UNEP Finance Initiative Newsletter: Engaging finance sector in China

UNEP Finance Initiative Newsletter

June 2010

UNEP FI engaging finance sector in China

UNEP FI's Head of Unit, Paul Clements-Hunt is going to present UNEP FI's vision of green banking and green insurance at the 'Earth Temple Forum', 5-6 June 2010 in Beijing, China organized by the Government of China. Paul Clements-Hunt's presentation is to be followed by an interview with a leading Chinese newspaper, and participation in the Sohu Green Channel broadcast 'Can green finance bring more profit to the financial industry?', moderated by journalist Chen Da, and attended by Chinese banks representatives and officals from the Ministry of Environment. The Head of Unit's visit to Beijing is in the context of the work carried out by UNEP FI Asia Task Force ...

UNEP FI convenes the first of series of regional summits on 'Financing low-carbon growth', Seoul, Republic of Korea

UNEP FI will convene, in partnership with Cambrige University's P8 Group of institutional investors, the first of series of regional Summits on 'Financing Low-Carbon Growth' in emerging economies on 16-17 June 2010 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This Summit will bring together an exclusive group of leaders from the asset management, infrastructure finance and development banking fields from Korea, across Asia and the world, to discuss investment opportunities in tackling climate change. Present will be the Prince of Wales (via video), the Finance Minister of Guyana, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (via video). The event is sponsored by:

UNEP FI partners with World Climate Solutions, Carbon Disclosure Project, the Mexican Government and TIME Inc to organise a global dialogue between investors, lenders and corporates at Cancun COP 16

UNEP FI, in partnership with the World Climate Summit (WCS), TIME magazine, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and with the support of the Mexican Government's Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Pro Mexico, will convene 300 of the most prominent and influential leaders from business, finance, entrepreneurship, and government to accelerate and collaborate on economic solutions to climate change. The exclusive inaugural summit will run parallel to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chance COP 16 conference in Cancun, Mexico, 4-5 December 2010. Watch the Video and read the Soft Launch Press Release...

UNEP FI welcomes Santam as the first insurance company to join UNEP FI's Africa Task Force

Santam, South Africa, joins the UNEP FI membership as the first insurance company to serve on the Africa Task Force (ATF). With the largest share (22%) of the short-term-insurance market in the country, Santam works actively to engage like-minded players, consumers, civil society and government on realistic solutions to natural disasters and climate change mitigation. More on Santam...

'Translating ESG into Sustainable Business Value' Report

The UNEP FI Asset Management Working Group and the Markets and Valuation Work Stream of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) jointly published the report, providing insights for companies and investors on how their business and investment philosophy and practices can better address the why, what and how of communicating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors to the capital markets. Read the Report ...

Working with the Greek finance sector on implementation of recent EU 'polluter pays' Directive

The event 'Environmental Liability and Risk Management for the Greek finance sector' took place on 27-28 May in Athens, Greece. In partnership with the Hellenic Bank Association, the event was designed to sensitise bankers, insurers, risk managers and other relevant actors across the Greek financial sector to the importance, effective techniques and benefits of incorporating environmental and social considerations into corporate strategy. The first day of the event focused on the EU Environmental Liability Directive, which has been in force in Greece since September 2009. Mr. Kremlis, of the European Commission (EC), explained the Directive, which as the first of its kind in the EC focuses on the 'polluter pays' principle and aims to establish a common framework. The UNEP FI Workshop Environmental and Social Risk Analysis (ESRA) took place on the second day.

Joint UNEP FI PRI Webinar 'Deforestation Risks and Forest Footprint Disclosure'

The joint webinar aims to raise awareness to investors and bankers about the risks from deforestation due to cattle ranching, soy plantations and other forest risk commodities. On 22 June 5pm CET, hear first hand from the Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD), Weyerhauser and Henderson Global Investors about the findings of the inaugural FFD 2009 survey, and about how financial institutions should view and account for risks arising from deforestation. Click here to register...

61st Floor, Empire State Building. UNEP FI PWG and RPI Center joint session 'Institutional Investors in the Field'

9 June 2010, 9:30pm, New York, 'Responsible Property Investing: Growing the Field' Symposium. This session will explore why and how real estate asset class is increasingly gaining the attention of institutional investors. What are the drivers? How Responsible Property Investing (RPI) strategies are being used to improve financial, social, and environmental performance of property assets under ownership or management? For more information please contact: property@unepfi.org In association with the Initiative for Responsible Investment at the Harvard University and the University of Arizona.