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.

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.

Higher education institutions, foundations and nonprofits are taking great strides to reduce their climate impact and foster inclusive environments on campus. But, a “blind spot” still exists between an organization’s impact goals and their retirement investments. It’s also a blind spot for many employees who are unaware of how and where their retirement assets are invested.

Many retirement funds invest in companies with poor track records on the environment, diversity and racial justice. Failure to offer ESG investment options is not only a significant risk to these institutions and their beneficiaries, but is an opportunity for the asset management and investment advisory communities. How are groups like the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) working to catalyze the more than $1 trillion in 403(b) in assets to support the transition to a clean and just economy?