Fireside Discussion: Geopolitical risk and ethical finance

What does the war in Ukraine mean for energy policy? Where does China fit in on sustainable finance efforts?

In an excellent first panel from Ethical Finance Global 2022, with Dame Susan Rice FSCB, Agi Veres, UNDP, Stephen Hibbert, ING and Leon Kamhi, Federated Hermes engaged in a wide-ranging discussion.

They discussed China’s progress on sustainability and sustainable finance, and its vital role in delivering green infrastructure at the scale needed for the world’s net zero transition.

Another topic was the energy crisis, and the tensions inherent in balancing environmental and social sustainability, the differing rates of inflation in society and whether the rise in prices brought about by the war in Ukraine justify rolling back commitments made on fossil fuel financing; according to ING, they do not.

Finally, participants discussed the need for companies to protect their lowest paid workers from the crisis, and the role that younger employees, who are more purpose-oriented, have had on transforming their places of work.