July 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on latest developments in green finance in the UK.
It will be an opportunity to discuss next steps for the sector in responding to actions being put forward by the Financial Conduct Authority aimed at:
- improving climate change disclosures - including from asset managers and life insurers - and the provision to consumers of effective information and access to green financial products
- ensuring that the sector is factoring climate change risk into its operations and decision-making
Those attending will also discuss the progress made by the Green Finance Institute, following its introduction in the Government’s Green Finance Strategy, in enabling investors and businesses to collaborate and discuss green projects with greater clarity.
The agenda includes a ministerial contribution from Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth.
Further keynote speakers include Richard Monks, Director of Strategy, FCA and Sir Roger Gifford, Chair, Green Finance Taskforce
The conference takes place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we expect discussion on the potential role that the green economy can play in the post-pandemic economic recovery - including through attracting investment and providing jobs.
It follows concerns from the International Energy Agency (IEA) that the pandemic could lead to a decrease in investment in green energy and wider infrastructure projects unless government delivers an economic recovery plan that includes investment in green technology, with a further warning from the agency of a £400m collapse in global energy investment in 2020.
Further areas for discussion include:
- the impact of climate change on financial services and what it means for the green finance sector
- the risks posed to existing investment models
- options for supporting the growth of green financing and clean tech
- how to ensure the post-COVID-19 economic recovery remains environmentally conscious in the face of pressures for rapid regrowth, and that the UK still meets its 2050 climate goals
Key areas for discussion:
Global economic trends, consumer preferences, and opportunities
- The potential impact on financial institutions of the global low carbon transition - and opportunities for innovation, including in new products and services
- The response to shareholder calls for divestment from fossil fuels and the likely impact of the recent decline in oil prices following the pandemic
- How the sector can respond to demand for new green loans, mortgages and other financial products in light of growing consumer awareness of climate change - reinforced by perceptions of a positive impact on the climate from the COVID-related economic turndown
Governance and risk management
- Integrating climate risk management into existing governance and scenario planning processes - and into the process of transition for the financial sector in a net-zero policy environment
- Innovative approaches to measuring risks associated with transition and different possible climate scenarios - and testing resilience
Corporate citizenship, decision-making and transparency
- The role of finance providers in delivering a just transition and stewardship of biodiversity in their operations, supply chains and investment decisions
- The economic value of biodiversity and integrating biodiversity factors across investment decision-making
- Assessing the role and liabilities of financial institutions in protecting biodiversity and ecosystems from adverse impacts of their operations, supply chains and investment decisions
- Disclosure requirements and what more needs to be done to provide further transparency - including options for further regulation to challenge firms to identify genuinely green investments and bear down on greenwashing
Developments that are relevant to the discussion:
The agenda:
- Regulation and the development of the green finance market
- The UK’s role in the global green economy
- Opportunities and challenges from climate change for the financial sector - innovation and new products, managing risk, and meeting consumer demand for green financial products and services
- Challenges for the financial services sector in moving to net-zero - investment choices, transparency, and the process of transition in a post-COVID-19 economy
- Biodiversity - the economic value and its role in investment decisions
- Managing the transition to net-zero - climate-related disclosure, consumer trust and protection, and integration of climate change risks
- Next steps for green finance policy
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It’s particularly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by officials from the Bank of England; HM Treasury; BEIS; UK Government Investments; the Treasury Legal Advisers; HM Revenue & Customs; the Committee on Climate Change; Defra; the Industrial Strategy Council; the Animal Health & Welfare Board England; the Department for International Trade; the Department for Transport; the the DWP; the Environment Agency; the UK Space Agency; the Office for National Statistics; The Scottish Government; the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, ROI.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
