Dr. Barbara Buchner, Executive Director of Climate Finance, CPI, will be moderating “Sustainable Investments: New Directions for the Finance Sector” at the R20 Austrian World Summit on May 18. The Paris Agreement addresses directly the financial flows consistent with a pathway towards a low-emission, climate-resilient development. The finance sector is a key player in directing future investments. In anticipating developments in climate policies, financial risks linked to climate change and in taking responsibility a growing number of asset owners and investors decide to divest from fossil fuels and invest in low carbon technologies. Insurance companies, banks, pension funds, as well as governments on national, regional and local level have to take climate aspects into account when it comes to future investments. This session will provide best practice examples, discuss barriers and opportunities linked to divest-invest.

The R20 AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT is a top-level summit about leadership on implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This annual event is organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger´s “R20 Regions of Climate Action” office in Austria. The summit brings together international leaders from politics, businesses, investors, civil society, academics, start-ups, and climate experts as well as representatives of regions and cities from around the world.