Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 2011 Global Roundtable, 19-20 October, Washington D.C.
Accounting for natural capital in lending and investment

With mounting the economic losses of natural capital exceeding those of the 2008 financial crisis, how to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services criteria in finance and investment products?
Hedging water risks for buyout capital markets

Water issues in emerging market economies will prove costly over the long-term.
Insuring responsibility: Managing ESG risks

Through its financial services, the insurance industry enables most of its corporate clients’ extractive, manufacturing and distribution activities. Some of these activities can lead to ESG risks and challenges.
Innovative approaches to natural capital in the North American market

A number of innovative investment strategies are being adopted in the North American market to drive greener and cleaner financing.
Earth Summit 2012: Financing the Rio vision

What forward thinking should financial institutions seek out of Rio+20 as far environmental, social, and governance issues are concerned?
Mission impossible? Clean energy for the next 2 billion

Rocketing growth in energy demand will have to be met while energy-related carbon emissions reduced if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided.
Beyond smoke stacks: The carbon footprint of capital allocation

Investors today still lack the motivation, understanding and skills needed to quantify their own contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and to live up to their climate accountability.
Empowering resilience: Communities, risk and insurance in the UNFCCC

Climate change will lead to considerable loss and damage, and developing countries will be hit hardest. How can the insurance sector help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change?
Climate ambition: Geo-politics, competitiveness and growth

“Policy action on climate change” versus “jobs and competitiveness” – Is the issue as simple as this? Why should developed countries – precisely on the grounds of jobs and economic competitiveness – take note of the ambition in some of the emerging economies of the world?
The tipping point: Making ESG "real" across the institution

The tipping point: Making ESG “real” across the institution BODY: What governance structures are needed to effectively embed ESG concerns across financial organizations?
Sustained stability in the next economy

UNEP FI’s 13th Global Roundtable came at a crucial time for the international community, with the financial crisis offering a stark reminder that instability constantly looms over the horizon when issues of sustainability are overlooked in day-to-day financial operations.
The data dance: Movers and shakers in the sustainability knowledge game

The call for companies to report and disclose more and better on sustainability issues has gone out through numerous initiatives. But what is the investment community doing with the reported sustainability data?
Changing risk, risking change: The principles for Sustainable Insurance

Amid a changing risk landscape and the increasing diversity and interconnectedness of risks, an insurance industry systematically managing ESG issues can contribute to achieving a resource-efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable global economy.
A culture that works: Engaging employees for the green transition

Employee engagement is crucial to an organisation’s quest to become truly sustainable. How can financial institutions attain the necessary employee buy-in for their environmental policies, processes and products to be successful?
Smart cities for the future: Buildings and infrastructure

What are smart PPP approaches for financing the transformation of urban life into sustainable cities of the future?
Effective human rights due diligence: From blaming and shaming to knowing and showing

What are the responsibilities of financial institutions when it comes to the respect of human rights in ventures in which they have a stake?
Beyond the tipping point

In the wake of the financial crisis and in the context of social imbalances, the need for collaborative action to achieve 'sustainable development' is more tangible than ever. Have we reached a tipping point? And is the financial sector ready to play the core role it can?
One report: Information that counts

The state of accounting standards and the future of integrated corporate reporting.
REDDy, Set, Grow: The race for forest-carbon markets

What does REDD look like through a financial lens?
Investing in green employment

Green jobs need substantial investment in order to be realized to their full potential and North America is looking to lead the way.
Energy efficiency financing

How can energy efficiency in buildings, industry and other sectors become a source of value creation for lenders’ customer base?
Crossing the rubicon: Investing in real estate retrofit

The building retrofit market in the US has an estimated potential of over US$ 400 billion whilst in Europe energy efficiency retrofit is central to achieving 20 % energy savings by 2020.
Insuring smart building of the future

The insurance industry is a key actor in ensuring the resiliency and resource efficiency of buildings through risk management and insurance. What are examples of innovative insurance solutions?
North America’s next frontier: Accelerating a green energy future

How can financial institutions incentivise and accelerate the deployment of green energy in North America?