Press Release - September 8-11 Online Conference on Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI)

Columbia University to Host 3rd Annual Conference of the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment

On September 8-11, 2020, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at Columbia University will host the 3rd Annual Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI) Conference.

Held online, the Conference will convene academics together with industry practitioners, offering high level plenary sessions, paper presentations, and thematic panels and discussions.

Each day, researchers from different geographies and disciplines will present new insights on key questions related to sustainable finance and investment. The papers presented, which were all selected through a peer review process, individually and collectively shed light on such timely themes as:

Climate change: What are the potential and actual impacts of physical and transition risks for assets, industries, and investors?
ESG ratings: What do they tell us, and how do they relate to corporate performance or portfolio value?
Theories of change: What are the roles of asset owners and asset managers in shaping real-world outcomes?

In addition to the roughly 50 academics selected to present their work, 16 panelists will convene to discuss the role of corporations, the state, and the investment community in shaping sustainable finance and investment.

Confirmed panelists include: Jane Ambachtsheer, Global Head of Sustainability, BNP Paribas Asset Management; Per Bolund, Minister for Financial Markets and Housing, Deputy Minister for Finance, Government of Sweden; Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director and Executive Director of Climate Finance, Climate Policy Initiative; Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation; Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; Martín Guzmán, Minister of Economy for Argentina; Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative of California’s 17th Congressional District; Bill McKibben, Co-founder and Senior Advisor, 350.org and author, environmentalist, and activist; Hiro Mizuno, Former Executive Managing Director and CIO, Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), and Independent Director, Tesla, Inc.; Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director, OECD Development Co-operation Directorate; Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director, UN Global Compact; Carmen Reinhart, Vice President and Chief Economist, World Bank Group; Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor, Columbia; Anne Simpson, Director, Board Governance & Strategy, CalPERS; Leo E. Strine, Counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and Former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court; and Mervyn Tang, Senior Director, Global Head of ESG Research, Sustainable Finance, Fitch Ratings.

The following online side events will take place during the Conference:
(Further details on the Conference program).

Countdown to 2030: The role of the investment industry in achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
Tuesday, September 8th,12:15-1:30pm EDT

ESG Research Brainstorm – What do we need to know to understand the financial impact of climate change and other ESG issues?
Wednesday, September 9th, 7-8am EDT

Ask the Academic: A conversation between practitioners and researchers on sustainable investing
Wednesday, September 9th, 12:15-1:15pm EDT

I Put a Spell on You: The Business Roundtable’s statement of purpose
Wednesday, September 9th, 2:00-3:00pm EDT

Workshop on Climate Finance in Asia and Australasia
Wednesday, September 9th, 8pm EDT/Thursday September 10th, 8am CST

Finding a Sustainable Crisis Response for Central Banks and Supervisors
Thursday, September 10th. 7am EDT

Next Generation Skills for Sustainable Finance Education
Thursday, September 10th, 7-8am EDT

The “S” in “ESG”
Thursday, September 10th, 12-1pm EDT

Food Systems Dialogue
Friday September 11th, 9:15am - 11:00am

Climate Action in the Time of Debt Distress
Friday, September 11th, 7-8 am EDT

“The challenges and opportunities for our financial system to catalyze and support solutions for a sustainable recovery, and to reduce existing inequalities and social and environmental impacts, are as critical as ever; the timing of this conference will also allow us to reflect on and re-direct efforts related to the COVID response and recovery,” said Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.

The Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment was founded in 2017 to promote multi-disciplinary academic research on sustainable finance and investment. The Alliance is also developing academic collaboration among researchers working on sustainable finance and nurturing the growth and development of graduate students and junior academics working on these topics.

For the complete program visit https://www.susfinalliance2020.org/.

Thanks to our sponsors: