5 June 2006, Toronto, Canada

On 5 June 2006, the UNEP FI North American Taskforce hosted its inaugural workshop on Environmental Risk Management, at the CIBC Learning and Knowledge Centre in Toronto. Attended by the NATF’s US and Canadian-based banks, the event included presentations on environmental credit risk, environmental assessment of REITs, climate change and carbon risk in the ERM process, as well as presentations on the redrafting of the Equator Principles, and opportunities in Cleantech. Both the morning and afternoon sessions ended with a panel discussion. Speakers included:

  • Dr. Matthew Kiernan, Chief Executive, Innovest Strategic Value Advisors
  • Bill Christmas, Senior Manager, Environmental Risk Management, CIBC
  • James Evans, Senior Manager, Environmental Risk Management, RBC
  • Richard Burrett, Managing Director, Sustainable Development Global Markets, ABN AMRO
  • Shawn Miller, Director, Environmental & Social Risk Management, Citigroup
  • Alfred de Witte, Deputy Project Finance Manager, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd.
  • Wally Hunter, Managing Partner, EnerTech Capital Canada Ltd.

Presentations:

The event was followed by an evening reception, where the Executive Director of the Pembina Institute, Marlo Raynolds, spoke on the environmental and social challenges of developing the Alberta Oil Sands. The NATF is planning a second workshop in New York during Q3, which will address the financial implications of climate change. More details will be available soon.