Problems such as ocean degradation and biodiversity loss don’t just threaten our environment. They threaten our economy and the fabric of society itself. Solving them requires urgent action, investment and transformation, and we’re committed to playing our part – by shifting mindsets with our thought leadership and building an holistic ESG offering to help our clients achieve positive change.
Claudio de Sanctis,
Head of Private Bank
Deutsche Bank
Our ESG transformation
ESG investment philosophy
- Our thought leadership leads our ESG approach and underpins our product development strategy for sustainable solutions. In recent years we have published 20 dedicated ESG publications and held more than 250 ESG-focused events and activities, covering the ocean, land and atmosphere.
Products and services
- We aim to offer clients a suite of investment products incorporating ESG criteria, including discretionary portfolio management, liquid funds, private markets and lending.
- Our flagship Strategic Asset Allocation solution takes an exclusion-based ESG approach to ensure clients’ portfolios are built around a sustainable core.
- We are expanding our ESG liquid funds offering, and our range of dedicated lending products, which include electric vehicle financing, green mortgages and financing home renovations for carbon reduction.
- We are particularly excited about private markets. In 2023, we plan to launch three private markets funds, and an impact, nature-based solution in 2024.
Platform and capabilities
- We have rolled-out ESG training to more than 7,000 colleagues over the last two years and we will continue this huge effort to ensure we deliver a compelling end-to-end ESG experience to our clients. We are advancing our technological capabilities by investing in robust platforms and strong data foundations.
Our partnership with the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA)
We were the first bank to be a full member of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) and we will continue our work to scale up global action and private investment in marine and coastal natural capital.
Joining ORRAA allowed us to deep-dive into pressures the ocean is experiencing. Last year, we co-hosted our inaugural Ocean Conference in Mallorca, where more than 100 influential investors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists convened to develop ideas for supporting ocean finance.
Going forward, we want to tackle opportunities to invest into ocean-related impact solutions for our clients. With this focus and support from ORRAA, we are in a unique position to expand our thought leadership on the ocean and sustainable blue economy, and to integrate that understanding into everything we do.
Watch Claudio de Sanctis, Head of Private Bank, Deutsche Bank, explain our ESG ambitions at Deutsche Bank's Sustainability Deep Dive event on March 2, 2023:
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Watch Karen Sack, Executive Director of ORRAA, and Markus Müller, Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head of Chief Investment Office, Deutsche Bank Private Bank, explaining our partnership and shared focus on the ocean, as shown at Deutsche Bank's Sustainability Deep Dive event on March 2, 2023.
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Our ESG expertise
ESG Special
ESG and Sustainability Market Monitor
The client-ready ESG and Sustainability Market Monitor helps you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Apr 14, 2025
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PERSPECTIVES Special
ESG Survey 2024: Investing in the sustainable transition
Our 4th annual ESG Survey shows that investors are already investing in the sustainable transition, with evolving views on what are likely to be the leading future sectors and return drivers. Fueled by pragmatism as well as principles, ESG investment is happening. Read more.
Nov 12, 2024
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ESG and Sustainability Market Monitor: Q3 2024
Our ESG and Sustainability Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Oct 24, 2024
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ESG Market Monitor: Q2 2024
Our ESG Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Jul 10, 2024
PERSPECTIVES Special
ESG Market Monitor: Q1 2024
Our ESG Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
May 17, 2024
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ESG Market Monitor: Q4 2023
Our ESG Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Feb 20, 2024
PERSPECTIVES Special
ESG Survey 2023: Sustainable transition and investment
Over the last three years, our annual survey has examined our private, business and institutional clients’ attitudes to the multiple dimensions of ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing. This year, we had 1,759 responses to our survey, double the 849 received in 2022.
Nov 22, 2023
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ESG Market Monitor: Q3 2023
Our ESG Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Nov 01, 2023
PERSPECTIVES Special
ESG & investment performance: think strategically
The key to sustained long-term returns from ESG investment is effective strategic asset allocation.
Oct 24, 2023
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Smart mobility: switch, optimise, prioritise
Once we looked to technology to make transportation systems cheaper, faster or safer. But “smart mobility” needs to be more sustainable too - and the primary challenge may be social in nature.
Oct 20, 2023
CIO Nature Series
Rainforests: the Earth’s green lung
Rainforests provide invaluable ecosystem services supporting climate management, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods—but they are also fragile. In this publication, we focus on four key concerns: deforestation, climate change, poaching and illegal trade, and mining and oil extraction
Aug 02, 2023
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ESG Market Monitor: Q2 2023
Our ESG Market Monitor publication is designed to help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Jun 01, 2023
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ESG perspective
Feature article
eDNA: measuring ocean biodiversity
We’re always looking for ways to connect our partners and raise awareness of things we know our clients care about. Together with our partners, we track biodiversity in our ocean in this eDNA project initiative.
Oct 10, 2024
Feature article
New Blue Perspectives: Monitoring Ocean Biodiversity
In this report, we describe initial findings from our research project to monitor ocean biodiversity. Working with our partners, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to analyse ocean water samples.
Oct 10, 2024
Jargon-busting series
What are Life Pillars?
Life Pillars provide essential resources and services crucial for the prosperity of humanity and the global economy — and yet they are often undervalued or taken for granted.
Aug 01, 2024
The sustainable blue economy
An ocean journey
We are on a journey to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean to the global economy and life on earth. Our focus on the ocean has shaped our research and deepened our understanding of the links between nature and the economy.
Jun 10, 2024
The sustainable blue economy
The metrics that matter: investing in the sustainable blue economy
At the Economist’s 11th annual World Ocean Summit, we hosted a "How To" session aimed at creating a set of action points and practical takeaways for individuals and organisations committed to restoring ocean health.
Jun 10, 2024
Future Fundamentals podcast
Investing in the Blue Economy: a blueprint for action
In our Future Fundamentals podcast, Karen Sack, of ORRAA, and Markus Müller, our Chief Investment Officer for ESG, take a deep dive into the sustainable blue economy.
Apr 26, 2024
Expert View
The 2024 Economist Impact World Ocean Summit
Our CIO for ESG, Markus Müller, addressed some of the world's leading ocean thinkers, investors and advocates at this event in Lisbon designed to drive progress towards a sustainable blue economy.
Apr 25, 2024
PERSPECTIVES Special
Atmosphere: Shield of the earth
The third in our trilogy of keynote presentations on the Earth's "Life Pillars" explains why climate-related risks and opportunities should be important considerations for investors with regard to long-term portfolio development.
Mar 26, 2024
Feature article
Entrepreneurs on creating businesses for the good of the oceans
A new generation of individuals are setting up companies worldwide to radically overhaul how we interact with our oceans, and help save our planet while building a sustainable blue economy. Chris Stokel-Walker of LUX magazine speaks to entrepreneurs trying to make a positive impact in the ocean space.
Aug 15, 2023
Feature article
Creating positive energy: how to accelerate green infrastructure
To achieve the Paris Agreement target of net zero by 2050, the world needs to shift to green infrastructure – now. In this feature for LUX magazine, Claire Asher shows how the public and private sectors can speed the move from fossil fuels to green energy.
Aug 15, 2023
Jargon-busting series
What is the blue economy?
The sustainable blue economy refers to all economic activity linked to the ocean that takes place within a framework designed to protect the environment, conserve natural resources and allow for equitable development.
Aug 14, 2023
CIO Nature Series
Rainforests: the Earth’s green lung
Rainforests provide invaluable ecosystem services supporting climate management, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods—but they are also fragile. In this publication, we focus on four key concerns: deforestation, climate change, poaching and illegal trade, and mining and oil extraction
Aug 02, 2023
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