Guidelines and collaborations
We ensure a robust sustainability framework through clearly defined commitments and well-established forms of collaboration.
Guidelines, frameworks, and agreements
SEK adheres to established international guidelines, frameworks, and agreements that ensure our operations are conducted responsibly.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
A framework consisting of ten fundamental principles concerning human rights, labor rights, as well as environmental and anti-corruption standards, which are directed at all companies.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
These goals focus on reducing poverty, protecting the environment and climate, promoting peace, equality, and good health, as well as ensuring the sustainable use of the Earth’s resources.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The Principles clarify the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights and the duty of states to protect these rights. They are based on three pillars: protect, respect, and access to remedy.
The Equator Principles or OECD Guidelines for Managing Social and Environmental Risks in State-Supported Lending
These guidelines are used to identify, assess, and manage social and environmental risks in projects financed with state-supported credits. They aim to harmonize risk assessments and ensure adherence to sustainability standards.
OECD Guidelines for Sustainable Lending in Exports to Low-Income Countries
Guidelines for integrating sustainability considerations into lending and export credit financing to low-income countries, with a focus on minimizing negative impacts and supporting long-term development.
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Guidelines for multinational enterprises covering, among other things, human rights and labor conditions. They are directed at both states and multinational companies and are similar in scope to the UN Guiding Principles.
OECD Conventions and Guidelines on Anti-Corruption
Collaborations
Collaboration with clients, banks, and other partners is an important component for sharing experiences and knowledge, discussing challenges, and finding solutions to various sustainability-related issues. Below is a selection of the collaborations in which SEK participates.
The Equator Principles Working Groups and OECD Working Groups
SEK’s participation in the OECD working groups on social and environmental considerations for officially supported export credits, as well as the Equator Principles working groups, is valuable for the exchange of experience regarding project due diligence and the application of guidelines.
Net Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance (NZECA)
SEK is a founding member of NZECA, launched at the UN Climate Conference in 2023. NZECA is a collaboration between export credit agencies with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions financed through export credits. This is achieved by developing standards and principles, and supporting the global net-zero emissions target through sustainable finance.
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
In 2025, SEK joined PCAF, a global partnership of financial institutions that develops standardized methods for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from loans and investments.
SEK’s and EKN’s Scientific Climate Council
The Climate Council is an advisory expert body that aims to guide the Swedish export finance system in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.
The focus of the Climate Council’s work is the impact of export financing on global greenhouse gas emissions. The Council provides strategic expertise and serves as a discussion partner to SEK and EKN on matters of principle. It has no operational role in individual business decisions.
Read more about SEK’s and EKN’s Scientific Climate Council.
Mistra BIOPATH
Since 2023, SEK has participated in the Mistra BIOPATH research programme, whose vision is to integrate biodiversity as a natural part of all decision-making within the financial system and the business community.
