UNEP FI Global Roundtable 2020
Financing a Resilient Future
UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) hosted its 16th Global Roundtable virtually on 13–14 October 2020, in collaboration with Responsible Investor.
Held under the theme of “Financing a Resilient Future”, the GRT brought together decision-makers, experts and thought leaders on a virtual event platform, and help shape approaches to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and accelerating sustainable banking, insurance and investment.
Watch High-Profile Keynote Speeches
Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank
In her keynote speech Lagarde says that there is not enough green finance, and finance that claims to be green may not be green enough.
Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy on Climate
Change and Finance
Change and Finance
In conversation with Eric Usher, Carney emphasised the importance of financial institutions not just managing the risk but also seizing the opportunities in tackling climate change.
Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director,
International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
In her keynote speech, Georgieva outlined three priorities for financing a resilient future and encouraged the financial community to continue the fight against climate change.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the
UN Environment Programme
UN Environment Programme
Andersen called for the financial sector to shift investments away from unsustainable consumption and production, and stop financing coal.
Johan Rockström, Director,
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Rockström said it is important for the financial sector to combine risk assessment with the evidence that investing in sustainability makes sense for better economic development.
Christiana Figueres, Convenor, Mission2020
Figueres stressed that the finance sector has a primal role to play in addressing climate change in a timely fashion and holds tremendous leverage in determining our future.
Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
Economic systems and financial markets must invest in nature to shift finance away from destructive activities and towards nature-based solutions, said Amina Mohammed.
Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence
Ecologist Enric Sala highlighted the three main risks to the ocean and illustrated how banks, insurers & investors can take a sustainable approach to the blue economy.
Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary
UN Convention on Biological Diversity
UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Mrema called on financial institutions to bring a collective commitment to take action on biodiversity loss in line with the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
David Blood, Co-Founder & Senior Partner
Generation Investment Management
Generation Investment Management
Investment banker David Blood explored the opportunities of investing for sustainability and impact.
Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy on the Oceans
Financial institutions cannot ignore the enormous impact their activities have on the oceans’ health, said Peter Thomson of the United Nations.
