Ziraat Participation has established a sustainability governance structure that prioritizes addressing environmental, social, and governance risks in alignment with its commitment to sustainable banking.
Sustainability practices are conducted under the supervision of the Ziraat Participation Board of Directors and the leadership of the CEO.
The Sustainability Committee, chaired by the CEO, is actively engaged in the coordination of the Bank's sustainability practices and establishing the sustainability strategy and goals.
The Sustainability Committee, established with the involvement of the Bank's senior management, sets and reviews the goals and material topics and takes the necessary decisions. The Board of Directors evaluates and approves the decisions.
The Committee is also responsible for monitoring the impact of environmental and social activities, ensuring the compliance of projects, and monitoring other material topics determined within the scope of the sustainability management system.
At Ziraat Participation, units are assigned as required to work on strategic projects.
When necessary, relevant Department Heads are invited to the Committee meetings. The Committee convenes annually or as needed at the Chairperson's discretion. Decisions of the Committee are made through a majority vote. In case of equal number of votes, the Chairperson's vote shall be decisive.
Ziraat Participation will require compliance with the strategies and criteria outlined by the Sustainability Committee in all projects exceeding certain limits.*
The monitoring and coordination of sustainability-related activities in the Bank in terms of umbrella activities are carried out by the Strategy Planning Department, Strategy Planning and Sustainability Services. The secretariat duty of the Committee is also fulfilled by the same Department. Within the scope of this duty, it carries out the following tasks:
- Coordination of committee activities,
- Formation of working groups for sustainability-oriented projects,
- Reporting, monitoring, and archiving decisions.
- Identifying the necessary actions in accordance with the Committee's decisions, tracking realizations and potential deviations,
- Reporting to the relevant units through the committee.
*For detailed information about ESRA, please refer to Our Financial Assets section.
Six working groups operate under the Sustainability Committee.
The competencies needed for the relevant project are incorporated into these working groups, and when necessary, consultancy and similar services are received from external resources and best practices are utilized. The number and focus areas of the working groups, which have an important place in the sustainability structure of Ziraat Participation, may vary according to the pertinent sustainability agenda and the Bank's strategies.
Ziraat Participation Sustainability Working Groups and Their Duties
Sustainability Corporate Governance Group |
Updating sustainability policies • Conducting internal audits of sustainability initiatives • Coordinating sustainability reporting |
Corporate Social Responsibility and Training Group |
Identifying and implementing Corporate Social Responsibility project themes • Conducting sustainability activities and sponsorship activities • Organizing sustainability training programs within the Bank and ensuring capacity development |
Operational Environmental Impacts Group |
Planning and monitoring energy and environmental management initiatives at our buildings • Developing and ensuring the continuity of a greenhouse gas inventory of our Bank's internal emissions • Conducting sustainable supply chain operations • Planning and implementing solutions to optimize savings and efficiency for office environments |
Dolaylı Çevresel Etkiler Grubu |
Implementation of Environmental and Social Risk assessment system for Project Loans • Providing consultancy services, project monitoring and reporting activities for Environmental Social Risk assessments • Conducting an overall environmental social risk assessment analysis of the loan portfolio |
Sustainable Sukuk and Products Group |
Developing and updating the sustainable finance framework • Formulating financing products with a focus on sustainability • Providing assistance for sustainable Sukuk and other borrowing operations • Establishing connections with international financial institutions |
Climate Risks Group |
Ensuring measurement and management of climate risks • Ensuring integration of climate risks into the overall risk system • Calculating financed emissions |
The duties of the Ziraat Participation Sustainability Coordination Office
- Monitoring all sustainability initiatives within the Bank and providing reports to the Committee,
- Ensuring the coordination of Sustainability Working Groups,
- Managing the studies, projects, and sub-projects of the sustainability consultancy service received,
- Engaging in the activities conducted by TKBB, TBB, BRSA within the scope of sustainability and transferring information to the relevant business units and working groups,
- Executing actions that are not followed in the working groups and ensuring their integration into the Bank's business processes.
ZIRAAT PARTICIPATION SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURE
Responsibilities and Authorities of the Ziraat Participation Sustainability Committee
The Ziraat Participation Sustainability Committee serves as the highest-level body responsible for establishing the Bank's sustainability goals and material topics.
Ensuring the coordination of the business plans and the operational tasks within the scope of the Bank's sustainability strategy, vision, and goals,
- Developing the Sustainability Policy and complementary policies and updating them as needed, ensuring integration into all business processes,
- Managing the potential environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities that may arise within the scope of financed projects and other loans,
- Tracking national and international legislation and standard approaches concerning environmental and social risks, which are material in terms of Bank's crediting process,
- Establishing the Bank's sustainability network - Identifying the areas and institutions that the Bank will collaborate with in this context,
- Adopting sustainability-oriented initiatives within the Bank and supporting capacity development,
- Developing social responsibility projects,
- Monitoring and integrating the Bank's studies on banking products and processes that support sustainable development,
- Managing direct and indirect environmental and social impacts, closely monitoring the efforts to mitigate these impacts,
- Managing the potential risks that may have adverse impact on the reputation of Ziraat Participation,
- Ensuring communication of sustainability initiatives to be conducted within the Bank,
- Defining the duties, authorities, and responsibilities of the Sustainability Coordinator and additional sub-working groups to be established,
- Providing assessment of sustainability-oriented measurements and reporting, review and approval of the sustainability-related section of the activity report,
- Ensuring that all decisions taken and projects conducted within the framework of the Bank's sustainability governance system comply with Ziraat Participation's other policies and relevant guidelines.