Despite the rapid expansion of sustainable finance in recent years, it is increasingly recognized that lack of technical capacity remains a key barrier to mobilizing private financing for climate actions and sustainability in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs). In 2023, the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) made technical assistance and capacity building in sustainable finance one of its top priorities and called upon the international community to step up efforts in these areas for the developing world.

In response to the proposal made by the G20, China’s leading green finance think tank, the Beijing-based Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS), is launching a global initiative on sustainable finance capacity building for EMDEs, in collaboration with over 30 global institutions. The new Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI) was first announced during the 3rd Belt and Road Forum in Oct 2023 and aimed to provide quality learning programs to support countries to develop sustainable finance in the ASEAN, Central Asian, African, the Middle East, and Latin American regions.

This event is the formal launching ceremony of CASI, followed by panel discussion on capacity building in scaling up sustainable finance in EMDEs.

Welcome Remarks (5 min)

  • Dr Ma Jun, President of Beijing Institute of Finance and Sustainability

Session I: Keynote Speech (30 min)

  • Sir Danny Alexander, Vice President, AIIB
  • Zhu Jun, Chairwoman, Silk Road Fund
  • Jenny McInnes, Group Head of Sustainability Policy and Partnerships, HSBC
  • Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Standard Chartered Bank
  • Jonathan Bailey, Global Head of ESG, Neuberger Berman
  • Paul Moody, CEO, CFA Institute (online)

Session II: Signing Ceremony (5min)

Session III: Panel Discussion: Capacity Building for Scaling up Sustainable Finance in Emerging Markets and Development Economies (50min)

This session will focus on the specific challenges faced by emerging market stakeholders in developing sustainable finance and discuss potential solutions to address them.

Moderator: Cheng Lin, Director, Center for International Collaborations, IFS

Speakers:

  • Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO, WRI
  • Hua Jingdong, Vice President, ISSB
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb, President and CEO, HBL Bank
  • Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum
  • Sherry Madera, CEO, CDP

 

Image by Asian Development Bank