At the 2026 Villars Summit from 18–20 March, leaders from finance, academia, foundations, and civil society came together at a moment of increasing complexity for sustainability. We were honoured to be involved again this year, convening a focused breakfast discussion on how to rebuild trust and rethink sustainable investment strategies in a shifting world. Participants explored how sustainability is being reframed through the lenses of security, resilience, and competitiveness, and what this means for capital allocation and portfolio management. There was broad consensus that there is a need for:

  • sustainable finance to demonstrate its ability to deliver real economy outcomes while managing trade-offs across climate, nature, affordability, and near-term priorities.
  • sharper investment strategies, clearer evidence of impact, and stronger alignment between public and private actors.
  • maintaining long-term commitments while adapting to short-term pressures.
  • disruption that can act as a catalyst to strengthen credibility, improve transparency, and scale solutions that already work.

Beyond the breakfast session, the Symposium offered a platform for exchange across sectors and generations. With a highly engaged community, Villars continues to connect perspectives and foster dialogue at a critical moment for sustainable finance. Karen Hitschke, CEO of Building Bridges, also moderated a session on biodiversity markets, exploring how emerging instruments can evolve into credible, high-integrity market infrastructure. The focus was on translating innovation into scalable investment opportunities that deliver measurable impact.

As a neutral platform, Building Bridges continues to convene this dialogue, connecting stakeholders and helping translate ambition into action.

About Villars Institute

About Villars Established in 2022, the Villars Institute is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero and nature-positive economy and to restoring the health of the planet. Located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Villars Institute serves as a platform for systemic change and a hub for intergenerational collaboration. It also curates artistic, cultural, and educational activities that promote systems leadership, planetary health, and ecopreneurship.

Learn more about Villars Institute.

Learn more about the 2026 Villars Summit.