The landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed by nearly 200 countries at CBD COP15 calls for the global financial sector to align their portfolios with nature positive and net zero outcomes. Innovative instruments, tools and pilot programmes are quickly evolving to enable and finance this transition, leveraging existing platforms and initiatives that bring together market actors, civil society, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, experts, and policymakers.

Both regulation and revenue opportunities are driving innovation in two key areas that will be the focus of this webinar:

Shaping frameworks and governance for high-integrity biodiversity credit markets:

Biodiversity credit markets continue to evolve alongside increased levels of technical knowledge on processing the complexity of biodiversity and reflecting it in scaleable market-based approaches. Getting biodiversity credit markets right is a determining factor in achieving our climate, nature, and broader development goals. If we fail to do so, this may impair our ability to reach the global climate and biodiversity goals. For these markets to reach their potential however, and not result in perverse outcomes, the establishment of integrity principles and a robust, actionable governance framework is critical.

Mainstreaming the alignment of financial flows with nature:

Public and private financial instutions, and Governments, need to understand the degree to which their financial flows are aligned or misaligned with nature-related goals. The Nature-Finance Alignment Tool uses existing metrics and frameworks to help financial
institutions not only track the overall alignment of their portfolios, but also to identify less aligned regions and sectors, and to address some of the key disclosure metrics linked to TNFD.

Speakers

Governments can significantly accelerate progress towards environmental sustainability through policies, but also by promoting public private collaborations and investment. How credibly a government commits is key to the success of companies that operate in the country. How can investors assess government’s commitment to sustainability?

Increasing assurance related to sustainability reporting is a must to improve Investors trust and to reduce the risk of greenwashing. The workshop will highlight the key challenges financial institutions are facing when they are gathering external assurance (limited and reasonable) and will provide tips & tricks to best prepare for it.

This event will focus on how to empower start-ups in emerging markets to innovate for the green and circular transition and the SDGs. This multistakeholder discussion will provide an opportunity to highlight best practices in integrating circular and green principles into financial support programmes for innovative entrepreneurship.

In a conversation workshop introduced by the Education Finance Network, the Education Outcomes Fund and the Impact-Linked Fund for Education will bring two case studies of innovative financing instruments used to finance education projects. The aim of the workshop is to facilitate peer-to-peer learning between organizations and individuals with experience designing and implementing innovative financing tools in education.

The Ethics and Trust in Finance Prize asks people under the age of 35 working in or studying finance to reimagine how financial institutions, together with their stakeholders, can balance the desire for growth, security, and stability with aspirations for a more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive financial paradigm.

This webinar, co-hosted by Sustainable Finance Geneva and the Observatoire de la Finance, will feature a selection of the past winners of the Prize to share their unique ideas about trust and ethics in the financial system, and to engage the audience in discussion and debate.

Speakers

• Julie Segal: First Prize winner of the 8th. edition (2020-2021) – awarded for “Justice and Sustainability: Pricing in Physical Climate Risks” which examines the consequences of pricing in climate risks on environmental justice.
• Babatunde Onabajo: First Prize winner of the 6th. edition (2016-2017) – awarded for “When Banks Do Not Always Know Best” which examined the ethical implications of contactless cards and a cashless society.
• Ross Murdoch: First Prize winner of the 5th edition (2014/2015) – awarded for “Behavioural Ethics and the Next Generation in Finance” which analyses how behavioral ethics can enable young professional in finance to understand the pressures they face and to become ambassadors for ethical decision-making.

NOTE: Alumni are speaking in a personal capacity and their views should not be treated as reflecting those of their employer. The $20,000 prize is currently open for applications until May 29, 2023. More information available at ethicsinfinance.org.