ESG-lending in the Russian economy

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to consider the current state of ESG lending in the Russian economy, the features of ESG rating of Russian financial companies and approaches to potential borrowers, and to identify the most relevant areas for the development of ESG lending to Russian companies. Despite the fact that Russian companies and the Russian economy are under sanctions and the opportunities to enter foreign markets are significantly limited, ESG remains relevant. An analysis of ESG practices in the banking sector conducted in 2022 by Expert RA showed that only large credit institutions follow the ESG concept. More than 50% of the top 20 banks have implemented KPIs for ESG indicators in their lending and investment processes. In the practice of Russian banks, ESG-assessment of credit risks includes indicators of default probability, analysis and evaluation of portfolios in terms of industry/geographical concentrations, exposure limits, borrowing strategies, scenario analysis and/or stress testing. It is concluded that Russian companies in the financial sector use ESG approache for their own strategic development and for lending to their clients, and that government support is required for the ESG transformation of the banking sector.