The Climate Crisis: Is the Financial Sector a Friend or Foe?

The Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) at UBC is delighted to present a seminar with Eric Usher, Head of the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI). Mr. Usher leads UNEP-FI’s efforts to develop norms and standards for sustainable finance that ensure private finance fulfills its potential role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Over the years UNEP FI has established some of the most important sustainability oriented frameworks within the finance industry, including the Principles for Responsible Investment (2006), the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (2012) and the recently launched Principles for Responsible Banking (2019). In discussion with Dr. Priya Bala-Miller, CIRDI’s Director of Partnerships and Program Development, Mr. Usher will share his experience and insights on how this unique global institution works across stakeholder groups to convene ambitious collection action solutions, facilitates shared learning, and co-develops practical resources for meaningful change.