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Sustainability trends in asset-management: ​what policies are needed to address ESG confusion?

Day 1 Afternoon

Wednesday 23 February

Room :

NORMANDIE (-1 floor)

Speakers

Chair
Robert Ophèle
Chair - Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)
Public Authorities
Natasha Cazenave
Executive Director - European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
Martin Moloney
Secretary General - International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
Paul Tang
MEP - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament
Industry Representatives
Elizabeth Gillam
Head of European Government Relations and Public Policy - Invesco
Stéphane Lapiquonne
Managing Director - BlackRock
Elodie Laugel
Chief Responsible Investment Officer - Amundi
Natalie Westerbarkey
Director & Head of EU Public Policy - Fidelity International

Background and objectives of the session

In order to take up the global economy transition challenge, the asset-management industry is in the front line to allocate the massive flows of investment required worldwide. Nonetheless, global confusion on matters of sustainability hampers the asset-management industry’s ability to embrace the current sustainability trends, and increases concerns around greenwashing practices.

This session will therefore discuss the magnitude and sources of the ESG confusion and of greenwashing practices. The discussion will also focus on the regulatory responses on the way or still needed to alleviate those concerns, in the EU and globally.

Questions to be addressed during the session

  1. What is the magnitude and sources of ESG confusion and greenwashing in the asset management sector?
  2. How to solve persisting ESG confusion in asset-management? How to contribute to the ESG transition of the economy without excluding non-green or transitioning assets from financing?How to ensure stewardship and engagement towards sustainable practices, from asset-managers at all scales (firm, EU, globally)?
  3. What benefits have recent regulatory measures brought in mitigating this confusion? What are the priority actions still to be launched (e.g. EU labels, article 8, NFSRD, …) and remaining challenges?Is the European regulatory environment on green practices in finance (EU Taxonomy, NFRD, SFDR, …) providing sufficient clarity for asset-managers and investors?