Sustainable Investment Forum North America 2019

450 sustainabe investment professionals came together in New York on Wednesday for the Sustainable Investment Forum.

As Greta Thunberg calls out world leaders on weak climate policies, and the IPCC releases a report that warns the world's oceans are in extreme danger, it is evident that urgent action is needed now more than ever before.  

The Sustainable Investment Forum North America, the largest finance-focussed event taking place during Climate Week NYC, has seen over 400 delegates, 40 speakers and more than 30 sponsors and partners, representing asset owners and managers, banks, development institutions, policymakers, think tanks and NGOs attend with the aim to mobilize financial capital towards achieving the crucial 1.5°C target.

[Photo] Panel: What will it mean to be a responsible investor in 2020 and beyond? Andrew Steel - Fitch Ratings; Valentijn van Nieuwenhuijzen - NN Investment Partners; Erik Gosule - Amundi Pioneer; Thomas DiNapoli - Office of the New York State Comptroller; Ayaan Adam - Green Climate Fund

The Forum, organised by Climate Action, in official partnership with the UNEP Finance Initiative, explored how we can mobilize the capital required to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and, in doing so, keep the global average temperature rise to below 1.5°C.

“Finance won't be able to solve climate change alone but has a huge role to play” -Kim Thomassin, CDPQ

A particular highlight of the Forum was the UNEP Finance Initiative focused stream which explored the newly launched “Principles for Responsible Banking”. The UNEP Finance Initiative’s Simone Dettling led the discussion on implementing these principles and what banks should do to align with society’s changing needs and demands and, in turn, how that will shape the future of sustainable finance.

[Photo] Elliot Harris, Assistant Secretary General, Chief Economist, United Nations 

 

[Photo] Nick Henry, CEO and Founder, Climate Action

[Photo] A packed room full of sustainable investment professionals

Responsible investment can take many forms.

From ESG screening to major strategy overhauls, these investment practices are evolving rapidly and global climate and sustainability goals are still very far from being met.  The Forum explored what investors need to do to position themselves and remain responsible investors in the decades to come.

“You can’t build a green economy on top of a brown one and expect to get to 1.5 degrees." - Paul Bodnar, The Rocky Mountain Institute.

With the ‘Socially Responsible Investing’ market set to hit $23 trillion this year and ESG assets having grown 200% over the past decade, nobody is questioning “Why?”

They are asking, “WHY NOT?”

Climate Action would like to thank all our attendees, speakers, sponsors and partners who have again made the Forum such a fantastic event.

Register your interest here to join us next year at the Sustainable Investment Forum North America 2020.