The Financial Times and IFC have launched the FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Conference and Awards 2012, the leading global summit and awards programme designed to recognise banks and other financial institutions that demonstrate leadership and innovation in integrating environmental, social and corporate governance considerations into their business.

Now in their seventh year, the Sustainable Finance Awards reflect the growing role that the financial sector plays in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change and environmental degradation, social exclusion, food security, improving access to finance and using technology to better serve the world's poor.