Building Bridges and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) are joining forces to bring four days of action on sustainable finance to Geneva, Switzerland. The 5th edition of Building Bridges will be held from 9-12 December 2024, and will see UNEP FI host its 18th Global Roundtable on 10-11 December under the same roof, with the common objective of aligning financial flows with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Patrick Odier, Chair, Building Bridges, commented:

“We are looking forward to joining forces with UNEP FI this year.  A faster transition to a more sustainable global economic model requires a collective effort and a sharing of expertise among all financial stakeholders.”

Geneva and Switzerland, home to Building Bridges and UNEP FI, is an international hub for sustainable finance thanks to its unique ecosystem of multilateralism whilst being a world-class financial centre. UNEP FI is a founding member of Building Bridges, and the enhanced collaborative effort between these two leading organisations will further leverage networks in Switzerland, and around the globe, to accelerate action through finance on protecting the planet, reducing social inequalities, and improving access to human rights.

The Building Bridges movement meets every year with its community, bringing relevant decision makers and players from the finance and corporate sectors, governments, civil society, academia and sustainable development communities to the same table around its flagship event in Geneva. In 2023, the 4th edition of Building Bridges gathered more than 2500 participants from 110 countries, featuring a total of 70 events.

UNEP FI’s biennial Global Roundtable is a pivotal event for finance industry action, providing thousands of finance professionals the opportunity to collaborate with peers and learn from global leaders. This year’s edition, held on 10-11 December alongside Building Bridges, marks the Global Roundtable’s return to Geneva after 30 years. The flagship event will focus on accelerating practical approaches to setting and implementing targets in areas including net zero, nature, impact, pollution, human rights, and financial inclusion to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Eric Usher, Head, UNEP FI, highlighted the importance of this partnership: “We are excited to partner with Building Bridges to bring the UNEP FI Global Roundtable back to Geneva after 30 years. Together, we are working to align financial flows with global sustainability goals and to catalyze action right across the financial system.”