ETH Meets Sustainable Switzerland Forum
22 Aug 2024 - ETH Zurich is Scientific Partner at the Sustainable Switzerland Forum 2024. The thematic stream "biodiversity" will feature ETH Zurich's event RETHINKING Biodiversity: From Nature-Based Solutions to Sustainable Finance.?
The Sustainable Switzerland Forum brings together thought leaders and decision makers - the ideal networking event for an exchange at eye level. Renowned speakers talk about forward-looking solutions for companies and inspire the participants from business and science.
RETHINKING Biodiversity: From Nature-Based Solutions to Sustainable Finance
Our global economy relies entirely on natural systems, which are increasingly at risk worldwide.
Nature-based solutions are essential for protecting ecosystems, benefiting people, combating climate change, and preserving biodiversity. These solutions provide critical services such as carbon storage, ensuring food and water supplies, and buffering against the impacts of a warming world, thus paving the way for a nature-positive future.
Innovations in market and governance practices are necessary to effectively scale these nature-based solutions. Aligning global financial flows with equitable nature-positive outcomes is crucial for achieving sustainable development.
The UBS whitepaper “Bloom or bust” highlights the significant role financial institutions play in supporting these initiatives. It emphasizes that aligning financial flows with nature-positive outcomes is vital for fostering a resilient and thriving global economy. Ongoing efforts are focused on developing and implementing innovations that accelerate this alignment, ensuring a sustainable future for all.
The thematic stream will take place in block 2 on 22 August 2024 from 11:00 - 12:00 at the Kursaal in Bern. More information and tickets can be found external pagehere.
Programme
- Welcome & introduction
- What is biodiversity, why is it important and how can we measure it by Kristy Deiner
- What are nature-based solutions for finance by Simon Zadek
- What role do financial institutions play, what are the regulatory and compliance implications by Judson Berkey
- Discussion & Q&A
Speakers
Kristy Deiner
Kristy Deiner describes herself as both fascinated and humbled by biodiversity. She is both a scientist and an entrepreneur, researching how this diversity is created and why it is important to preserve it. As Professor of Environmental DNA at ETH Zurich, she has developed new genetic technologies and advanced methods to improve global biodiversity conservation and monitoring through her leadership of the ETH spin-off SimplexDNA, which she co-founded. This company is at the interface of natural technology and finance.
Simon Zadek
Simon is Co-CEO of NatureFinance and Senior Advisor to the Task Force on Nature Related Financial Disclosure. He was Head of the UN Secretary-General's Task Force on Digital Finance for the Sustainable Development Goals, Senior Advisor on Finance and Co-Director of UNEP's Finance Inquiry. He co-chaired the Chinese Green Finance Task Force and led the Secretariat of the Green Finance Study Group under the Chinese, German and Argentinian G20 Presidencies. Previously, Simon was a Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum and the Global Green Growth Institute. He was founder and CEO of AccountAbility and Development Director of the New Economics Foundation. He is a lecturer and professor at various management and business schools around the world and has published numerous books, including the award-winning "The Civil Corporation".
Judson Berkey
Judson Berkey is a Managing Director in the Chief Sustainability Office at UBS in Zurich, where he has worked on global risk, regulatory and compliance issues since 2003. He currently focuses on sustainable finance policy and regulation, including working with policy makers and standards organizations. He also leads UBS's activities on nature-related issues. He graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia and is a board member of ECOFACT. He currently chairs the Institute of International Finance's Sustainable Finance Working Group and is a member of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures and the Capitals Coalition Advisory Board.
Kathrin H?negger (moderation)
Kathrin H?negger got her first jobs in radio after graduating from high school, and later also in television. She is a trained actress and completed the journalism modules at the MAZ. Today she can be heard on SRF3 radio, where she has also taken on various special formats, such as presenting and editing the talk show "Focus". Since 2013, she has been in front of the camera for the knowledge program "Einstein" on SRF. She also works as an author and moderates readings, panels and conferences on art, culture and science. This is the second time she has hosted the Sustainable Switzerland Forum.