Banking sector, like any other business enterprise, is undergoing a dramatic transformation, consequent to massive industrial and economic growth globally in response to market dynamics, fast change in lifestyle, and consumer behaviour. In the given scenario, banking sector is facing serious challenges and tough competition to cater to projected industrial growth, especially when the sector is badly hit by global recessionary pressure in recent times. The other challenge confronted by the financial institutions in general, and banking sector in particular, is how to trigger industrial growth without detriment to environmental quality in a sustainable manner. Green banking—also variedly known as Ethical banking, Social banking, and Sustainable Banking—seems to be the viable answer.
The book, written at this critical juncture, covers a wide-ranging themes including innovation in banking technology to cut costs; improving operational efficiency; maintaining ethical standards under sound regulatory regime; enhancing responses to society, environment and consumers at large; and setting up replicable and sustainable business models that are eco-friendly, and contribute to green growth to create new business opportunities for the Green investors. Last but not least, the book attempts to link the ‘Green investment bank’ with the potential ‘Green investors’ by exploring ways and means to bring it under the gamut of financial inclusion initiatives, now being taken by the financial institutions and the Government, for fostering sustainable economic growth.
It will be useful for bankers, financial investors, business analysts, policymakers, and those concerned with the cause of environment.
Dr. A.N. Sarkar obtained his doctorate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Wales (1977) and worked for over three decades in Petrochemicals-related fields, R&D, Environment, Central Ministries, External Donor Agencies, and Academics. He served as a Chair Professor, National Agricultural Bank for Rural Development (NABARD), and as Professor, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. Presently, Dr. Sarkar is working as a Senior Professor (International Business) in the Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi. He has also served as convener and member secretary in various Inter-Ministerial Committees on ‘Natural Resources Management’, ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Renewable Energies’.
Dr. Sarkar has so far authored 14 books and contributed over 100 research papers in reputed national and international journals. These include: Energy Security, Global Climate Change & Sustainable Energy Development; Emission Trading & Carbon Management and Petro-Economics (Pentagon Press, New Delhi); Global Climate Economic (LAP Publishing Corporation, Germany); and CSR in Mining Industry (LAP Publishing Corporation, Germany). His areas of interest are International Business, Energy Security, Eco-innovation, Global Climate Change, Global Climate Governance, Climate Economics, Emissions Trading, and Sustainable Development.
