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KfW and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Global challenges such as increasing global warming, the coronavirus pandemic, social crisis and international conflicts shape social and political discourse. They highlight the urgent need to drive the transition to a sustainable society. Against this background, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Agenda 2030 with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2015.

As one of the world's leading promotional banks, KfW supports these 17 goals for environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development. These efforts reinforce the bank's claim to be a pioneer in shaping the transformation towards a better, more climate-friendly and more sustainable world. Based on its mandate as a promotional bank of the German Federal Government and the German federal states, KfW has been supporting the sustainable improvement of living and economic conditions for more than seventy years.

KfW manages its business on the basis of key megatrends: climate and environmental protection (SDG 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 and others), digitalization and innovation (SDG 9 and others), social change (SDG 4, 10 and others) and globalization (SDG 7, 8, 9 and others). As a “responsible bank”, KfW Group contributes to meeting all SDGs by promoting and financing countries, municipalities, companies and private individuals in Germany, Europe and around the world. Since no international standards have been established to date with view to reporting SDG-contributions in the financial sector, KfW has developed its own group-wide SDG mapping. KfW is thus transparent about which positive SDG contributions can be expected from its new commitments every year.

Information on the current SDG mapping of KfW Group can be found here.

The contribution of KfW Group to the SDGs12

SDG Mapping
As of 31 December 2023

1 KfW's financing generally contributes to several SDGs at the same time.

2 The SDG mapping depicted was adjusted for special effects from mandated transactions amounting to 54.24 billion EUR in FY 2022 and 11.5 billion EUR in FY 2023 to stabilize and secure energy supply in Germany, which were carried out on behalf of the German government. Further information can be found here.

KfW Group contributes to all 17 SDGs. Our focus on promotion and financing is reflected in the SDG mapping. KfW makes the biggest contributions to

  • SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 8: – Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action

KfW is a pioneer in the banking sector with its volume-based SDG mapping. KfW largely updates its annual SDG mapping automatically on the basis of the new commitments made the previous financial year.

SDG mapping of KfW Group

UN SDG - Sustainable Development GoalsFinancial year 2023
in EUR million
Financial year 2022
in EUR million
SDG 1 No Poverty3,4144,012
SDG 2 Zero Hunger391742
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being2,5552,723
SDG 4 Quality Education4,1724,206
SDG 5 Gender Equality948565
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation1,9231,809
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy46,81557,690
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth51,322*40,468*
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure24,66020,041
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities3,7024,500
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities28,88349,962
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production439542
SDG 13 Climate Action35,10457,287
SDG 14 Life Below Water227217
SDG 15 Life on Land1,014990
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions842592
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals2,0201,963

*The SDG mapping depicted was adjusted for special effects from mandated transactions amounting to 54.24 billion EUR in FY 2022 and 11.5 billion EUR in FY 2023 to stabilize and secure energy supply in Germany, which were carried out on behalf of the German government. Further information can be found here.

The contribution of KfW Group to the SDGs

Blick auf die Grünanlagen hinter dem HAupthaus un dem IPEX Hochhaus der KfW Niederlassung Frankfurt im Juli 2014

17 sustainable development goals on the façade of KfW

KfW is also committed to the UN sustainability goals on the façade of its headquarters in Frankfurt

(20 September 2019)

Play video (0:59 min.)

Questions and answers

Sustainable Development Goals

Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development was adopted by the Member States of the United Nations in September 2015. At the core of Agenda 2030 are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address all three dimensions of sustainability for the first time: social, environmental and economic. The goals are universal and therefore apply equally to developing, emerging and industrialised countries. With Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the international community expresses its conviction that global challenges can only be solved by working together and at the same time provides a framework for a sustainable development process.

Further information

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KfW Group

Sustainability Strategy

Do you have any questions or comments on sustainability at KfW Group? Please contact the Sustainability Strategy of KfW