Net Zero Pensions: 6 months on from COP26

Net Zero Pensions: 6 months on from COP26

What progress has been made on net zero since COP26? This webinar gathers many of the participants and organisations represented at our COP26 activities. It asks them to consider the progress made since the summit by their organisations and the industry at large, and whether the energy for change among key decision makers has has been maintained.

During the Glasgow summit last November, we organised a series of activities around Net Zero pensions with sessions on setting net zero goals for asset owners, the challenges for pension providers after COP26 and implementing net zero goals and the launch of our report Pension Providers and the Path to Net Zero.

Speakers included:
– Faith Ward, Chair, IIGCC & Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Brunel Pension Partnership
– Eva Cairns, Head of Sustainability Insights & Climate Strategy, abrdn
– Tim Orton, Managing Director, Investment Solutions, Aegon UK
– Solveig Hoy, Head of Group Sustainability – Reporting, Royal London
– Natalie Jackson, Executive Manager, Global Ethical Finance Initiative

Our COP26 activities

Setting net zero goals for asset owners: https://www.efx.global/setting-net-zero-goals-for-asset-owners-cop26-highlights/
The challenges for pension providers after COP26: https://www.efx.global/what-steps-can-pension-funds-take-after-cop26-faith-ward-iigcc-cop26-highlights/
Implementing net zero goals: https://www.efx.global/setting-and-implementing-net-zero-goals-net-zero-pensions-summit-cop26-highlights/
Report on Pension Providers and the Path to Net Zero: https://www.pathtocop26.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GEFI040_NetZero2_v6.pdf

For more details:
Web: http://globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: http://ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Elizabeth Mrema, UN CPD & Lorna Slater MSP

Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Elizabeth Mrema, UN CPD & Lorna Slater MSP

How can governments and financial institutions ensure that nature is effectively protected and restored?

COP15, the landmark UN Biodiversity summit, should have taken place this week, but was unfortunately delayed due to the pandemic. Instead, we sat down with UN Convention on Biodiversity Executive Secretary & Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Co-chair Elizabeth Mrema and Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP to discuss some of the issues that might have been discussed. With Natalie Jackson, GEFI Technical Lead, Lorna and Elizabeth discuss why we need to finance nature, the Global Biodiversity Framework, how governments can help and what the Scottish Government is doing in this space.

With the forthcoming Global Biodiversity Framework, the Convention on Biological Diversity is setting the stage for a worldwide re-direction of financial flows away from nature-negative and towards nature-positive outcomes. Market players are speeding ahead with testing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) beta framework, to make it ready to inform and respond to these new international norms around nature, nature-based solutions and finance. As part of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, we have committed to establishing a values-led, high-integrity market for responsible investment in natural capital.

Despite on-going efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to worsen with business-as-usual scenarios. This session, aimed at global finance practitioners, is intended to raise aware and inspire practical action in relation to the critical need to finance. It will provide an update on global and national initiatives to help drive the action required to finance a shared future for all life on earth.

GEFI has a long history of supporting finance for nature, from a programme of collaboration between UNDP, GEFI and the Scottish Government, to the COP26 launch of an exclusive, commercial platform showcasing financial products that are directly aligned to the SDGs. The platform works with partners throughout the product lifecycle to share learnings and build the ecosystem of SDG aligned financial products across asset classes. See more at https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/.

Alongside this work our Finance for Nature Series has brought together nature experts and the finance industry to discuss the most effective solutions to financing nature and biodiversity. Past and planned events include a physical summit in 2019, a 2020’s virtual global series, supporting UNDP’s Nature for Life hub, a dedicated session at our Ethical Finance 2021 summit, and events at COP26 on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Explore more:
Interview with Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta: https://youtu.be/Mt1_u0bZQ04
Panel on practical action on biodiversity: https://youtu.be/MRAiaBxocR0
Jamison Ervin of UNDP on the biodiversity challenge: https://youtu.be/e7T2ke7JnGY
Financing Nature and the SDGs: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/
Finance for Nature Global Summit: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-events/finance-for-nature-global-summit/
Why is it so important to finance nature, with Achim Steiner of UNDP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PZu1qOv1A
Aligned Accountability – A Common Database on Deforestation | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXllviae8V8
Kate Forbes | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSsl_N9TJcw
Investing at scale: aligning value chains locally with LENs | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQozbU6Vfjs
Success Factors for Blended Finance: the OECD’s Five Principles | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkJqvRDkYkE

For more details:
Web: http://globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: http://ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Q&A | Elizabeth Mrema, UN CPD & Lorna Slater MSP

Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Q&A | Elizabeth Mrema, UN CPD & Lorna Slater MSP

How can governments and financial institutions ensure that nature is effectively protected and restored?

COP15, the landmark UN Biodiversity summit, should have taken place this week, but was unfortunately delayed due to the pandemic. Instead, we sat down with UN Convention on Biodiversity Executive Secretary & Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Co-chair Elizabeth Mrema and Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP to discuss some of the issues that might have been discussed. With Natalie Jackson, GEFI Technical Lead, Lorna and Elizabeth discuss why we need to finance nature, the Global Biodiversity Framework, how governments can help and what the Scottish Government is doing in this space.

With the forthcoming Global Biodiversity Framework, the Convention on Biological Diversity is setting the stage for a worldwide re-direction of financial flows away from nature-negative and towards nature-positive outcomes. Market players are speeding ahead with testing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) beta framework, to make it ready to inform and respond to these new international norms around nature, nature-based solutions and finance. As part of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, we have committed to establishing a values-led, high-integrity market for responsible investment in natural capital.

Despite on-going efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to worsen with business-as-usual scenarios. This session, aimed at global finance practitioners, is intended to raise aware and inspire practical action in relation to the critical need to finance. It will provide an update on global and national initiatives to help drive the action required to finance a shared future for all life on earth.

GEFI has a long history of supporting finance for nature, from a programme of collaboration between UNDP, GEFI and the Scottish Government, to the COP26 launch of an exclusive, commercial platform showcasing financial products that are directly aligned to the SDGs. The platform works with partners throughout the product lifecycle to share learnings and build the ecosystem of SDG aligned financial products across asset classes. See more at https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/.

Alongside this work our Finance for Nature Series has brought together nature experts and the finance industry to discuss the most effective solutions to financing nature and biodiversity. Past and planned events include a physical summit in 2019, a 2020’s virtual global series, supporting UNDP’s Nature for Life hub, a dedicated session at our Ethical Finance 2021 summit, and events at COP26 on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Explore more:
Interview with Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta: https://youtu.be/Mt1_u0bZQ04
Panel on practical action on biodiversity: https://youtu.be/MRAiaBxocR0
Jamison Ervin of UNDP on the biodiversity challenge: https://youtu.be/e7T2ke7JnGY
Financing Nature and the SDGs: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/
Finance for Nature Global Summit: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-events/finance-for-nature-global-summit/
Why is it so important to finance nature, with Achim Steiner of UNDP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PZu1qOv1A
Aligned Accountability – A Common Database on Deforestation | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXllviae8V8
Kate Forbes | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSsl_N9TJcw
Investing at scale: aligning value chains locally with LENs | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQozbU6Vfjs
Success Factors for Blended Finance: the OECD’s Five Principles | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkJqvRDkYkE

For more details:
Web: http://globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: http://ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | What is Scotland doing? | Lorna Slater MSP

Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | What is Scotland doing? | Lorna Slater MSP

What is the Scottish government doing to finance the protection of nature? Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP gives details on the £55 million fund for nature, and other Scottish Government initiatives to protect Scotland’s natural environment.

COP15, the landmark UN Biodiversity summit, should have taken place this week, but was unfortunately delayed due to the pandemic. Instead, we sat down with Lorna and UN Convention on Biodiversity Executive Secretary & Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Co-chair Elizabeth Mrema to discuss some of the issues that might have been discussed. With Natalie Jackson, GEFI Technical Lead, Lorna and Elizabeth discuss why we need to finance nature, the Global Biodiversity Framework, how governments can help and what the Scottish Government is doing in this space.

With the forthcoming Global Biodiversity Framework, the Convention on Biological Diversity is setting the stage for a worldwide re-direction of financial flows away from nature-negative and towards nature-positive outcomes. Market players are speeding ahead with testing the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) beta framework, to make it ready to inform and respond to these new international norms around nature, nature-based solutions and finance. As part of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, we have committed to establishing a values-led, high-integrity market for responsible investment in natural capital.

Despite on-going efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to worsen with business-as-usual scenarios. This session, aimed at global finance practitioners, is intended to raise aware and inspire practical action in relation to the critical need to finance. It will provide an update on global and national initiatives to help drive the action required to finance a shared future for all life on earth.

GEFI has a long history of supporting finance for nature, from a programme of collaboration between UNDP, GEFI and the Scottish Government, to the COP26 launch of an exclusive, commercial platform showcasing financial products that are directly aligned to the SDGs. The platform works with partners throughout the product lifecycle to share learnings and build the ecosystem of SDG aligned financial products across asset classes. See more at https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/.

Alongside this work our Finance for Nature Series has brought together nature experts and the finance industry to discuss the most effective solutions to financing nature and biodiversity. Past and planned events include a physical summit in 2019, a 2020’s virtual global series, supporting UNDP’s Nature for Life hub, a dedicated session at our Ethical Finance 2021 summit, and events at COP26 on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Explore more:
Interview with Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta: https://youtu.be/Mt1_u0bZQ04
Panel on practical action on biodiversity: https://youtu.be/MRAiaBxocR0
Jamison Ervin of UNDP on the biodiversity challenge: https://youtu.be/e7T2ke7JnGY
Financing Nature and the SDGs: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/
Finance for Nature Global Summit: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-events/finance-for-nature-global-summit/
Why is it so important to finance nature, with Achim Steiner of UNDP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PZu1qOv1A
Aligned Accountability – A Common Database on Deforestation | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXllviae8V8
Kate Forbes | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSsl_N9TJcw
Investing at scale: aligning value chains locally with LENs | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQozbU6Vfjs
Success Factors for Blended Finance: the OECD’s Five Principles | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkJqvRDkYkE

For more details:
Web: http://globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: http://ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Global Biodiversity Framework | Elizabeth Mrema

Financing a Shared Future for All Life on Earth | Global Biodiversity Framework | Elizabeth Mrema

How can finance protect nature? UN Convention on Biodiversity Executive Secretary & Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Co-chair Elizabeth Mrema explains the biodiversity challenge, the role finance can play and the upcoming Global Biodiversity Framework.

COP15, the landmark UN Biodiversity summit, should have taken place this week, but was unfortunately delayed due to the pandemic. Instead, we sat down with Elizabeth and Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP to discuss some of the issues that might have been discussed. With Natalie Jackson, GEFI Technical Lead, why we need to finance nature, the Global Biodiversity Framework, how governments can help and what the Scottish Government is doing in this space.

Despite on-going efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to worsen with business-as-usual scenarios. This session, aimed at global finance practitioners, is intended to raise aware and inspire practical action in relation to the critical need to finance. It will provide an update on global and national initiatives to help drive the action required to finance a shared future for all life on earth.

GEFI has a long history of supporting finance for nature, from a programme of collaboration between UNDP, GEFI and the Scottish Government, to the COP26 launch of an exclusive, commercial platform showcasing financial products that are directly aligned to the SDGs. The platform works with partners throughout the product lifecycle to share learnings and build the ecosystem of SDG aligned financial products across asset classes. See more at https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/.

Alongside this work our Finance for Nature Series has brought together nature experts and the finance industry to discuss the most effective solutions to financing nature and biodiversity. Past and planned events include a physical summit in 2019, a 2020’s virtual global series, supporting UNDP’s Nature for Life hub, a dedicated session at our Ethical Finance 2021 summit, and events at COP26 on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Explore more:
Interview with Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta: https://youtu.be/Mt1_u0bZQ04
Panel on practical action on biodiversity: https://youtu.be/MRAiaBxocR0
Jamison Ervin of UNDP on the biodiversity challenge: https://youtu.be/e7T2ke7JnGY
Financing Nature and the SDGs: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-work/financing-sdgs-programme/
Finance for Nature Global Summit: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/our-events/finance-for-nature-global-summit/
Why is it so important to finance nature, with Achim Steiner of UNDP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PZu1qOv1A
Aligned Accountability – A Common Database on Deforestation | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXllviae8V8
Kate Forbes | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSsl_N9TJcw
Investing at scale: aligning value chains locally with LENs | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQozbU6Vfjs
Success Factors for Blended Finance: the OECD’s Five Principles | Finance for Nature | Path to COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkJqvRDkYkE

For more details:
Web: http://globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: http://ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Keynotes & Interview | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

Keynotes & Interview | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

Scottish minister for business, trade and tourism Ivan McKee and State Bank of Pakistan Governor H.E. Dr Reza Baqir gave keynote addresses to this Global Leaders event, delivered by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative in partnership with the Islamic Finance Council UK. The summit formed part of the Scottish Government’s Expo 2020 Dubai Race to Net Zero Day. Taking place in Dubai International Financial Centre, the event looked at the future of green and sustainable finance with a particular focus on financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scotland has a unique and strong heritage in ethical finance through the world’s first mutual savings scheme, the world’s first savings bank and indeed the father of modern economics Adam Smith. Smith’s reconciliation between self-interest and innate goodness through his enquiries into moral philosophy and the causes of the wealth of nations created the chassis by which modern markets and economies functions.

With the meteoric rise of ethical/sustainable finance (over $80trn signed up to PRI) once again modern markets face the challenge of reconciling profit and purpose. This event will unpack and explore key thematic in the financial markets in addressing this global trend which aligns with Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on sustainability and the UN SDGs.

As well as views from Scotland, insights were shared by finance leaders from Pakistan and other local GCC experts.

Speakers included:
HE Dr Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
Christian Gueckel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital
Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government
Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, London Stock Exchange Group
Graham Burnside, Senior Advisor, GEFI & Chair, UKIFC
Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, State Bank of Pakistan
Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, GEFI

Visit ukifc.com/sdg for more information.


Full event | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

Full event | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

This Global Leaders event, delivered by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative in partnership with the Islamic Finance Council UK, formed part of the Scottish Government’s Expo 2020 Dubai Race to Net Zero Day. Taking place in Dubai International Financial Centre, the event looked at the future of green and sustainable finance with a particular focus on financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scotland has a unique and strong heritage in ethical finance through the world’s first mutual savings scheme, the world’s first savings bank and indeed the father of modern economics Adam Smith. Smith’s reconciliation between self-interest and innate goodness through his enquiries into moral philosophy and the causes of the wealth of nations created the chassis by which modern markets and economies functions.

With the meteoric rise of ethical/sustainable finance (over $80trn signed up to PRI) once again modern markets face the challenge of reconciling profit and purpose. This event will unpack and explore key thematic in the financial markets in addressing this global trend which aligns with Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on sustainability and the UN SDGs.

As well as views from Scotland, insights were shared by finance leaders from Pakistan and other local GCC experts.

Speakers included:
HE Dr Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
Christian Gueckel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital
Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government
Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, London Stock Exchange Group
Graham Burnside, Senior Advisor, GEFI & Chair, UKIFC
Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, State Bank of Pakistan
Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, GEFI

Visit ukifc.com/sdg for more information.


Panel discussion | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

Panel discussion | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

This Global Leaders event, delivered by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative in partnership with the Islamic Finance Council UK, formed part of the Scottish Government’s Expo 2020 Dubai Race to Net Zero Day. Taking place in Dubai International Financial Centre, the event looked at the future of green and sustainable finance with a particular focus on financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scotland has a unique and strong heritage in ethical finance through the world’s first mutual savings scheme, the world’s first savings bank and indeed the father of modern economics Adam Smith. Smith’s reconciliation between self-interest and innate goodness through his enquiries into moral philosophy and the causes of the wealth of nations created the chassis by which modern markets and economies functions.

With the meteoric rise of ethical/sustainable finance (over $80trn signed up to PRI) once again modern markets face the challenge of reconciling profit and purpose. This event will unpack and explore key thematic in the financial markets in addressing this global trend which aligns with Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on sustainability and the UN SDGs.

As well as views from Scotland, insights were shared by finance leaders from Pakistan and other local GCC experts.

Speakers included:
HE Dr Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
Christian Gueckel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital
Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government
Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, London Stock Exchange Group
Graham Burnside, Senior Advisor, GEFI & Chair, UKIFC
Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, State Bank of Pakistan
Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, GEFI

Visit ukifc.com/sdg for more information.


Responding to the War in Ukraine: Ethical Finance at a Time of Crisis

Responding to the War in Ukraine: Ethical Finance at a Time of Crisis

This event was held by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) in partnership with CFA UK.

Moderated by Lord Alderdice, this webinar explores the economic, geopolitical and investing ramifications of the war in Ukraine. The discussion focuses on:

  • the forms of action available to finance
  • the economic challenges of acting at the pace and scale required
  • the role of finance in the longer-term process of conflict resolution

For more details about GEFI:

Web: globalethicalfinance.org

Summit: ethicalfinancesummit.com

Twitter: twitter.com/finance4change

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Alex Edmans: The Business Case for Diversity | Ethical Finance Round Table | Diversity and Inclusion

Alex Edmans: The Business Case for Diversity | Ethical Finance Round Table | Diversity and Inclusion

We were delighted to host our latest Ethical Finance Round Table on Tuesday 22nd February 2022 focusing on diversity and inclusion in Finance. We were joined by moderator Amy Clarke (Tribe Impact Capital & Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) Global Steering Group), Gavin Lewis (BlackRock), Lynne Highway (NatWest Group) and Prof. Alex Edmans (London Business School) for a fascinating conversation.

For more details:

Web: globalethicalfinance.org
Summit: ethicalfinancesummit.com
Twitter: twitter.com/finance4change
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/globalethicalfinance


Hope and the Climate Crisis | The Future of Growth | The Radical Old Idea with Prof. Tim Jackson

Hope and the Climate Crisis | The Future of Growth | The Radical Old Idea with Prof. Tim Jackson

How do we maintain hope in the face of climate despair?

On 14th July 2021, we were joined by Prof. Tim Jackson, Director of CUSP | Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity for a Radical Old Idea conversation with Kaisie Rayner FRSA, Climate Change Lead at Royal London.

To finish, Kaisie asked Professor Jackson if he still has hope for humanity. To answer, he drew on the poetry of Emily Dickinson:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops – at all

Something in the human soul means that hope will not abandon us. Hope must however turn to action, and action is the antidote to despair.

Read more: https://www.globalethicalfinance.org/2021/07/15/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers/