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EVENT: Building a more sustainable economy in Europe

Posted 23 May, 2017

Building a more sustainable economy in Europe: Non-financial information and sustainable finance – what next?

Date: 21 June 2017

Venue: Espace Banca Monte Paschi Belgio, Avenue d’Auderghem, 22-28 Brussels

Time: 12.30-17.30 followed by a cocktail reception. 

Building on work already undertaken at the international level by the G20 Green Finance Study Group and the Financial Stability Board Task Force, the EU is keen to promote an ambitious approach to sustainable finance. At EU level, debate has already been initiated on issues such as non-financial information disclosure, green bonds/green finance, or risk valuations of climate change.

To properly embed sustainability into EU financial services policy and the Capital Markets Union, an overarching approach is required. Promoting financial stability and sustainable development by enhancing the links between investment decisions, corporate behaviour and reporting has become a global need.

This is why the European Commission has created a High-Level expert group to help define a comprehensive European strategy on sustainable finance by the end of 2017. A strong EU strategy will steer public and private capital towards sustainable/ green investments, will explore effective and operational steps to protect financial stability from environment-related risks, and will help to deploy necessary financial market policies on a pan-European scale.

This work is developing significant momentum. The interim report of the High-Level expert group is nearing completion and the European Commission is about to  release its long awaited guidelines on Non-Financial Information taking into account the recommendation of the FSB Task Force on climate-related financial disclosures. A growing number of companies are already using integrated reporting created to enhance accountability, stewardship and trust.

ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), AVIVA, Barclays and the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) are therefore delighted to invite you to a lively debate to take stock of progress made so far, and to discuss a way forward for a European strategy for sustainable finance.

The panel sessions of our joint conference called ‘Building a more sustainable economy in Europe’ will revolve around the themes ‘Non-Financial Information and sustainable finance –what next?’

RSVP by 12 June to Cécile Bonino, ACCA’s Head of EU Affairs at  [email protected]

Draft agenda:

12.30: Registration and sandwich lunch

13.30: Welcome Speech: Richard Howitt, CEO,  IIRC

13.40: Keynote Speech: Sirpa Pietikäinen, MEP

13.50: Panel discussion on NFI –IR moderated by Raymond Jack, Executive Director, ACCA

  • Nicolas Bernier-Abad,  DG FISMA (Nicolas will give a presentation of the NFI guidelines as part of this panel)
  • Noemi Robert, Senior Manager, Accountancy Europe
  • Lé Quang Tran Van, AFEP & European Issuers
  • Jacqueline Duiker – Senior Project Manager Responsible Investment, VBDO

15.00: Q&A

15.20: Coffee break

15.40: Panel on sustainable finance moderated by Steve Waygood, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Aviva Investors

  • Robin Edme, DG FISMA- Financial Services Policy & International Affairs unit (Robin will give presentation on the work on sustainable finance/experts group as part of this panel)
  • Mark Lewis – Managing Director European Equity Research, Barclays
  • Rahul Ghosh, Vice President – Senior Credit Officer, Credit Strategy and Research, Moody’s Investors Service
  • Davide dal Maso, UNEP Inquiry

16.50: Q&A

17.10: Concluding remarks: Paulina Dejmek, Member of Cabinet of European Commission President Juncker

17.20: Conclusions: Mark Lewis – Managing Director European Equity Research – Barclays

17.30: Cocktail reception