Partnership between United Nations Environment and the global financial sector to promote sustainable finance
The Technical Expert Group (TEG) published its final report on the EU taxonomy on 9th March 2020. This webinar will present the report’s technical screening criteria for up to 68 adaptation activities, as well as a methodology for implementing the adaptation criteria of the taxonomy. The Commission will also present its timeline for implementation of the taxonomy.
UNEP FI is launching two hands-on tool prototypes that will enable banks, investors and their service providers to implement a holistic approach to impact.
Find out about the latest research findings and resources for financial institutions to assess natural capital risks, and expectations for the sector to address these under global policy frameworks.
This webinar will provide insight into the transition towards a circular economy, as part of UNEP FI research into related financial sector strategies and market practices.
This webinar by UNEP’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI) will focus on investment portfolios and the key findings of two pioneering TCFD pilot projects by UNEP’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), spanning listed equity, corporate debt and real estate. Understanding climate-related physical and transition risks and opportunities in investments is critical, particularly since the global insurance industry, as institutional investors, collectively represents over USD 30 trillion in assets under management. Separately, the PSI is currently carrying out a ground-breaking project to pilot the TCFD recommendations in the context of insurance portfolios.
Join the PSI’s first webinar on plastic pollution. The webinar will present the findings of the PSI study on how insurers can address plastic pollution risks as risk managers, underwriters and investors, and we will hear from insurers already tackling this issue.
The European Commission and UNEP FI have launched calls for expression of interest for several new EEFIG working groups dealing with leading edge issues to scale up energy efficiency investment, in support of the European Green Deal and the EU´s Sustainable Finance Action Plan. During the webinar, the working group leads will present in greater detail on the working mode and main topics to be addressed by each working group, and we will describe the kind of expertise we seek and process for sending in an expression of interest.
Supported by UNEP and working with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), the Sustainable Insurance Forum (SIF) has pioneered efforts to share knowledge on activities that can strengthen assessment of potential climate risks facing insurance markets and the oversight of such risks through supervisory practices. The SIF-IAIS Issues Paper on TCFD Implementation within the insurance sector assesses the state of play across jurisdictions and provides options for supervisory action.
This unique webinar will dig into the details of how ESG risks and opportunities can have material impacts on bank balance sheets, investor returns and the long-term financial health of the global economy. The discussion will consider key ESG trends in the banking sector from the perspective of reporting banks, investors, and one of the world’s largest investment data analysts.
UNEP FI will launch the GCA’s initial flagship report, which identifies barriers to increased financing for adaptation and presents six clear recommendations for the finance sector, including climate risk management, standards for data and metrics, capacity building, unlocking investment opportunities and delivering adaptation-related policies.
Failure to adapt to climate change is one of the greatest risks to global economic growth and social stability. The Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) was launched in October 2018 to accelerate adaptation action and support. At September’s UN Climate Summit in New York, Ban-Ki Moon, Bill Gates and Kristalina Georgieva will present the […]
This webinar, jointly hosted by UNEP FI and the European Banking Federation will provide insights into the application of the EU Taxonomy for banks that wish to apply the taxonomy for banking activities on a voluntary basis.
Join this Responsible Investor webinar to find out how investors are assessing ocean risks like acidification, biodiversity loss, and plastics pollution, and how leaders plan to align their portfolios with principles for a sustainable blue economy.
UNEP FI members from banking, insurance and investment are invited to this presentation of UNEP FI’s paper on adaptation finance by the lead authors, Stacy Swann and Alan Miller of Climate Finance Advisors.
The paper provides recommendations for financial institutions including integration in risk management systems and improved data & metrics.
The webinar will present the key findings from the survey and discuss how UNEP FI is working to shift finance sector practices toward greater climate and ESG ambition.
The banking industry represented by leading UNEP FI member banks worldwide have set out to develop global Principles for Responsible Banking that will define the banking industry’s role and responsibilities in aligning financing with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on Climate Change to help shape a sustainable future.
Energy efficiency is one of the most concrete actions financial institutions can take to advance their sustainability performance and tap into the trillions of USD of energy inefficient assets. It is also increasingly on the radar of financial regulators as they consider an adjustment of capital adequacy requirements for certain types of energy efficient financial products. Real estate, which is the largest source of global stored wealth, is strongly affected by energy efficiency. With more than 230 billion USD of new investment every year, energy efficiency is almost as large a market as renewable energy.
UNEP FI has recently published its Positive Impact Real Estate Investment Framework, part of a suite of resources to address the SDG financing gap and shift financing practices so that environmental, social and economic impacts are fully considered, intended and measured in investment activities. This webinar will provide an overview of the Framework, and include presentations from practitioners using an impact-based approach in their investment strategies and acquisition and management.
The Natural Capital Finance Alliance, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the MAVA Foundation, has come up with tools and insights to help practitioners identify material natural capital risks and opportunities within their portfolios and integrate these considerations into financial decision making. The webinar will provide an overview of the recently launched ENCORE tool (Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure). It also marks the official online launch of the NCFA’s latest report produced by PwC, which applies the ENCORE tool to develop a natural capital assessment framework for enhanced portfolio risk management in banks.
This webinar helps financial institutions understand how to apply a positive holistic impact lens to portfolios or products for corporates with unspecified use of proceeds, via a recently released Model Framework.
The Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance set up by the Commission in July 2018 has launched a call for feedback on EU action to develop a unified EU-wide classification system – or taxonomy – for environmentally sustainable economic activities. This Webinar will provide background and guidance on the consultation process to support stakeholders and experts interested in contributing.
UNEP FI has pioneered work on Positive Impact finance, and TCFD implementation for investors, banks and insurers. Join this webinar to hear from the leaders at UNEP FI about the next steps in financing the Sustainable Development Goals, TCFD implementation, and how the bigger picture in sustainable finance is evolving.
Currently, there are nearly 1,100 natural, cultural, and mixed (i.e. natural and cultural) World Heritage Sites across the globe. Natural World Heritage Sites, in particular, provide economic, social and environmental benefits. They provide vital resources such as food, fuel and water; perform environmental services such as stabilising soils, preventing floods, and capturing carbon; and contribute significantly to economies through jobs, tourism, recreation, and exports. Find out what action the insurance industry is taking to protect these valuable sites.
A conversation about “Rethinking Impact to Finance the SDGs”, a Position Paper and Call to Action prepared by UNEP FI’s Positive Impact Initiative, now out for consultation. This paper argues that the cost of achieving the SDGs can be significantly reduced and that private sector solutions can be significantly stepped up, via a new approach […]
This Webinar will discuss the results of a collaboration between sixteen of the world’s leading banks with UN Environment Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), and climate risk and adaptation advisory firm Acclimatise. The banks set out to develop and test a widely applicable scenario-based approach for estimating the impact of climate change on their corporate lending portfolios as recommended by the Recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Hear directly from the banks, climate consultants and UNEP FI secretariat involved in this project.
The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and collaborators (RICS, PRI, Global Investor Coalition) is developing an impact-based investment framework for real estate to address the SDG financing gap. UNEP FI’s Property Working Group has issued a discussion paper which introduces a positive impact investment framework and requests feedback on the opportunities and challenges in investing […]
Sixteen banks working in collaboration with UNEP FI, risk and investment management experts, and leading scientists have recently published a jointly developed methodology that will enable banks to be more transparent about their exposure to climate-related risks and opportunities, in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Join this webinar to hear more about the methodology for scenario-based assessment of risks and opportunities from the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Managing risk on two sides: The unique challenges of integrating ESG for the insurance industry Monday, April 30th, 09:30 EST | 14:30 GMT | 15:30 CET How ESG factors are influencing risk assessments: climate change, capital modelling and extreme events – How are recent weather-related events, which are being linked to climate change, changing insurance […]
This is a crucial time for EU policy on ESG, and Responsible Investor is presenting a series of three webinars focused on European sustainable investment policy in the context of the High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG) and the stated objectives of EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.
The series will feature senior figures from the EU, leading market participants and expert analysts, including UNEP FI’s Elodie Feller.
UNEP FI and the PRI will host a webinar on the European Commission’s public consultation on investor duties (fiduciary duties) and sustainability on Friday, 8 December at 10am GMT/11am CET. The consultation builds on the EU High Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance’s interim report, which recommends greater clarification by the EU in this area. […]
Watch the recording of a webinar held on 6 December which addressed the issues of assessing needs, set processes developing innovative financial mechanisms and adapting existing instruments for funding the SDGs. It gathered several influential representatives from the finance community and the corporate sector to discuss the challenges of the financing the SDGs. The webinar was organised by Climate Action and Sustainable Investment Forum Europe and featured UNEP FI’s Careen Abb from the Positive Impact Initiative.
The webinar, organized jointly by Agence française de développement, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNEP Finance Initiative, will take a glimpse into the current landscape of standards and practices related to indigenous peoples’ rights and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on the free, prior and informed consent principle. It will also consider barriers to […]
The webinar, organized jointly by Agence française de développement, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNEP Finance Initiative, will take a glimpse into the current landscape of standards and practices related to indigenous peoples’ rights and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on the free, prior and informed consent principle. It will also consider barriers to the principle implementation and solutions to address them. It will be set up as a platform of knowledge exchange between industry representatives and human rights experts working with indigenous groups and on stakeholder engagement in business.
From gender parity to inequality and climate action, the SDGs present an opportunity to transform the impact that the financial services industry has on society. In order to achieve the goals by 2030, an additional $2.5tr is needed annually. Join EY and practitioners from BNP Paribas, Aviva, CDC Impact investors and UNEP FI to explore how financial services can play a key role in plugging the gap.
The European Union’s Energy Union Framework Strategy includes energy efficiency as one of its five dimensions and states it is to be considered as an energy source in its own right. The ambitious Paris climate agreement also underlines the importance of energy efficiency. To realise its full potential, public funds will not suffice and private financing will have to be unlocked on a large scale. This webinar, organised in partnership with the European Commission, will discuss the use of energy efficient mortgages in Europe.
Register by 22 September 2017.
The Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG) is a partnership between UN Environment Finance Initiative and the European Commission to scale up energy efficiency financing and investment. This webinar for UNEP FI members is to seek your views on the future development of EEFIG, which will enter its third phase in 2018.
Join a conversation with Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) on Incorporating ESG into Investment Strategies ahead of the Sustainable Investment Forum 2017.
This webinar, organised by the European Commission in partnership with the UN Environment Finance Initiative, will discuss the role of standardisation and benchmarking in order to facilitate access to finance for energy efficiency investments.
This webinar provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from Eric Usher, Head of UNEP Finance Initiative and UNEP FI members about the highlights of UNEP FI’s work in 2017.
This members-only webinar highlights UNEP FI’s work plan for the European region and discusses expectations for and from the members. The discussion will then focus on the Energy Efficiency initiatives in Europe and opportunities for membership involvement.
Positive Impact Initiative The Positive Impact Initiative is driven by a group of UNEP FI members seeking to establish a new financing paradigm based on a holistic appraisal of impacts to the three pillars of sustainable development. This is seen as the key to the twin challenges of future-proofing business and achieving the Sustainable Development […]