This half-day event reviewed the issuance of the UK government’s first green sovereign bond, the future of the sterling green bond market and how biodiversity can be incorporated into investment decisions. Through its presidency of COP26, the UK aims to agree global coordinated approaches to tackling climate change, including how to mobilise capital and develop sustainable taxonomy standards. The role of financing in the green agenda is more important than ever as the global sovereign green bond market exceeds £100bn. It is only set to boom further with £15bn in green gilts.
This meeting discussed market dynamics of green gilt issuance and the implications for developing a green yield curve, as well as the innovative UK Government Green Financing Framework. Following the findings of the Dasgupta Review, published by the UK Treasury in February, the government set out a framework for incorporating nature and biodiversity into economics and decision-making. This meeting discussed the metrics needed to support investment decisions and how to scale up opportunities for biodiversity.
Keynote: The UK’s role in financing the green agenda
Session I: The future of the green sterling market
Speakers:
Jessica Pulay, Co-Head of Policy and Markets, UK Debt Management Office
Mario Pisani, Deputy Director, Debt and Reserves Management, HM Treasury
Eoin Murray, Head of Investment Office, Federated Hermes
Jean-Marc Mercier, Vice-Chairman, Capital Markets, Global Banking and Markets, HSBC
Heike Reichelt, Head of Investor Relations and New Products, World Bank
Lori Heinel, Global Chief Investment Officer, State Street Global Advisors
Moderator:
Clive Horwood, Deputy CEO and Managing Editor, OMFIF
In conversation and Q&A: The Economics of Biodiversity
Session II: Investing in Nature: One metric to measure them all? Success and scaling up in biodiversity
Speakers:
Paul O’Connor, Executive Director, Head of EMEA ESG Debt Capital Markets, JP Morgan
Tushita Ranchan, Trustee, Green Purposes Company
Peter Young, Chairperson at ISO/TC 322, Sustainable Finance Committee
Simon Zadek, Chair, Finance for Biodiversity Initiative
Robert-Alexandre Poujade, ESG Analyst, Biodiversity Lead, BNP Paribas Asset Management
Moderator:
Helen Avery, Head of Nature Programmes, Green Finance Institute
In partnership:
Other events in the series:
‘Team Europe’ Borrowers Forum is part of the ‘Funding a new era for Europe’ series of events that OMFIF is hosting with other sovereign borrowers in the region to discuss their funding plans and outlook of the bond markets. We are also bringing our unique network of some of the world’s most powerful and influential investors into the conversation, together with the market insight of leading intermediaries.