Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards-The Outstanding Chief Sustainability Officer Award:
Mr. Manfred Kopper Castro, Chief Sustainability Officer, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Honduras
Mr. Manfred Kopper Castro, Chief Sustainability Officer, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Honduras
Specificity of Outstanding Actions
Under the leadership of Manfred Kopper, Head of the Sustainability Office, CABEI has undergone a significant transformation, positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainable finance. A renewed Sustainability Policy and the Institutional Sustainability Strategy 2025–2029 established a clear roadmap to embed ESG criteria across operations. This was supported by the modernization of SIEMAS and the development of Environmental and Social Performance Standards, enabling ESG integration into 100% of operations.
Significance of Sustainable Contributions
This transformation has delivered measurable results. CABEI achieved ISO 14001 recertification with zero non-conformities, reached a carbon-positive position by offsetting 120% of emissions, and improved its MSCI ESG rating from BB to BBB. In 2025, the Bank mobilized USD 733.7 million in climate finance, reinforcing its role as a key regional financial catalyst.
Breadth of Social Influence
CABEI has expanded its influence across the region through partnerships with global organizations and climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund and accreditation to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Flagship initiatives such as the Regional Environmental Credit Market and the Mesoamerican Reef program further position the Bank as an integrator of sustainable finance solutions across countries and sectors.
Persistence of Impact and Proliferation of Experience
Sustainability has been institutionalized through governance, systems, and forward-looking initiatives, ensuring long-term continuity. Ongoing efforts such as the Sustainable Taxonomy, PMACC, and ESG monitoring systems reinforce continuous improvement. Coupled with Manfred Kopper’s prior leadership across corporate, public, and entrepreneurial sectors, this reflects a consistent trajectory of scaling sustainability impact.
The following section provides a detailed overview of these achievements, further elaborating on the actions, outcomes, and impact across each evaluation dimension.