Afsha Karim

By: Samer Eido, Afsha Karim, Allen & Overy The last few years have seen a steady expansion of sustainable lending practices tied to achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals as the world looks for new ways to meet the huge costs of decarbonisation and sustainable development.

The aims of ESG investing and Islamic Finance structures are already closely – though not perfectly – aligned. Middle Eastern governments are looking to diversify away from oil and gas. This, Samer Eido and Afsha Karim explain, opens the possibility for Middle Eastern financial institutions to play a much bigger role in financing the transition to Net Zero.

Gatehouse Bank is looking to launch an additional financing product to existing customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes this year. ISFI speaks to Andy Homer, the chief customer officer at Gatehouse Bank, to learn about how it works with its partners to develop Islamic sustainable products.