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Insights / Event summary

7 Dec 2020 / 60 min read

Redefining the Purpose of the Investment System

Chatham House / Online / 7 December 2020, 16:30–18:00 GMT

Research Topics Finance With Purpose

Office workers silhouetted against the large orange wall of the Credit Lyonnais Bank at Broadgate in the City of London, UK. Image: In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images.

Watch the event video

Speakers

Opening Remarks

Ana Yang, Executive Director, Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator

Speakers

Nico Aspinall, Chief Investment Officer, B&CE

Sally Bridgeland, Senior Consultant, Avida International

Louise Dudley, CFA, Portfolio Manager, Federated Hermes

Ashok Gupta, Chair, FinSTIC

Meryam Omi, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment Strategy, Legal & General Investment Management

Chair

Nick Silver, Founder & Chairman, Climate Bonds Initiative

When we invest, our monies pass through a complex chain of financial intermediaries to corporates or governments who are expected to be able to generate value over our investment timeframes. The purpose of this system is, arguably, to generate returns for investors commensurate with their risk appetites; over the long-term this should be consistent with driving capital to those entities that will thrive in a world converting to carbon-neutrality.

But in practice, does the structure and incentives of the industry prevent this happening? This event, hosted by Chatham House's Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource Economy and FinSTIC, explores the current structure of the investment industry through a systems lens.

How well does it work? Does the interaction of key participants result in financial flows being directed to long-term, carbon-neutral investments? Ultimately, what is the purpose of the investment system, and what changes in behaviours are required to achieve the necessary redirection of capital that the climate crisis urgently requires?

This event, hosted by the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator and FinSTIC, explored the current structure of the investment industry through a systems lens.