Sustainable Finance Summit

GEFI was delighted to deliver the “Sustainable Finance Summit: Entering a New Era?”, in partnership with Accuracy, a global leader in financial consulting and advisory services.

The conference, took place on 24 October 2024, in Paris, and reflected on the future of sustainable finance.

Indeed, in a context of anti-ESG backlash, but also of the normalization of integrating ESG issues into good practices of traditional finance, should we speak of the end of sustainable finance as it has been written in the last decade? Is a new chapter of its history opening, and if so, with what challenges at a time when climate and social challenges require more than ever colossal financing?

This event brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and finance professionals to ensure lively and dynamic debates. The program featured panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive sessions that provided valuable insights into navigating the transition towards a low-carbon world.

GEFI and Accuracy

Following the success of the Path to COP28, the first-and largest finance-focused campaign for the UN Climate Summit held in December 2023, The Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) and Accuracy have formed a strategic alliance to champion sustainable finance and ethical investment practices.

GEFI, renowned for its leadership in promoting ethical finance, and Accuracy, with its expertise in financial and strategic advisory, are united in their commitment to driving positive change through sustainable finance.

From their shared goals in developing sustainable finance, GEFI and Accuracy delivered a Sustainable Finance Summit that tackled the demand dynamics for ESG, regulatory pressures, and developing practical strategies for financing the transition.

Agenda

Registration and Networking 08:30 - 09:00

Session 1: Unlocking ESG's Value: Can Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors Drive Sustainable Success

This session analysed the factors driving the surge in ESG interest, including client / employee demand, regulatory pressure, corporate sustainability goals, financial value creation and risk management. Industry experts and market analysts considered how ESG strategies can drive financial innovation and operational excellence, positioning companies for long-term success in a rapidly changing business environment.

  • 9:05-9:10 -Keynote - ESG Today: Analysing Market Dynamics
  • 9:10-9:15 - Presentation - Leveraging ESG Data to Drive Sustainable Investment Decisions
  • 9:15-10:00 - Creating Value Through ESG: Myth or Reality?

Session 2: Shaping the Future: Are Evolving Sustainable Finance Rules a Game Changer or Deal Breaker?

The second session then delved into the complexities of the latest regulatory developments in ESG, covering recent policy changes, compliance requirements, and their implications for businesses and investors. Legal experts and regulatory authorities provided an overview of the evolving regulatory landscape and its consequences.

  • 10:00-10.45 - The Role of New Regulations, Between Constraints and Accelerators

Break 10:45 - 11:15

  • 11:15-11:30 - From Regulation to Litigation: Navigating the Evolving ESG Compliance Landscape
  • 11:30-12:15 - ESG Litigation in Focus: From Greenwashing to Greenhushing

Session 3: Sectoral Insights: Exploring ESG Strategies and Their Impact on Business Value

This session featured a sectoral deep-dive to learn about business cases on how an ESG strategy was approached, what was the impact of regulations and if it was an accelerator on the company value.

  • 12:15-12:45 - Building the Future: Industry spotlight - Real estate and Energy

Lunch 12:45 - 14:00

Session 4: Financing the Future: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

The final session explored the integral role of ESG factors in shaping sustainable business practices and investment strategies. It discussed the compelling business case for adopting ESG principles, debating whether they serve merely as a compliance tick-box exercise or if they represent a genuine imperative for corporate responsibility. Furthermore, the discourse highlighted innovations and trends within the ESG landscape, emphasising actionable strategies for integrating sustainability into financial decision-making.

  • 14:00-14:15 - Keynote - The Business Case for ESG
  • 14:15-15:00 - From Acronym to Action: Tick-Box Exercise or Business Imperative?
  • 15:00-15:45 - Charting the Path Forward: Innovations and Trends in ESG and Sustainable Finance
  • 15:45-16:00 - Closing remarks

Close and Networking

About Accuracy

An international firm created in Paris in 2004, Accuracy supports corporate leaders when they are faced with high-stakes situations.

Strategy, transactions, disputes, crises: Accuracy connects strategic thinking with the analysis of facts and figures, creating bespoke teams able to combine the expertise necessary to inform the decisions of our clients.

Today, Accuracy is present in five regions – Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa – and we recruit from the best international profiles.

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