Financing the Circular Transition
Description:
The circular economy can help meet global sustainability goals, address local environmental priorities, and deliver economic returns. However, the financing of circular solutions faces challenges.
This outcome-oriented virtual event focussed on accelerating and scaling up circular financing, from the global to the local level. The event began with a global view of opportunities and challenges curated by the UNEP Finance Initiative followed by an in-depth look at local applications specific to Canada.
Powered by GLOBE Series, this outcomes-oriented virtual session focussed on key framing questions including:
- Despite a lack of harmonized frameworks, taxonomies, and metrics, what circular financing solutions are being implemented today?
- How can we accelerate the scale-up of circular finance within the financial sector, to financial institutions not yet actively involved in circular financing, and across the supply chain, including SMEs?
- What are the potential returns and associated risks of investing in circular products, services, and solutions?
- How can we leverage the intersection of circular economy with broader ESG investment opportunities, the UN SDGs, net-zero climate commitments, and green economic recovery objectives?
The first part of the session was a globally focused panel featuring a diversity of views on financing the circular economy. Speakers included:
- Marisela Alvarenga, Chief of the Financial Intermediaries Division, IDB Invest
- Gerald Banaga-Baingi, Assistant Commissioner-Technical Planning, Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
- Jean Luc Lavergne, Founder, Lavergne Group
- Jan Raes, Global Sustainability Advisor, ABN AMRO
- (Moderator) Peggy Lefort, Resource Efficiency Coordinator, UNEP Finance Initiative
The second part of the session featured a series of interviews focused on financing the circular economy in Canada, featuring a range of Canadian financial institution perspectives. Speakers included:
- Michelle Bonner, Community Investment Portfolio Manager, Vancity
- Michela Gregory, Director ESG Services, NEI Investments
- Jonathan Hackett, Co-Head, Energy Transition Group and Head, Sustainable Finance and Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
- Gildas Poissonnier, Director, Sustainability and Responsible Finance, Desjardins
- (Moderator) Elizabeth Shirt, Managing Director, GLOBE Series
This public event was targeted to an audience of international and Canadian finance and investment business leaders, practitioners, and policymakers.
