MONDAY 15 MAY 2023
Sustainability in finance: Greening finance or financing green? 

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration

09:00 – 09:30 | Opening keynote  

09:30 – 10:30 | Panel discussion
Can and will Europe lead on sustainable finance, and will its policies deliver?

The EU has been the region leading on sustainable finance regulation and policies, creating some pressure on other countries to address the issue of sustainability in finance: disclosures, reporting, standardisation, and taxonomies. The policies have often been criticised by market participants and have received different reactions across the EU Member States and sectors.   

10:30 – 11:10 | Coffee break 

11:10 – 11:30 | Keynote speeches

11:30 - 12:30 | Panel discussion
ESG data and ratings: time for a rethink?

The ESG ratings space has been under a lot of criticism in recent years, mainly for the lack of correlation between the different ratings and the lack of clarity as to what they measure or what the methodologies are. However, it is key for businesses to understand what ESG ratings are for, what they measure and what they do not – and for investors to ensure they are not mislead.

This panel will discuss the advantages of ESG ratings, the changes that we need to see in the use and creation of ESG ratings, and how they can be leveraged by businesses.

• Why is there so much criticism of ESG ratings, and is it justified? (2 speakers arguing yes vs two arguing against)

• What are they key advantages of using ESG ratings?

• What would improve ESG ratings, their usability and usefulness? 

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch & meet the speakers 

13:30 – 14:00 | Keynote speeches

14:00 – 15:00 | Panel discussion
Will the ISSB standardisation efforts change the financial sector?

The ESG debates have been heating up, with backlash to ESG investing and then a backlash to the backlash. Meanwhile, ISSB has been leading the efforts to ensure global alignment on sustainability standards and has announced the inclusion of Scope 3.

• ESG a paradigm shift or an outdated concept that needs to go.

Adapted “Oxford style” debate between two sets of speakers.

Speakers for yes, paradigm shift                     vs                     Speakers for no, old concept

15:00 - 15:40 | Coffee break  

15:40 – 16:00 | Elevator speeches

16:00 - 17:00 | Panel discussion
The S in ESG: elusive concept, or a critical element for resilience?

In partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation

S or social criteria in ESG has grown in importance since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet for most companies and investors, social criteria remain elusive and complicated.  

Evening programme

17:00 – 17:30 | Arrival

 17:30 - 17:35 | Words of welcome

17:35 – 18:05 | Panel discussion
Geopolitics of sustainability: will the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the changing relationship with China negatively impact the transatlantic relationship or its future?

18:05 – 19:30 | Networking

More information on the event, speakers and partners can be found on the event website.