In Brief: Sustainable finance has exploded in the past two years. Corporate ESG ratings are now being seen by investors as synonymous with reduced risk and higher returns. ESG scores are being used to assess a firm’s creditworthiness and its desirability as a place to work. Meanwhile, a new category of loans and bonds is being linked to sustainability performance. But it’s still the Wild West, with a lack of common definitions and standards.

GreenFin 21 will convene an invitation-only audience from the sustainability, finance and investment communities to improve communication, align investor expectations with corporate needs and showcase sustainable financial products and services.

This year’s launch event will expand upon the GreenFin Summits in 2019 and 2020. It will bring together asset owners and managers representing trillions of dollars in assets with sustainability and finance professionals from some of the world’s biggest companies.

Where and When: April 13-14, 2021 online

Audience: More than 400 professionals from three key audience segments: Corporate Sustainability & Finance, Financial Services Companies, and Investors & Asset Managers. We also welcome representatives from allied organizations, including Trade Groups and NGOs and Ratings & Ranking Organizations.

Format: The GreenFin audience is extremely high-caliber and we set a high bar for speaker proposals. The conference content consists of keynotes, breakouts and facilitated networking. We emphasize peer-to-peer learning experiences throughout the conference program. We put a premium on showcasing diverse speakers, in all senses of the word.

The conference program features three session formats:

• Keynote Talk — typically, a 10-minute solo presentation from the main stage, given by an executive or innovator sharing a breakthrough, achievement, insight or story that is inspiring, informative and thought-provoking. We look for cutting-edge ideas and engaging presenters (especially new voices and companies not already well known on the sustainability conference circuit). We are not interested in presentations intended primarily to promote a company, product or service.
• Keynote Conversation — typically, a 15-20 minute mainstage conversation, facilitated by a skilled moderator. This can either be a one-on-one interview with a high-profile thought leader or C-level executive; or a lively discussion among two or three experts offering diverse viewpoints around a particular topic. No slides or presentations — this is a “talk show” format.
• Breakout — a 45-minute interactive workshop or panel. Workshops offer a hands-on approach to learning and skills-building. Panels offer a moderated, in-depth discussion among a group of experts offering diverse viewpoints around a particular topic. In both cases, breakouts are outcome-based, intended to engage attendees as participants, not just as a passive audience.

Topics: We are interested in topics that are relevant to sustainable finance and ESG data, with a focus on large, mainstream companies. 

The following four tracks frame the structure and content of the conference program: 

• The Reporting Landscape

• Sustainable Finance

• The Investor View

• The ESG Ecosystem 

Who we want to speak: We invite proposals from speakers of all disciplines, backgrounds and perspectives. Our speakers are leaders in their fields, whether senior executives or visionary rising stars from the sustainability, finance and investment communities. The GreenFin audience is also interested in hearing from those outside of the sustainability department, including C-suite executives in such functions as risk management, finance, and investor relations. We uphold a strong commitment to diversity throughout our conference program, including gender, race and ethnicity, as well as in background, areas of expertise and perspective.

What We Value

Creativity: We strive to expand participants’ minds and catalyze new ways of thinking, and invite sessions that emphasize fresh ideas and new approaches to challenges. Given the virtual format, we also welcome creative approaches to presentations, such as hosting a session from a unique location. 

Interactivity and peer-to-peer learning: We seek to foster dialogue, empower active learning and enable participants to spark new connections with fellow attendees. We prioritize breakouts designed to facilitate interaction over passive listening.

New and timely content: We focus on the latest trends, developments and tools sustainability executives need to successfully do their jobs and advance their careers, and strive to bring fresh initiatives, research and information to our audience. We are not interested in repackaged presentations given at other conferences.

Diversity: We prioritize participants with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. This includes our commitment to racial diversity and gender balance of our speakers.

How and why: The “what” is interesting, but the “how” and the “why” are where the value lies for the GreenFin audience.