Sustained Growth and Sustainability: Re-engineering the Economic Model
Time:
Wednesday, March 14
10:30 - 12:00
The current economic model appears increasingly unsuited to
deliver sustained growth and development. As such, long-term
sustainability objectives have moved up the policy agenda in recent
years. How are new ecological economic models filtering into
traditional ways of doing business? How can investors who desire
short-term rewards be encouraged to support projects with
longer-term horizons? How can business and finance leaders,
policy-makers, and regulators work together towards a new economic
model?
Paul Clements-Hunt, Head, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), Switzerland
(Moderator)Yannick Glemarec, Executive Coordinator, Global Environment Facility & Director of Environmental Finance, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USA
Michael Jantzi, CEO, Sustainalytics, Canada
Matthew Kiernan, Founder and Chief Executive, Inflection Point Capital Management, Canada
Pierre Ouillet, Vice President of Finance, Resources & Operations, University of BC, Canada
Climate Adaptation: Building Resilience through Risk Management and Insurance
Time:
Wednesday, March 14
15:30 - 17:00
How should companies and governments be preparing for the rising
risks from a changing climate? What financial tools are available
to help build long-term resiliency and what insurance products
exist to buffer against the risks? This session will explore ways
that the public and private sectors can work together to address
climate change adaptation opportunities and risks.
Blair Feltmate, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo & Chair, Climate Change Adaptation Project, Canada
(Moderator)Sarah Potts, Los Angeles City Director, Clinton Climate Initiative / C40 Cities Leadership Group, USA
Mark Way, Head of Sustainability Americas, Swiss Re North America, USA
Robert Wesseling, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, The Sovereign General Insurance Company, Canada
Jeff Williams, Director of Climate Consulting, Entergy, USA
The Clean Technology Continuum: Financing Innovation from Early-Stage Through to Commercialization
Time:
Thursday, March 15
08:30 - 10:00
Clean technology represents a diverse range of products designed
to greatly reduce or eliminate negative ecological impacts and
promote the responsible use of natural resources. How are
innovative clean technology companies getting their products from
the test bench to the marketplace? This session will explore the
financial angle to the clean technology development continuum, from
early stage through to commercialization, and will explore some of
the biggest emerging opportunities in the clean technology
sector.
Sheeraz Haji, CEO, Cleantech Group, USA
(Moderator)Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot Ventures, Israel
Françoise Faverjon-Fortin, Vice President of Infrastructure and Environment, Export Development Canada
Sally Gutierrez, Director of Environmental Technology Innovation Cluster, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA
Vicky Sharpe, President & CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), Canada
Environmental & Social Risk Management: What Your Bank Wants to Know
Time:
Friday, March 16
08:30 - 10:00
Banks are increasingly incorporating social and environmental
factors in their screening of corporate clients, and the reasons
for these actions and the implications for businesses can vary
widely depending on the financial institution. Screening for
environmental and social risks for project finance is reasonably
developed. However, as more banks enact new policies and procedures
that require evaluation of a client's environmental, social, and
governance performance before advancing corporate loans, how are
these policies being implemented and what are the implications for
the broader business community?
Toby Heaps, Co-founder & President, Corporate Knights Inc., Canada
(Moderator)Paul Clements-Hunt, Head, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), Switzerland
Arnaud Cohen Stuart, Manager of Business Ethics, ING Groep, the Netherlands
Sandra Odendahl, Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs, Royal Bank of Canada