In June 2019, we will be offering an entirely new expert panel on the topic of “Sustainable and Green Finance”. Even before the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, it was clear that industry would also need to adapt and take responsibility for promoting environmentally sustainable development. The financial sector also plays vital role in this regard. The purpose of our expert panel is to discuss the risks posed to the financial sector by climate change. Its will analyse both the physical risks arising from environmental changes, such as costs for reconstruction following natural disasters, as well as the transition risks caused by political and regulatory initiatives aimed at moving towards a lower-carbon economy.

In addition to this, the necessity of transitioning to an environmentally friendly economy will create an enormous need for investment. In Europe alone, this will amount to around €180 billion per year up until 2030.

In March 2018, the European Commission published its “Financing sustainable growth” action plan, which is culminating in various legislative initiatives. At the international level, the Network on Greening the Financial System (NGFS) has been formed, in which central banks and supervisory authorities jointly analyse the challenges arising from climate change and the need for action within the financial sector.

Our new expert panel provides an opportunity to discuss various regulatory initiatives around the globe; with regard to the risks that need to be addressed on the one hand and the creation of a suitable framework for necessary investment on the other. In this context, the role of central banks will also be highlighted. 

The panel is oriented towards experts from around the world in the fields of banking supervision, monetary policy and financial stability who are familiar with the relevant regulations or initiatives concerning sustainable or green finance. The panel will take place from 17 to 19 June 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The deadline for registration is 26 April 2019.

Text: Katja Hofmann and Dr Annika Sattler