Agenda - Day 2
-
Delegate registration
-
Chairs Welcome
-
Confronting the climate crisis emergency
Jonathon Porritt is one of Britain's most eloquent campaigners. In this keynote talk he sets out the science and reality of the direction of travel we are headed. Jonathon provides a powerful call to action that explores the role of investors, new technology and innovation to mobilise and promote an economic recovery to avoid the oncoming climate crisis emergency.
-
Panel discussion: Biodiversity – how to invest in our planet?
Biodiversity has gone very quickly from being a niche topic to a principal sustainable finance challenge. But what does it actually mean for investors and asset managers? What are the challenges? What role can they play in restoring nature? And what action is needed now? What financial opportunities arise from natural capital and how can investment in the preservation of biodiversity be unlocked? Can nature-based investing be established as an asset class in its own right? How can financial institutions effectively measure and mitigate this risk?
-
A roadmap for greening finance and what it means for investors
A timely update on the government's green financial roadmap, the specific activities of the FCA supporting this transition, and emerging thinking around net zero planning. With proposals expected on sustainable disclosures and investment labels this will be an opportunity to hear how the sustainable investment landscape is changing, considerations impacting ESG data providers and ratings, and what these frameworks mean for investors navigating the complex ESG environment.
-
Networking break
Stream 1: Fund Selectors
-
Investing in food and water systems for a sustainable future
By 2050 the world will need to produce 70% more food and drinking water, whilst producing less carbon and using 70% fewer resources. The current global food and water system is grossly unsustainable, and if left unchecked will use the world’s entire carbon budget in the next 30 years.
Regulation, consumer behaviour, and new technology are changing fast, and are now starting to impact the long overdue change that is required to make the whole system less carbon intensive, wasteful and polluting, whilst improving biodiversity and encouraging healthier diets globally.
It is estimated that this change will require around $30trillion of capital reallocation by 2050, creating significant opportunities for investors in the wide array of companies and subsectors within the global food and water system.
-
Investing in Tomorrow’s World: Is technology the key to unlocking Sustainable Resource Efficiency?
Quilter Cheviot’s Climate Assets team are joined by analyst Ben Barringer to discuss investing in cloud computing, the pros and pitfalls and why the fund avoids some of the ‘big’ players in favour of companies who consider the S and G in addition to the E.
-
Making an impact on society through sustainable investing
Understanding how a company generates its profits and the impact it has on society is crucial in determining true costs and value. Examining the sets of tools that can measure the impact companies have on society and the environment and how these can be used as part of the investment process.
Stream 2: Financial Advisers
Walking the walk
-
Importance of security level valuation models when building ESG models
An overview of how Morningstar Investment Management uses Sustainalytics ESG research and data in the construction of its ESG portfolios.
-
Uncovering client interests and priorities as sustainable investing grows
- What is driving client interest in sustainable investing
- Client levels of intent and barriers preventing broader uptake
- Thematic trends and opportunities to meet consumer demand
- What do clients want to know and understand?
-
How can advisers be sure asset managers are walking the talk on ESG?
- Are too many ESG product launches at present?
- How do you avoid greenwashing when selecting underlying funds?
- Many managers are claiming they are adopting ESG analytics, how can an asset manager differentiate themselves and what questions do you need to be asking?
Stream 3: Pension Professionals
Achieving net zero
-
Sustainable investment: key consideration for pension funds
Practical steps pension funds can take to address deforestation and human rights risks, and meet their climate and biodiversity targets
-
Navigating the investment exclusions maze
- Can you start excluding parts of your investment universe from your portfolio to better align your metrics and carbon emission metrics?
- Is this compatible with my fiduciary duty to exclude certain assets, stocks and sectors?
-
A Just Transition: Why it matters to the pensions industry
We all know a transition to a low carbon global economy is imperative. Countries and companies alike have set ambitious net zero goals. But it’s not as easy as simply reducing carbon. We know big shifts are needed, they will impact people. Those same people are the only way to power the transition and they must be treated fairly and equipped with the skills to do so. The transition will impact production methods, sectoral structures, skills demands, supply chains, capital flows, and pretty much everything else. If planning doesn’t have people at its heart, there is a risk the transition will fail or be rushed and futile. This session will discuss why the pensions industry should care about connecting the E and S of ESG to ensure a just transition, and the role we can all play to enable it.
-
Networking lunch
Stream 1: Fund Selectors
-
Navigating ESG data
The multi-faceted nature of ESG, new regulatory requirements and increased demand from investors has created a tsunami of ESG data. This session will focus on signposting the data, helping you understand where and how to use it based on different requirements.
-
The evolution of ESG, proprietary tools, and what this means looking forward
Jeremy Kent takes a look at how the rapidly changing world of ESG data impacts fund management through the lens of our experience at the forefront of responsible investing over the last 20 years. He will discuss the importance of proprietary ESG tools, delve into some of our long standing systems and finish by taking a look at our latest cutting edge model for forecasting carbon emissions and what this means for managing equity strategies in the future.
-
Navigating Emerging Market opportunities
As we tackle the global issue of climate change, ethically minded investors stand to create greater impact by focusing on emerging market opportunities. With developed world economies further along their green transition, emerging markets will need to do more to meet commitments. How can investors and allocators of capital move emerging market entities in that direction? Where do the opportunities exist? What is the scope for expansion in emerging markets? What are the challenges for fund managers and selectors as they seek green their portfolios?
Stream 2: Financial Advisers
Navigating a way forward
-
Developing sustainability disclosure standards as a roadmap for positive change
- Approaching the urgent demand for transparent and comparable reporting on climate and sustainability matters
- Meeting the information needs of investors
- Engaging with developing and emerging economies to ensure a just and fair transition
-
Reporting on investment and ESG objectives
How is reporting to clients being approached and achieved? Overcoming the challenges of matching and reporting against the client's priorities and preferences.
-
ESG is here to stay - opportunities for the sector
A forward-looking view on the direction of sustainable investing, regulations that will facilitate the change needed on standards and labelling, and the future opportunities this presents for the sector.
Stream 3: Pension Professionals
Managing climate risk
-
The power of stewardship: creating value, making impact and improving outcomes
The role of high quality data in ensuring good stewardship.
-
Impact investing
Many UK Pension Schemes remain uncertain about what it means to be an impact investor. In this session we seek to answer some of the most commonly asked questions posed by UK Pension Schemes - how to including impact into private markets such as infrastructure, private debt and real estate, and how to assess and measure the achieved impact?
-
Future proofing your pension scheme
There is a global shift in momentum towards combatting climate change but what does it mean for the UK pension industry, what levers of change still need to be pulled and what practical steps should trustees be taking to future proof their pension schemes?
-
Networking break
-
Investing with pride – how diversity and inclusion positively impacts investment
- What role does the investment industry play in improving LGBT+ human rights?
- How do fund selectors consider diversity and inclusion factors when making investment decisions?
- How are professional investors considering, and rating, companies to ensure they are diverse and inclusive of people and ideas?
- What factors are holding professional investors back and what steps can be taken to overcome these gaps?
-
The future of sustainable investing and what it means for your clients
- Progress being made to help change our industry for the better
- What is next for Sustainable investing in the market?
- What should you prepare for?
-
Chairs closing remarks