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 importance of nature and biodiversity risks, which are increasingly becoming an integral part of the financial sector agenda.
Biodiversity is not 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, it is translating into financial, transition and potential systemic risks for banks and the wider economy.
“Nature and biodiversity risks have become an important part of financial sector risk management. It is important for banks to understand in a timely manner how these risks affect clients’ operations, financing decisions and long-term resilience. The joint conference organised by the Baltic financial sector associations is an important step towards strengthening knowledge, fostering cooperation and helping the financial sector integrate these issues into its day-to-day work,” says Agnese Brašmane, Adviser at Finance Latvia Association.
“Nature and biodiversity risks are currently important factors in financial decision-making. We are proud to bring together voices from the European Central Bank, national central banks, UNEP Finance Initiative and other industry leaders under the Swedbank’s roof to discuss how the financial sector can better identify, manage and integrate biodiversity considerations into strategies, risk management and reporting,” says Mārtiņš Feldmanis, Head of Baltic Banking Sustainability Office, Swedbank.
The conference brought together esteemed speakers from the European Central Bank, the Bank of Latvia, UNEP Finance Initiative and leading industry experts. The event was attended by over 60 representatives from across the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian financial sectors, reflecting strong regional engagement and a commitment to appropriately addressing nature-related risks through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
