conference overview

This year's conference takes as its theme Speaking Truth to Power. With the global economy in turmoil and the plight of many vulnerable parts of society worsening, there is a unique opportunity for sustainable finance institutions to shape the response of governments and influence corporate behaviour in resolving our most pressing global problems. Flows of private sector capital now dwarf official aid, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in developing countries and emerging markets. Yet the fundamental challenges of resource security and climate change remain pressing, and large sections of society -- in particular, women -- continue to suffer social and financial exclusion that hinders development. The conference will explore how financial institutions from both developed and emerging economies can tackle these issues, the lessons they have already learned on sustainability, how they can influence business more widely, and what governments can learn from them. It will also examine the role of newer players such as private equity firms whose rapidly growing investments in sustainable projects outside the developed economies have used enhanced risk management techniques to identify profitable opportunities.

Topics for discussion include:

• The global crisis -- threat or opportunity for sustainable finance?
• Private equity and responsible investment -- the next frontier
• A new North-South partnership in sustainable finance -- what banks in developed economies and emerging market banks can learn from each other
• Women and sustainable finance -- the economic, social and business case for investing in businesses owned by women, and for backing female entrepreneurship