If it is true that we manage what we measure, then it is vital that we measure what matters.  Focusing on economic value alone is increasingly unlikely to be the best guide to achieving superior risk-adjusted returns over the long-term.  Find out how leading businesses are now also taking full account of social, environmental, governance, and cultural drivers of tomorrow's value; and learn about the outcomes of new research which takes a systems view of how to reform corporate reporting.

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With billions of dollars being invested globally into Smart Grid technology, the industry is rapidly diversifying its product and service offerings that include advanced metering, demand response, home/building energy management, distribution grid management, and grid interconnection and monitoring. This session will explore new developments in the smart grid sector including regulation, security risks, infrastructure bottlenecks, innovative partnerships, and emerging technologies.

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?

How can nature-inspired approaches help solve our green building challenges and ensure true triple bottom line outcomes? As the bar is raised by escalating concerns about climate change, along with evolving green building codes, targets, and minimum standards, environmentally-conscious developers and others are facing challenges and opportunities. Learn about the concepts being applied in products, buildings, and cities around the globe to create more liveable, sustainable, and resilient urban spaces.

More than ever, organizations are integrating social and environmental considerations into their purchase decisions in order to address increasing costs, reduce risk factors, adapt to changing regulations and new industry standards, and align corporate values with business practices. Find out how organizations are considering product life cycles across the entire supply chain in order to plan, design, and implement sustainable procurement practices and policies that meet or exceed the evolving expectations for social and environmental performance, responsibility, and transparency.

With no significant successor to the Kyoto Protocol in sight and a lack of coordinated climate policies in North America, what can be expected in the future for compliance and pre-compliance schemes, national and sub-national frameworks, and regulatory approaches for managing greenhouse gas emissions? Hear from policy experts andclimate and energy leaders about what's coming next in this update on climate policy.

For many, quality of life depends significantly on the quality of installed infrastructure and the efficiency of its operation in our cities. With aging roads and outdated transportation networks, challenges to water access and quality, and uncoordinated energy systems in many urban centres around the world, what's the best way forward to ensure reliable infrastructure development in a capital-constrained world?  How can an integrated approach that involves sustainability and land-use planning, greater use of green technologies, and public policy and coordination across departments and jurisdictions increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of infrastructure development?

The efficient use of water is of central importance to long-term corporate success and sustainability. Hear from corporate leaders and industry experts on how they are successfully managing their operations for increased efficiency and the sustainable use and reuse of water.

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.

Better technology, infrastructure, and policy are all essential to building a cleaner economy, especially at the municipal level. This Dialogue will explore how the private and public sectors see these elements working together as the building blocks of a sustainable economy, and how smart business strategies and government policies can accelerate the process.

Today's consumers are more selective, better informed, and expect companies to be doing more for their communities and the environment.  What are the factors shaping the evolving consumer demand for eco-friendly products and services? How can companies effectively communicate with and sell to consumers who are taking environmental and social considerations into account when making their purchasing decisions? How can companies position themselves favourably based on their environmental and social performance while avoiding the risks of overstating their achievements?   

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Who's driving your sustainability agenda forward? Implementing sustainability across an entire organization requires an extensive skill set: a deep understanding of environmental issues, an ability to develop longer-term, innovative strategies, and an ability to implement "green" solutions that span the length, breadth, and depth of the company. Hear from the "Chief Sustainability Officers" of some of the world's largest organizations as they discuss the diverse strategies and tactics required for driving their corporate sustainability agendas forward.

As new technologies emerge and become increasingly cost competitive, many companies are taking aggressive steps to improve their energy efficiency and find new, alternative forms of energy to power their business operations. How are companies financing these shifts and what is the ROI on the efforts? Hear from companies who are minimizing the business risks surrounding a reliance on fossil-fuels by adopting innovative approaches to energy efficiency and power use.

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.

Around the world, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and other industries are in direct competition with urban populations for access to water. How can better management and stronger governance lead to improved access for all users? How are improved technologies, infrastructure investments, and information-based solutions helping to improve the supply of this critical resource?

The global energy sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation due to technological innovation, supply fluctuations, and changing economic, regulatory, social, and political landscapes. Collaboration and innovation will play critical roles in this transformation that will result in energy companies of the 21st Century working together to achieve a cleaner energy future. Find out how in this special Energy Dialogue.

Property valuations and appraisals are crucial in establishing a sound economic baseline for the entire economy.  However, is the sustainable value of a building reflected in its market appraisal and what is the role of the valuator in determining this? This session will explore the issues and provide an update on the links between sustainability and valuation, education, and relevant standards and practices.  In particular, panelists will provide participants with a better understanding of how valuation is playing a key role in the evolution of the financial community, property markets, appraisal professionals, and the wider private sector.

Product stewardship programs such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are encouraging organizations to be increasingly accountable for products at the end of their lifecycle in order to minimize waste and reduce toxins entering into the environment. What is the role for the retail sector in this more holistic approach? How are these companies striving to minimize waste? This session will discuss how leading organizations are addressing environmental concerns through innovative packaging and stewardship practices that are designed to cut costs and reduce waste.

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The global mining industry has made substantial strides in the last decade to address environmental and social issues and to internalize sustainability efforts into operations.  Getting ahead of regulation, mining companies have often worked together to put in place sustainability programs that demonstrate they are managing concerns, with the added benefit of improving reputations.  But do these programs really add tangible value to the companies who participate and to the environment?  This session assembles mining industry leaders to address the fundamental question: Does sustainability performance pay off?

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Worldwide biofuel production continues to grow as new uses are found within the heat, power, and transportation sectors. As such, 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel from algae, are set to take an increasing share of the global energy mix. But what are the risks and impacts of a greater use of biofuels in terms of pricing, access to feed stocks, and overall reductions or increases in greenhouse gas emissions? What technologies are set to capitalize on the opportunities?  This session will explore the role that next generation biofuels will play in driving the development of a lower carbon economy.

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The sector-wide shift from viewing sustainability as a cost centre to recognizing it as an opportunity to reduce risk, improve relationships with customers and employees, and spur business growth and innovation is gaining momentum.  Potentially a key way to differentiate in a competitive market and build brand value, are retailers finally recognizing the merits of a sound sustainability plan in ensuring long-term business success? Or is the overarching need to reduce consumption simply at odds with the very foundation of retailing?  Find out as leading retailers discuss how and why sustainability is being incorporated into their companies on their paths to a better business model.

Are you making the most of your most important asset? Leaders and managers who inspire and engage their employees are more likely to realize the full potential of their workforce, unlocking hidden talent and maximizing business performance. Hear from companies who are successfully using their leadership in sustainability initiatives to attract, motivate, and retain talent, and as a result, are improving company sales and overall performance.

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Is natural gas the bridge to a carbon-free energy future? Natural gas is affordable, abundant, accessible, and can reduce emissions from the built environment and the power generation and transportation sectors. Hear how natural gas solutions are being deployed for economies that need greater energy security, affordable pricing, and better air quality. Panelists will discuss the opportunities and challenges for natural gas as a fuel source for powering a cleaner energy future.

Meeting the growing demand for power while curbing greenhouse gas emissions will require a fundamental transformation of how we produce, deliver, and use energy - especially in growing urban centres around the world. Find out how leading companies in this space are working with municipal leaders to manage the efficient demand and "smart" supply of energy in cities. 

More and more, digital and social media tools are being leveraged as platforms for innovation and information sharing as a means to advance creative products, services, practices, and technologies, as well as to inform customers and stakeholders about current sustainability initiatives. In fact, Gallup reports that organizations who have optimized their online engagement have outperformed competitors by 26% in gross margin and 85% in sales growth.  This session will discuss the impact that new media is having on the way companies engage with their customers and how corporate leadership on transparency, responsibility, and sustainability directly impact both reputation and the bottom line. Learn how digital and social media tools can advance your sustainability initiatives and deliver positive results for both your business and the environment.

In Cooperation with Weber Shandwick Canada

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?

The private sector is moving ahead with carbon reduction strategies despite uncertainties in the policy landscape, with businesses taking innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across their entire supply chains.  Find out what tools, tactics, and innovative partnerships are being developed to help cut costs, improve performance, and shrink the corporate carbon footprint.

As municipalities look to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of their sustainability planning initiatives, innovative methods for heating and powering our built environment are emerging from biomass and waste sources. How are city planners, developers, and technology experts addressing the issues around access to feed stocks, emissions and particulate matter, and public health and safety in order to ensure a place for these technologies?

Dubai has emerged as a leading regional commercial hub for the Middle East with state-of-the art infrastructure and a world-class business environment.  Hear about the latest opportunities arising from the recently launched government strategy "Green Economy for Sustainable Development", and a first-hand account of Dubai's drive for sustainability through green infrastructure in energy, water, transportation, buildings, public and business support services.