Training and Incentive Strategies for Carbon Footprint Reduction in Quito's Financial Sector

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Abstract

In the face of the climate crisis and global regulatory pressures, sustainability has become a strategic component for the financial sector. This article examines the training strategies and incentive systems related to sustainability within a private financial institution in Quito, with the aim of identifying barriers, evaluating their effectiveness, and proposing a replicable action model. Using a qualitative approach, the study conducted a document review of internal policies and institutional reports (2021–2024), complemented by semi-structured interviews with executives and employees. The results show that although there is participation in training activities, these represent a marginal percentage of the total annual training hours and lack technical depth. Likewise, no structured incentives or governance mechanisms were identified to support concrete environmental goals. This disconnect between discourse and practice limits the actual impact of sustainability initiatives. The study concludes that it is necessary to implement mandatory technical training, incentive systems linked to (ESG) environmental, social and governance indicators, and transparency mechanisms that strengthen accountability. The proposed recommendations aim to serve as a guide for other financial institutions in Ecuador seeking to effectively and contextually integrate sustainability, thus promoting a genuine transition toward a low-carbon economy.