Commercial bank lending to climate-sensitive sectors in Poland

The article offers an in-depth examination of how the Polish banking sector interacts with climate policy, focusing especially on the difficulties of financing sectors vulnerable to climate change and the integration of ESG standards. The author notes that Polish commercial banks are currently undergoing a transition to meet climate policy requirements, which necessitates adjustments in risk management, reporting processes, and lending strategies across different economic sectors. Although the sector faces multiple obstacles, banks are steadily aligning with evolving regulatory and market expectations. The analysis highlights that over half of the corporate lending portfolio is tied to industries sensitive to climate risks, with construction and real estate playing a leading role. The author points out the current stability of these portfolios and the relatively low share of non-performing loans, but also warns that such figures may not capture the potential risks arising from ongoing climate transformation. The text further stresses that the banking sector is confronted with substantial ESG-related challenges. A major issue is the insufficient availability and quality of ESG data from clients and partners, which hampers accurate risk assessment and compliance with stricter regulations. Moreover, banks must continuously adapt to frequently changing and sometimes unclear legal requirements, which calls for the development of new procedures, reporting frameworks, and regulatory interpretation mechanisms.