Leading from the front: how can finance steward a net zero economy?

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Join us on Wednesday 25 January from 5.30pm – 7pm, with drinks and canapes until 8.30pm, at our next joint in-person event in partnership with Aviva Investors. This will feature an insightful and timely discussion with leaders from business, politics and civil society on how the UK’s world-leading finance sector can use its unique position to accelerate decarbonisation across the economy as well as reflections on the new Aviva Investors AIQ report: Redefining investment stewardship.

This is especially timely as COP27 concluded with an agreement that delivering renewables investment needed ‘will require a transformation of the financial system and its structures and processes’. The AIQ report features a collection of opinion pieces and interviews from leading ESG innovators on what is needed from investors to accelerate the transition towards a more environmentally and socially sustainable world. This event will feature high-profile keynote speakers from the world of politics and civil society, and an engaging panel discussion reflecting on what the world needs to do to align the international financial architecture with delivering the Paris Agreement. It will be followed by an opportunity to network with colleagues and friends over drinks and canapes.

Please complete this form to apply to secure a place at this event. Places will be confirmed a week ahead of the event. If the event is over-subscribed, priority will be given to Aldersgate Group members and close stakeholders of Aviva Investors and the Aldersgate Group.

Date and time: Wednesday 25 January from 5.30pm – 7pm, with drinks and canapes until 8.30pm
Location: Aviva, St Helen’s, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ

Introduction

• Mark Versey, Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Investors

Chair

• Nick Molho, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group

Keynote speech

• Sacha Sadan, Director of Environment Social and Governance, Financial Conduct Authority

Panel

• Steve Waygood, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Aviva Investors
• Karen Ellis, Chief Economist, WWF UK
• Helen Newman, Head of Sustainable Finance Capital Advisors, CBRE
• James Wilde, Chief Sustainability Officer, Phoenix Group
• Stephanie Maier, Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investment, GAM Investments

Synopsis
Finance has a unique potential to drive change as the UK transitions to a net zero economy. Businesses from all sectors work with the finance sector to enact their own decarbonisation programmes, which makes responsible stewardship and advice from financiers all the more important to effectively drive change.

This is outlined in Aviva Investors latest edition of its AIQ reports, which outlines how financial institutions can redefine stewardship. It calls on them to go beyond simply allocating capital in line with existing ESG metrics. Instead, it calls on investors to influence companies to make more sustainable physical investments, challenge the industry to engage with governments and policymakers to correct market failures, and ultimately deliver positive social and environmental change. Given the UK’s status as a global finance leader – and number one in the world for green finance – this approach can drive decarbonisation and investment in nature at both a national and an international level.

That is why the Aldersgate Group and Aviva Investors is gathering leaders from business, politics and civil society to discuss the new report, and how the finance sector can maximise its role in leading the net zero transition, from advising clients and securing senior buy-in, to demanding high ambition from governments.