Sustainable Finance Summit: Entering a New Era? has been kicked off with inspiring welcome remarks from Sophie Chassat, Accuracy and Omar Shaikh, Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) . Stay connect for more further insights.

In our first panel of the day asking if ESG strategies create value. Timothée emphasised SchneiderElectric BE dedication to sustainability, focusing on the importance of helping customers consume less while consuming more efficiently.

Anne Sophie Castelnau, ING, underscored that sustainability, alongside customer experience, is one of the bank’s top priorities, presenting it as both an imperative and a business opportunity.

Looking forward, Sinthuja Yogarajah, Federated Hermes - Limited stressed the importance of thinking about where to position investments over the next decade to capitalise on long-term opportunities in ESG.

Sophie Chassat, Accuracy, moderated the opening panel of the Summit's regulatory-focused second session. In her opening remarks, Sophie cited the recent statement from the French Prime Minister about his intention to request a moratorium on environmental regulations.

Comgest's Sébastien Thévoux-Chabuel reflected on the ESG enthusiasm before COP26, when regulation wasn't a focus. He compared the regulatory landscapes of Europe and the US, noting that while Europe is often criticized for over-regulation, it lags behind the US in enforcement.

Carol Sirou, EthiFinance discussed the complexities of ESG data, stressing the importance of moving from purely quantitative scores to more useful, comparable insights, especially with the upcoming EU ESG rating system.

Guillaume Rosaz, Accuracy, continued the Summit's second session with a presentation on "Navigating ESG Disputes" covering: - Duty of Vigilance Law - Environmental Litigation - Shell's Halting of Arctic Drilling He concluded that reputational risks are driving companies.

"ESG litigation is set to rise with new regulations like CS3D in Europe" Sophie Scemla, Gide said that companies must strengthen due diligence, engage with stakeholders, and manage risks from consumer activism and social media boycotts. #ESGLitigation #Sustainability

Despite increasing investments, Jean-Pascal Pham-Ba pointed out the uneven distribution of funds globally and stressed the importance of aligning public policy with #privatecapital, especially in developing countries, to promote sustainable infrastructure development.

As we prepare for the final panel of the Sustainable Finance Summit with Accuracy, we’d like your insights! How do you view the role of ESG factors in business practices and investment strategies?

Accuracy's Julie Malzac returned to deliver a compelling keynote on the integration of ESG factors in business strategies. She highlighted the critical need for deeper integration of ESG factors to enhance profitability while effectively managing risks. #ESG #RiskManagement

The penultimate panel discussion of the Summit was moderated by Dame Susan Rice, who pointed to the success of the US Inflation Reduction Act as an example of effective policy that encourages action without focusing on #ESG terminology.

David Pitt-Watson argued that while #ESG 's commercial value is recognised, it isn't straightforward for the finance industry, especially when managing other people’s money.

Eoghan McGrath shared how Martin Currie embeds ESG principles into all investment decisions and highlighted the risks of delaying robust #ESG action, noting that #Regulation may soon catch up with voluntary initiatives.

Jean-Yves Wilmotte from Carbone4 kicked off the discussion by highlighting the evolution of companies' #climate strategies. He explained that businesses are moving beyond the simple goal of reducing their carbon footprints.

Pascale Forde Maurice, Crédit Agricole CIB provided an overview of the growing popularity of sustainable financial instruments, such as sustainability-linked bonds and loans as they allow companies to align their funding strategies with measurable goals.

Benjamin Porte from UN Global Compact highlighted the CFO Coalition’s role in bridging the $4.3 trillion SDG financing gap, emphasizing CFOs’ crucial role in aligning corporate finance with sustainability. #SustainableFinance #SDGs #CorporateResponsibility #ESG

David Chollet closed the summit with a passionate keynote urging that "as we accelerate towards sustainability, timing is critical. Later is too late. Remember, there is no sustainable company in an unsustainable world. Let's act better, faster, stronger!" #ESG #sustainable

I was delighted to discuss progress on the introduction of an Alternative Student Finance (ASF) product compatible with Islamic finance principles with members of the ASF Working Group. This will make student finance accessible for everyone, regardless of their faith.