Unlocking capital for sustainability 2021

Unlocking capital for sustainability is an annual premiere event organised by Eco-Business in partnership with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that brings together high-level decision makers in finance, business, government and civic society to discuss and commit to actionable initiatives that mobilise the capital markets for sustainable development.

Rebuilding our economies in a post-Covid-19 era has never been more urgent.​

All around the world, countries are still facing social and economic fallout from the global pandemic. The International Monetary Fund estimates that global GDP shrank an unprecedented 3.3 per cent in 2020 — the world’s worst recession since the Great Depression.​

Yet, vaccination rollouts and new responses are providing glimmers of hope. The IMF is now predicting a stronger recovery with growth projected to be 6 per cent in 2021.

Daunting challenges remain, however. Recoveries are diverging across and within countries — particularly in the Asia Pacific region — creating large gaps in living standards, vaccination programmes and government support. ​

Against this backdrop, the role of finance in this recovery has come sharply into focus, with a growing chorus of stakeholders demanding sustainable recovery investments. In 2020, ESG investments more than doubled — with investors pouring in a record US$51 billion.​

While a positive sign, the lack of global standards on ESG funds and sustainable finance instruments has attracted widespread criticism of greenwashing. How can the financial sector adequately respond to these global concerns? What is the role of finance in the green recovery in Asia Pacific, and how can public and private sectors collaborate to scale credible ESG investments?​

This September 16, we will convene leading minds from government, financial institutions and civic society around the world for this important conversation.

Partners include: OCBC Bank, Refinitiv, UOB, Wilmar, Endowus, Equilibrium, Fair Finance Asia, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Sindicatum Renewable Energy, AVPN, CDP, ClientEarth, Climate Governance Malaysia, Global Compact Network Singapore, Singapore Institude of Directors

Speakers include:

• Steven Stone, Chief, Resources and Markets Branch, Economy Division, UNEP
• Lim Hwee Hua, Co-Chairman, Tembusu Partners; former Second Minister of Finance, Singapore
• Elaine Lam, Head of Global Banking, OCBC Bank
• Eric Lim, Chief Sustainability Officer, UOB Bank
• Elena Philipova, Global Head of ESG Proposition, Refinitiv

Join us at Unlocking capital for sustainability 2021: Scaling sustainable finance for a green recovery

Please find more details and the agenda here.

Get your ticket to the event here and join us at Unlocking capital for sustainability 2021: Scaling sustainable finance for a green recovery.