Following the success of the inaugural “Finance for Nature Global Summit”, GEFI, UNDP, UNEP, the New York Declaration on Forests Global Platform and Climate Advisers are convening the Finance for Nature Virtual Global Series to accelerate momentum on nature-based finance in advance of the UN Climate and Biodiversity COPs in 2021.

In the session, chaired by Eva Cairns, ESG Investment Analyst – Climate Change at Aberdeen Standard Investments, Professor Edmans will explain the business case for responsibility in normal times as well as those of crisis, and how companies can ensure that responsibility is consistent with long-term shareholder value. Alex will draw on rigorous academic research, real-world examples, and his new book, Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, on 21^st May 2020 the GEFI team hosted its first virtual Ethical Finance Round Table to explore the potential role of ethical finance in rebuilding the economy post Covid-19.

The Ethical Finance Round Table ‘Path to COP26 – Financing a Green Future’ was held on Feb 27th at Baillie Gifford in Edinburgh. Following a short welcome, Omar Shaikh, GEFI Managing Director outlined GEFI’s plans for 2020:

• Path to COP26
• “Radical Old Idea”
• Ethical Finance Round Tables
• UNDP Finance for Nature Summit
• The SDG Tartan
• Internship programme

This was followed by short presentations from Jonathan Taylor, former Vice President of the European Investment Bank for Environment and Climate Action, and Gary Lapthorn, Head of Sustainability & Responsible Business, Commercial Banking at Lloyds Banking Group.

In a change to the usual format this session, once again hosted by Baillie Gifford, comprised of two keynote interviews which provided reflections (from the investment and banking sector) on the evolution of the ethical finance market and how the market will adapt to on-going political, economic, social and environmental uncertainty.

The interviews were conducted by GEFI Senior Consultant Gail Hurley who has recently completed 10 years with the UN in New York as a Senior Advisor.

Organised in partnership with UNDP and the Scottish Government, Ethical Finance 2019 convened over 350 leading finance practitioners from across the globe to help define and shape the transition to a sustainable financial system where finance delivers positive change.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Scottish Government-backed Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), with the New York Declaration on Forests Global Platform, will bring together government officials, financial institutions, consumer goods corporations, supply chain intermediaries and conservation organizations for a two-day ‘Finance for Nature Global Summit’. The Summit aims to develop financial solutions that drive socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable development and explore a new investment paradigm aligned with the SDGs.

The Summit is part of a two-year programme of collaboration between UNDP and Scottish Government aimed at mobilizing private capital for the SDGs.