Governments and Business Leaders See an “Opportunity Agenda”

Businesses, financial leaders, and governments on both sides of the Atlantic are encountering the impacts of the world’s changing climate on their present and future operations. In addition to the risks arising from climate change, they recognize the emerging “opportunity agenda” that has the potential to open up entirely new business lines, new “green” products, new types of services in emerging carbon markets, and major capital inflows to replace aging infrastructure with new low-carbon technologies.

Business opportunities arising from the transition to a low-carbon economy are seen by many as a cornerstone of the economic recovery from today’s recessionary economic conditions.

The British High Commission and The Conference Board of Canada have organized a seminar to help foster a deeper dialogue on the financial risks and
opportunities arising from climate change. In particular, the opportunities and challenges of financing the transition to a clean energy economy are seen as a topic of mutual interest by both the financial community and business leaders.

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The program will be highlighted by an opening plenary address by the Rt. Hon. Alderman Ian Luder, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, on the financial aspects of the transition to a low-carbon economy. This address will be followed by a networking opportunity with the Lord Mayor. Leading executives from the financial and business sectors will provide their insights, and field questions and comments from the audience during a panel discussion:

• Len Diplock, Vice-President, Strategy, Direct Energy
• Sandra Odendahl, Director, Corporate Environmental Affairs, Royal Bank of Canada
• Jeff Passmore, Executive Vice-President, IOGEN Corporation
• Steven Schleimer, Director, Energy and Environmental Market Regulation, Barclays Capital, New York
  
  

This seminar, Opportunities for Financing a Low-Carbon Economy, is designed to move the agenda forward. The seminar’s objectives are to make advances on three fronts:

• to raise the profile of business opportunities arising from the transition to a low-carbon economy;
• to foster a closer dialogue between leaders from the financial and energy communities; and
• to open up business opportunities for the future.

Questions that need to be asked about financing the transition to a low-carbon economy include:

• What are the dimensions? How much financing will be needed, when, from where?
• Are there different perspectives on the transition—from the U.K., from the U.S., from Canada?
• What does the long-term future look like, following the post-recession incentive packages?
• Are there any strong emerging priorities—carbon sequestration, renewables, nuclear power?
• Are there any lessons learned from the European experience so far?

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