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Tag: Financial Institutions

  • Top circular economy event calls for future-proofing of investment portfolios

    The seventh World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) shows how to create a new economy, businesses and jobs, by leveraging circular solutions to solve the planetary crises. Held in Helsinki, Finland from 30 May to 2 June, the leading circular economy event gathers forward-looking doers and thinkers and presents the game-changers helping governments, industries, businesses and households become circular.

    Picture: Topias Dean / Sitra

    This year’s World Circular Economy Forum WCEF2023 shows how the pressing challenge of rapidly scaling up circular solutions can be answered worldwide. For instance, the forum demonstrates how investing in the circular economy is a way to increase profitability and resilience for companies across value chains. Reducing dependencies on scarce virgin materials create sustainable growth and new jobs. Collaboration is key so that entire value chains can become more circular.

    The Forum also explores the role and possibilities of the financial sector to tackle challenges and drive coherent action towards de-risking investment in circular initiatives globally. We aim to demonstrate that well-being within the boundaries of nature is possible with policies which create incentives to adequately price natural resources and unlock investments to support uptake.

    “I hope businesses and investors as well as countries are looking for truly future proof strategies. Are they ready to respond to the growing call to put nature at the heart of all decision making, business and our lifestyles? Through the WCEF2023, we want to help all kinds of organisations look further into the sustainable and profitable future,” says Jyrki Katainen, President of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, WCEF2023’s co-host.

    Another important topic of the forum are circular solutions to halt the loss of biodiversity, where the food and agriculture sector can make the greatest contribution. Additionally, decarbonising the world is critical: as the demand for metals and materials grows exponentially, circular solutions are needed more than ever.

    “Setting up new conservation areas is of course necessary, but not enough. If we ever reached the global target to protect 30% of our land and water areas, more significant is what happens in the other 70%. From this point of view it is necessary to integrate economy and market mechanisms to bring solutions,” Katainen continues.

    The WCEF2023 brings together more than 2,000 new economy pioneers in Helsinki and thousands more online. You can hear the ideas of more than 120 speakers, participate in 42 results-oriented accelerator sessions, and explore more than 50 circular economy champions in the Expo area. The WCEF2023 is the place to find the best business models, financial instruments, innovations, partners, policies and strategies.

    Visions for a circular future by young leaders

    The WCEF2023 amplifies strong voices of young generations about the need of transformation from the current linear “take-make-waste” economic system towards a sustainable and regenerative circular economy. At the same time, young voices at the Forum are challenging the way we currently understand the circular economy and demanding for not only their voice but also that of nature to be heard.

    “We need to include younger generations to the circular economy discussions as this transition will define their future. That is why we have engaged youth organisations and asked them to actively join the circular economy community at the WCEF2023”, says Svein Berg, Managing Director of the Nordic Innovation, also co-host of WCEF2023.

    Meet top doers and thinkers from all over the world!

    How the game-changing solutions will be scaled up everywhere will be discussed at WCEF2023 in Helsinki by Managing Director of BlackRock Christopher Kaminker, Chief Impact Officer of Circulate Capital Ellen Martin, Vice-President of European Investment Bank Ambroise Fayolle, Director of African Development Bank Anthony Nyong, Managing Director of the Nordic Development Fund Karin Isaksson, UN Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, EU youth delegate to the UN Nadia Gullestrup Christensen, Founder of Swivel Skills & UnSchool Leyla Acaroglu, President and CEO of Metsä Group Ilkka Hämälä and Co-Founder of Climate Farmers Philippe Birker, among others.

    Online press briefing on 23 May and accreditation

    Want to learn more? Representatives of the co-hosts will share their thoughts and answer questions in an online press briefing on 23 May 15:00 (EEST; UTC+3) / 12:00 (UTC). The briefing is limited to representatives of the media and will take place on Microsoft Teams.

    The speakers of the press briefing include:

    • Kari Herlevi, Head of Global Collaboration Unit for Sustainability Solutions, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
    • Svein Berg, Managing Director, Nordic Innovation

    Media representatives are required to register for the briefing by 22 May 16:00 (EEST; UTC+3) / 13:00 (UTC) at https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/WCEF2023__Online_press_briefing_0547. Registered journalists will be provided with the link to join the Microsoft Teams meeting.

    To join WCEF2023 from 30 May to 2 June online or on-site in Helsinki, media accreditation is needed and is available on the event website at www.wcef2023.com/media.

    Mediakit and logos

    Download our media kit from WCEF2023’s website for more background information on the circular economy and the World Circular Economy Forum. You’ll find story ideas, contact information of experts for your interviews as well as recommended background material.

    The WCEF2023 logo is available at Sitra’s material bank.

    Media contacts

    Media inquiries and interview requests should be addressed to WCEF2023’s media liaisons:

    Source:(SITRA/Nordic Innovation)

     

  • Benin, Côte d’Ivoire to premier African Development Bank’s African Green Bank facilities

    The African Green Bank initiative was conceived as part of measures to facilitate access to global finance from the current 3% to 10% annually by 2030
    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 15, 2023/ — The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) is set to roll out the first green finance facilities in two public financial institutions in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire as part of its ground-breaking African Green Bank initiative. The host institutions are La Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations du Bénin (CDC Benin) and the Ivorian National Investment Bank (BNI).

    As Africa’s premier development finance institution, the African Development Bank does not only provide fiscal resources to its regional member countries; it also galvanizes global support in promoting resilient, green, and sustainable growth.

    It launched the African Green Bank Initiative in November last year to support the implementation of African countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

    African countries still face significant challenges in financing their climate transition. While investment needs resulting from NDCs are estimated at $2.8 trillion by 2030, funds invested on the continent still represent a limited share of global green finance flows, and the share covered by the private sector remains limited.

    The African Green Bank initiative was conceived as part of measures to facilitate access to global finance from the current 3% to 10% annually by 2030.

    The Initiative followed an assessment by the African Development Bank and the Climate Investment Funds in six African countries; Benin, Ghana, Mozambique, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia.

    The assessment revealed that green banks have significant potential for attracting new sources of catalytic funds when supporting low-carbon, climate-resilient development through blending capital and mobilizing local private investment for green investments in Africa.

    Bank vice president for Energy, Power, Climate and Green Growth, Kevin Kariuki, noted: “The African Green Bank Initiative is a powerful tool for reducing financing costs and mobilizing private sector investments in climate action in Africa.”

    The Initiative would bolster the capacity of local financial institutions to build a robust pipeline of bankable green projects while de-risking investments and entrenching long-term investor confidence toward climate-resilient and low-carbon projects in Africa.

    According to African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, Solomon Quaynor, “this technical assistance will enhance local financial institutions’ climate governance, green projects’ origination and monitoring which is therefore key to attract private capital by entrenching long-term investor confidence.”

    Audrey-Cynthia Yamadjako, the Initiative’s coordinator, said some $1.6 million had already been secured to create the first two facilities. She said green finance facilities, newly created or hosted in existing financial institutions, are “the solution to bring private finance at scale in climate action.”

    Climate Investment Funds, a major global climate finance mechanism, Canada Climate Action Africa, the Green Bank Network, and the European asset management firm, Amundi support the initiative.

    Amundi backs the Initiative through technical assistance activities, including training green facilities’ management and investment teams. Amundi will also mobilize its investment vehicles dedicated to sustainable development in emerging markets and developing economies to support green facilities’ capitalization and thus participate in developing green investments across the continent.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    SOURCE
    African Development Bank Group (AfDB)