While many financial sector initiatives make commitments to align finance with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, the sum total of commitments almost certainly does not add up to a net zero sustainable trajectory. The pace of change and impact on the real economy is likely too slow, locking-in high carbon assets and serious unmitigated climate risks far before 2050 and paying too little attention to other environmental and social issues such as biodiversity and just transition.

This COP26 side event will bring together leading experts in the net zero and sustainable finance space to discuss what is needed to align all finance flows with Paris Agreement goals and ensure impact in the real economy, including how to: strengthen net zero commitments to avoid “greenwashing”; address methodologies and data/reporting/analytical gaps to guarantee impact beyond commitments; mainstream sustainability in operations, including finance and portfolio transition priorities; and examples of how leading institutions are moving with urgency and integrity.

Joint presentation

  • Thibaut Ghirardi,  Managing Director, 2DII France
  • Raphaël Lebel, Head of the Sustainable Finance Observatory, Finance For Tomorrow (F4T)
  • Bella Tonkonogy, Associate Director, Climate Policy Initiative

Roundtable discussion

  • Moderator: Bella Tonkonogy, Associate Director, Climate Policy Initiative
  • Pierre Ducret, Special Advisor for Climate Change & COP21 at Caisse des Dépôts Group (Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance member)
  • Guido Fürer, Swiss Re CIO and member of the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Steering Group
  • Tracey McDermott, Chair, UN-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance and Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered
  • Eric Usher, UNEP FI Head
  • Christopher Hurst, Director General, Projects Directorate at the European Investment Bank.

Should you have the Blue Zone accreditation (a blue badge) and you are watching through the COP26 platform, please join the Q&A at the end.