CSO Insights: How climate adaptation is hitting the mainstream for Midde East banks
Fri Feb 06 2026
In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we're talking to Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Dubai-based Emirates NBD, one of the largest banks in the Middle East.
Vijay says the region and its banking sector are "doubling down on sustainability as a growth driver." He explains the growing focus on water in particular, and how this will influence sustainable finance trends.
"We're going to see a lot more blue finance," Vijay tells us. "It's a really material topic due to the water stress within the region."
In the face of climate change, the bank is also financing adaptation projects. "Adaptation for us is now hitting the mainstream," Vijay says.
This interview is the latest installment in our CSO Insights podcast series, where we interview Chief Sustainability Officers around the world about how they're navigating the changing sustainability landscape. Listen to other episodes in the series here.
Listen to our previous interview with Vijay here: Talking climate finance ahead of COP29 | S&P Global
Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1: For the world's largest companies, climate physical risks have a $1.2 trillion annual price tag by the 2050s | S&P Global
Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global
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In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we're talking to Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Dubai-based Emirates NBD, one of the largest banks in the Middle East. Vijay says the region and its banking sector are "doubling down on sustainability as a growth driver." He explains the growing focus on water in particular, and how this will influence sustainable finance trends. "We're going to see a lot more blue finance," Vijay tells us. "It's a really material topic due to the water stress within the region." In the face of climate change, the bank is also financing adaptation projects. "Adaptation for us is now hitting the mainstream," Vijay says. This interview is the latest installment in our CSO Insights podcast series, where we interview Chief Sustainability Officers around the world about how they're navigating the changing sustainability landscape. Listen to other episodes in the series here. Listen to our previous interview with Vijay here: Talking climate finance ahead of COP29 | S&P Global Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1: For the world's largest companies, climate physical risks have a $1.2 trillion annual price tag by the 2050s | S&P Global Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.