Sustainable Finance Week Ireland Expands Beyond Climate to Include Transition, Nature and Social Finance with Global Thought Leaders

The International Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence (ISFCOE) is proud to announce the expansion of Sustainable Finance Week Ireland to reflect a broadened focus on the full spectrum of sustainable finance, including areas such as nature finance, social finance, and the regulatory landscape.

This year’s agenda showcases events with an array of global leaders in the areas of nature and social finance, including a keynote address by California’s Insurance Commissioner, Riccardo Lara, along with several panel discussions featuring leading experts within the global field of sustainable finance. Several speakers will also be featured virtually throughout the event.

Now, in its seventh year, the event will take place from 25th to 29th November and will once again be sponsored by AIB, a leading advocate for sustainable finance in Ireland. The week-long event, formerly known as Climate Finance Week, is organised by the Irish-based ISFCOE, which was established following Ireland’s first national Sustainable Finance Roadmap aimed at accelerating sustainable finance change through knowledge sharing, training, and research. The event is further supported by Skillnet Ireland and the Department of Finance.

This year, Sustainable Finance Week Ireland will also host the inaugural Irish-UK Transition Finance Summit. This collaborative event, convening policymakers and businesses from seven jurisdictions, will delve into the risks and opportunities for states transitioning to a low-carbon economy. By fostering dialogue and understanding among key stakeholders, the summit aims to accelerate progress towards a sustainable future.

The expansion of the event lineup reflects a significant shift in financial institutions’ approach to sustainability. While climate finance remains a crucial element, the broader sustainable finance agenda now also addresses the urgent need to finance biodiversity conservation, promote social equity, and support economic structures that are resilient to future challenges.

Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance, Neale Richmond, said, “Sustainable finance is crucial in safeguarding our environment, but also in ensuring that we have a resilient economy for our future generations. Sustainable Finance Week Ireland is an opportunity to bring together our financial strategies with our environmental goals.”

“By bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, we can chart a sustainable path forward, and I am confident that the work, the discussions, and the decisions made during Sustainable Finance Week will help us build a more sustainable future for generations to come,” said Richmond.

AIB Chief Executive Colin Hunt said “AIB’s purpose is empowering people to build a sustainable future. We are delighted once again to sponsor Sustainable Finance Week Ireland, which has become a force for educating, inspiring, and driving progress.”

“As we collectively grapple with the challenges of the climate crisis, we should not lose sight of the opportunity for the finance sector to play a critical role in supporting customers in managing and mitigating climate change risks. We look forward to the discussions and solutions Sustainable Finance Week Ireland will bring, enabling the finance sector to do even more to protect our people, our planet, and our prosperity for generations to come, said Hunt.”

“The expansion of the event reflects the growing recognition that sustainability in finance must go beyond climate change,” said Gillian Power, Interim CEO at the International Sustainable Finance Centre of Excellence

“Sustainable finance encompasses a wide array of crucial areas, from preserving natural ecosystems to ensuring social inclusion and economic stability. ‘Sustainable Finance Week Ireland’ better captures the comprehensive nature of the discussions and initiatives that will take place during the week.”

Registration for all Sustainable Finance Week Ireland events can be found here, which will serve as a comprehensive resource for all information on Sustainable Finance Week Ireland events, speaker lineups, and opportunities for participation.