11% |
| - Energy waste (t) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.0% |
| - Mixed waste (t) | 6.5 | 8.6 | 7.1 | -17.4% |
| Tonnes of CO2e | 1,388 | 1,319 | -5.0% |
With regard to its own direct environmental footprint, NIB has guidelines for office practices, facilities management and procurement. NIB complies with the requirements of EU environmental legislation, and in many respects applies even stricter rules than legislation requires. NIB's headquarters in Helsinki has been part of the WWF Green Office network since 2010. The Green Office certificate was awared to NIB again in December 2019.
NIB's WWF Green Office certificate (PDF)
NIB updates financial figures four times a year: for the period January–March (published in April), the period January–June (published in August), the period January–September (published in October), and the period January-December (published in February). Only the half-year and year-end figures are audited.
| Jan-Mar 2020* | Jan-Mar 2019* | Jan-Dec 2019 |
| Net interest income | 49 | 54 | 212 |
| Loss/profit before net loan losses | -91 | 51 | 183 |
| Net loss/profit | -113 | 54 | 182 |
| Loans disbursed | 946 | 547 | 2,676 |
| Loans agreed | 1,717 | 605 | 3,316 |
| Loans agreed achieving good or above mandate (%) | 100% | 100% | 98% |
| Lending outstanding | 18,643 | 18,750 | 18,931 |
| Total assets | 34,252 | 31,235 | 32,653 |
| New debt issues | 1,666 | 1,416 | 4,909 |
| Debts evidenced by certificates | 27,079 | 25,240 | 26,674 |
| Total equity | 3,607 | 3,635 | 3,735 |
| Equity/total assets (%) | 10.5% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| Profit/average equity (%) | n.a | 6.0% | 5.0% |
| Cost/income (%) | n.a | 17.4% | 21.9% |
| Number of employees (at the end of the period) | 229 | 225 | 199 |
in EUR million unless otherwise specified
*Unaudited figures, to be read in conjunction with NIB's 2019 financial statements.
