Converging, interconnected issues, including the changing finance landscape, have brought sustainable finance and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the fore as a unifying global agenda for countries, companies, investors and civil society to pursue (see ACCA report Sustainable Development Goals: redefining Context,  Risk, and Opportunities) . In 2015, landmark international agreements were established with the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, which includes the commitment to align financial flows with a pathway towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The EU has been at the forefront of efforts to build a financial system that supports sustainable growth, and it is gaining further momentum with the publication of the European Commission’s Action plan. It  includes among others to establish  an EU sustainability taxonomy to provide a classification system of climate, environmentally and socially-sustainable activities; to create standards and labels for green financial products; to clarify institutional investors and asset managers' duties regarding ESG issues; to incorporate sustainability in prudential requirements; and to strengthen sustainability disclosure and to improve accounting rule-making.

For countries, the 17 SDGs propose a new model to adhere to in order to deliver prosperity to their citizens and to create an all-encompassing framework that has as its motto to ‘leave no one behind’.  For business, the SDGs have been referred to as, ‘a purchase order from 2030 for business and government action today’ . The challenge of meeting the SDGs by 2030 is immense. A critical factor in the SDGs success will be their mainstreaming, so that opportunities can be realized, and that their delivery becomes embedded into business practices through monitoring, and reporting on progress towards them, as well as their widespread understanding, take-up and skills development. A defining challenge for business, the finance industry and the accountancy profession for the coming years.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),  ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)and Barclays are therefore delighted to invite you a lively  discussion on the proposals from the European Commission Action plan and the alignment of business strategies and corporate reporting contribution in meeting the SDGs and sustainable finance objectives.

RSVP to cecile.bonino@accaglobal.com by 30 April

Draft agenda

13.45pm Registrations and coffee

14.10pm Welcome note , Alexia LaTortue, Managing Director, Corporate Strategy, EBRD

14.20pm Paulina Dejmek-Hack, Cabinet of European Commission Juncker, European Commission

14.30pm Key note speech, Heidi Hautala, MEP

14.40pm Panel 1 How are European stakeholders acting to shift the dial towards sustainable finance? moderated by Gwilym Jones, Head of EBRD Brussels office

Starting with a presentation of the sustainable Action plan, Diego Valiante, Capital Markets Union unit, DG FISMA, European Commission, tbc       

• Flavia Micilotta, Secretary General Eurosif
• Lé-Quang Tran Van, AFEP and EuropeanIssuers
• Rhian-Mari Thomas, Managing Director and Chair Barclays Green Banking Council
• Andrew Watchman, EFRAG TEG Chairman and CEO
• Roxana Damianov, acting Head of Corporate affairs, ESMA

15.45 Q&A

16.00 Coffee break

16.20pm Panel 2 How corporate sustainability reporting frameworks are enabling businesses to engage with sustainable finance and the SDGs, moderated by  Marjella Alma, CEO of e-Revalue and Datamaran

Starting with the presentation of the report Sustainable Development Goals: redefining Context,  Risk, and Opportunities ,  Jimmy Greer, ACCA

·       Tom Verheye, Principal Adviser on Green Finance and Investment,  DG ENVIRONMENT, European Commission

• Wim Bartels, Member of the TCFD and  Deputy chair ESG Reporting Task Force, Accountancy Europe

·       Tatiana Krylova, head of Enterprise Branch, Division on Investment and Entreprise, UNCTAD ISAR

·       Andrea Valcalda, Head of Sustainability, ENEL  

·       Jonathan Labrey, Chief Strategy Officer, IIRC

17.35pm Q&A

17.50pm Concluding remarks,  Cian Rice, Barclays

18.00pm Cocktail reception