To avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, investment and lending must fund and finance a resilient, prosperous and dignified zero-carbon future. The Science Based Targets initiative, the leading organization enabling the private sector to set emissions reduction targets grounded in climate science, has developed a framework for financial institutions to align their lending and investment activities with the Paris Agreement. You'll hear from one of the architects of that framework, as well as two private-sector professionals with deep expertise in emissions measurement and target-setting.

Firms are assessed by customers, civil society, policy-makers and employees –– present and prospective alike –– on their credible intentions and actions to shift their business model toward sustainability. Research has demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of corporate boards, especially in the United States, do not possess the necessary acumen to address financially material ESG issues. The growth of ESG has left many corporate boards unprepared. What are the skillsets and governance structures boards need to successfully navigate the new terrain?

The global water crisis is both an economic and humanitarian crisis — an unmitigated risk to global supply chains, profits and the well-being of communities and populations around the world. Through the U.N. Global Compact, CEO Water Mandate and the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), a growing cohort of corporations recognize that philanthropy alone won’t suffice to solve the global water crisis. They see themselves as playing an increasingly material role in the innovation, collaboration and delivery of investment capital needed to solve the escalating crisis. Leading voices tackle the increased role corporate water investments have in driving meaningful collective action toward a water-positive future.

Investing with a gender and climate lens is simply smart investing. The approach promises to amplify impacts and returns by uncovering new investment opportunities, mitigating risk and improving decision-making. It's also an important lever for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2050. Women today are disproportionately impacted by many elements of climate change and suffer from a lack of gender equality. But women’s leadership, employment and consumption are also vital for delivering environmental sustainability and resilience. Across sectors, in both developed and emerging markets, this session will explore what we can learn from pioneers in this space to help investors hit the ground running and understand how to bring this approach into the financial mainstream.