3rd Geneva Summit on Sustainable Finance
Geneva, 22 March 2016
At this event co-organized by the University of Geneva, the Latsis Foundation, Sustainable Finance Geneva and UNEP FI, over 1000 people gathered to discuss latest research on Sustainable Finance and – most importantly – hear from one of the leading figures in Swiss finance on how important sustainability is for Swiss banking. Tidjane Thiam (CEO, Credit Suisse), delivered a motivating keynote speech emphasizing how the finance sector needs to realign itself with global Sustainable Development Goals. SSF President Jean-Daniel Gerber took part in a panel discussion on Policy Innovation for Sustainable Finance and stressed the key success factors of Switzerland in becoming a sustainable financial centre: innovation and stability. An interesting study by Lisa Schopohl and Andreas Hoepner on how political leanings of states influence ESG investment choices of US pension funds was challenged by SSF CEO Sabine Döbeli. The overwhelming attendance reinforced the fact that this is an area of growing interest where Switzerland can build on existing strengths.
