The Chartered Banker Institute (CBI) has launched a Green Finance Essay Competition. The professional association, one of the partners of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative’s (GEFI) Path to COP26 campaign, has called for applicants to answer the question of “How can finance professionals actively encourage changes in consumer behaviour to achieve society’s goals on climate change?”, making reference to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.

The winner will receive £100 of ethical gift vouchers and have their essay published in the “Pathway to COP26 – the Role of Green Finance” essay series from the CBI and the Social Market Foundation (SMF), as well as receiving the opportunity to present their paper at GEFI’s prestigious Ethical Finance 2020 summit.

“Safe stewardship (of customers’ money) has been a fundamental principle of the Chartered Banker Institute since it was established in 1875.  Today, we consider stewardship in its broadest sense – beyond finance to encompass the safe stewardship of our environment and resources.

The transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy is possibly the greatest global challenge for this and future generations, with green finance and green finance professionals playing critical roles.”

Chartered Banker Institute

The competition is open to people of any age in the UK or internationally, and entrants do not need to be members of the CBI. Answers to the question should be no more than 1,500 words and will be judged by a panel including the CEO of the CBI, Simon Thompson. Essays should be submitted, along with a short biography about your career and interest in Green Finance, by Friday 31st July 2020 to the Chartered Banker Institute at this link.