Banorte Signs the Declaration of Natural Capital

(3BL Media) June 18, 2012 - In the framework of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, "Rio +20", the CEO of Grupo Financiero Banorte, Dr. Alejandro Valenzuela signed the "Declaration of Natural Capital", by which managers of financial firms worldwide are committed to considering the impact on natural capital to develop products or provide services.

To "Rio +20" Natural Capital of the country is made up of renewable and nonrenewable resources and the preservation of air quality, climate, hydrological cycle operation, among other things.

The signed document is a long-term commitment by 37 banks, investment funds and insurers to achieve a better understanding of the impacts that their operations have on the environment in their countries, taking care of natural capital in their products , and accounting services, and seek specialized reporting on the subject.

This "Declaration of Natural Capital" is the first of its kind to be signed only by the directors of financial institutions, a requirement intended to ensure that efforts derived from it are translated into action.

On the importance of accepting this commitment, Dr Valenzuela said that "the world can no longer close their eyes to the movement of natural capital. Its incorporation into any business decision will be critical if we really want a sustainable development in the global ecosystem, not an option but a necessity for our present and future welfare. "

The Declaration also urges policy makers gathered at the United Nations World Conference to advance the development of laws and regulations that encourage the development of financial products and services that take into account and maintain the natural resources of our planet.

The risk of not taking appropriate decisions now for the environment, threatens the welfare and environmental security of the world population. Thus "Rio +20", recognizes the value of biodiversity as the foundation for wealth creation and, therefore, of the global economy, while financial institutions recognize their role to bring about economic change "coffee "toward" green "to safeguard the resilience of ecosystems.

"Rio +20" called on the public and private sectors to work together to find appropriate methods for financial institutions to consider natural capital in their decisions and risk assessment procedures, issuing shares or bonds, granting credit and insurance policies.