On 12 May 2026, the Lithuanian Banking Association, Finance Latvia Association and the Estonian Banking Association have organised the first pan‑Baltic conference ‚Baltic Banks Nature Conference 2026‘, hosted by Swedbank in Riga, Latvia. The event focused on the rapidly growing importance of nature‑related and biodiversity risks, which are increasingly becoming an integral part of the financial sector agenda.
Biodiversity is no longer solely an environmental issue. Healthy ecosystems underpin economic activity, financial stability and long‑term value creation — from food systems and water availability to supply chains, asset values and credit risk. As nature degradation accelerates, these impacts are increasingly translating into financial, transition and systemic risks for banks and the wider economy.
“Financial institutions are expected to understand how nature-related risks may affect businesses, supply chains, asset values and long-term investment conditions. Regional cooperation is especially important as we build common approaches and strengthen expertise across the Baltic financial sector. Together we have an opportunity to strengthen the region’s position as a sustainable and forward-looking financial market,” says dr. Eivilė Čipkutė, President of the Lithuanian Banking Association.
Recently, banks have progressed on their sustainability journeys and significantly advanced their understanding of climate-related risks and opportunities. Attention is increasingly turning towards nature and biodiversity as the next important frontiers. Thus, joint discussions and efforts play a crucial role.
“While the financial sector has only relatively recently started assessing the materiality of nature-related risks and determining the most effective ways to respond, it is becoming clear that these topics will play a growing role in banking and finance in the years ahead. Bringing together experts, banks and institutions from across the Baltics was therefore an important first step. It was truly encouraging to see the Baltic banking sector come together around a shared challenge, and we value the opportunity for SEB, together with partners, to contribute to starting this important regional dialogue,” says Audrius Rutkauskas, Head of Baltic Sustainability at SEB.
The conference brought together esteemed speakers from the European Central Bank, the Bank of Latvia, UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and leading industry experts. The event was attended by nearly 70 representatives from across the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian financial sectors, reflecting strong regional engagement and a shared commitment to addressing nature‑related risks through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
