Overview
The world faces not only persistent economic and financial uncertainty but also unparalleled resource constraints that are putting pressure on social and environmental systems, particularly in emerging markets. With government finances tightening due to the build-up of historically high debt, the provision of public goods is becoming increasingly dependent on the private sector, and there is a greater need than ever for commercially viable solutions that combine financial innovation and targeted delivery mechanisms to address at scale the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
Reflecting this need, as well as an increased attention to natural and social capital, many financial institutions – from large institutional investors such as pension and sovereign wealth funds, to private equity firms, investment banks and asset managers – are shifting from an SRI approach aimed at minimising negative ESG outcomes to a more opportunistic impact investing stance that emphasises the positive effect of capital on solving ESG problems and delivering basic needs. How can this more positive approach be strengthened and its potential optimised?
The Financial Times and IFC will bring together senior public
and private sector decision-makers in finance and sustainability, including
financial and non-financial intermediaries, to discuss the practical steps that
have to be taken to maximise the flow of capital into crucial social and
environmental projects and ensure full realisation of the “three I’s” (as James
Cameron of Climate Change Capital coined the phrase) – Infrastructure,
Innovation and Information-sharing – that are the keys to the successful
delivery of public goods.
In a special feature for this year’s Conference, all five
short-listed nominees for the 2013 Achievement in Inclusive Business award will
make short presentations on their projects, as a prelude to the FT/IFC
Sustainable Finance Awards dinner in the evening.