Navigating sustainability impacts and advancing the transition

On the 25th June 2024, during London Climate Action week, the PRI and experts from the sustainable finance industry came together for a full-day policy conference.

During the morning, the PRI, UNEP FI and Generation Foundation launched the final report on the Legal Framework for Impact project. The afternoon session delved further into policy topics, starting with a state of play of sustainable finance policy in the UK with financial institution experts and policymakers, followed by discussions on the role of regulation and how to achieve a whole of economy, just transition for public and private actors.

To find out more on the PRI’s upcoming policy work, click here.

Agenda

Time	Session
09:30	Registration and refreshments
10:00	Welcome and introduction Margarita Pirovska, Director Global Policy, PRI Grace Eddy, Foundation Director, The Generation Foundation
*Part I – Launch of the Legal Framework for Impact (LFI) final report: moving from “if” to “how”*
10:10	Keynote address Clara Barby, Senior Partner, Just Climate
10:20	Legal findings of the LFI project David Rouch, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
10:30	Presentation of the Legal Framework for Impact final report The LFI final report assesses the progress made since 2019 to address sustainability outcomes in investment policy and practice, providing examples from 5 focus jurisdictions. This presentation will set out the key recommendations made to ensure investors are increasingly able to contribute to overcoming urgent sustainability challenges and achieving sustainability goals in tandem with delivering financial returns for clients and beneficiaries. Kelly Krauter, Senior Specialist, PRI
10:40	Practical steps to invest for sustainability impact In this panel discussion investors will talk about how their funds set and pursue sustainability impact goals. The audience will hear how their investment practices have changed, any challenges they faced and the key lessons they’ve learnt. Keith Guthrie, Head of Sustainability, Cardano UK & NOW: Pensions Will Martindale, Co-founder and Managing Director, Canbury Insights Faith Ward, CRIO, Brunel Pension Partnership Moderator: Elodie Feller, Global Policy Lead, UNEP FI
11:35	Break
11:50	Progress on the LFI policy recommendations In this discussion, panellists will consider how current policies support investing for sustainability impact and how policymakers might address barriers investors face. The discussion will highlight the policy recommendations set out in the LFI report and how these are being considered by policymakers. Ursula Bordas Prószyńska, Consumer Protection and Sustainability Senior Expert, EIOPA Susanne Draeger, Strategic Affairs Director, IFRS Ida Levine, Board Director and Lead Expert Policy, Impact Investing Institute Moderator: Margarita Pirovska, Director Global Policy, PRI
12:40	Closing remarks - Part I Grace Eddy, Foundation Director, The Generation Foundation
12:45	Lunch
*Part II – Advancing the transition*
13:40	Opening remarks - Part II Eline Sleurink, Director, UK & Ireland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, PRI
13:45	Stocktake of the UK landscape and trajectories This panel will be an opportunity to take stock of UK sustainable and transition finance policies, and next steps needed to achieve a successful net zero transition. Speakers from industry and regulators will discuss some of the main success stories in the UK such as the implementation of the UK Stewardship Code and the development of the Sustainability Disclosure Requirements, as well as ongoing barriers to the transition that will need to be at the forefront of policymakers’ agenda in the coming months. James Alexander, CEO, UKSIF Tim Fassam, Director of Public Affairs, Phoenix Group Maria Nazarova-Doyle, Executive Director, Global Head of Sustainable Investment, IFM Investors Moderator: Will Martindale, Co-founder and Managing Director, Canbury Insights
14:35	Break
14:55	The place of regulation Sustainable finance regulations, in the UK and globally, have developed significantly over the past few years, bringing with them a welcome sense of direction but also some implementation challenges. This panel will explore where and when regulation can support an accelerated transition towards a sustainable finance system, and areas of concerns that investors and policymakers can have with regards to policy implementation, such as market fragmentation, resourcing and interoperability. Edwin Whitehead, Director of Sustainable Investment, Redington Justin Wray, Head of DB, LGPS and Investment, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) Helene Winch, Head of Responsible Investing, Premier Miton Investors Mark Manning, Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science Moderator: Eliette Riera, Head of UK & Switzerland Policy, PRI
15:40	Break
15:50	Fireside Chat – actors of the transition Vanessa Harvard Wiliams, Transition Finance Market Review Mark Manning, Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science
16:15	Market-leading practice on the transition Beyond financial regulation, real economy policies and whole of government integration of sustainability targets are crucial to achieving a just transition, bringing along industry and communities alike. As financial institutions, academics and governments grapple with this topic, this panel will look at market and policy tools to accelerate the transition and high-integrity capital raising, and how to ensure strong and effective cross-sector collaboration. Edward Baker, Net Zero Manager, LGPS Central Limited Antonina Sheer, Policy Fellow, LSE Grantham Institute Edward Mason, Partner, Generation Investment Management Moderator: Councillor Irem Yerdelen, Lead Member for Sustainable Finance, City of London Corporation
17:00	Concluding remarks  Yulia Bull, Head of UK & Ireland, PRI
17:10	Networking drinks and canapes
18:30	Event end