ICAEW's Climate Summit 2021 covered areas from governance and disclosure to personal leadership. Find out about the sessions that were held each day and can be watched on demand.
Disclosure
The trouble with scenarios
The TCFD believes that scenario anlysis is an important tool for organisations to utilise when assessing the potential business implications of climate-related risks and opportunities. In this session, chaired by Lois Guthrie from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the panellists discuss how we can assist organisations with gaining the confidence to sign off on this analysis and how to use an interpretive lens to bridge the gap between organisation and investor perspectives. How can businesses use disclosure to tell their story? The panel includes Tristan Stanley, BHP, Christophe McGlade, IEA, and Lydia Rainforth, Barclays.
Navigating TCFD: are you prepared?
This session with KPMG provides an in-depth discussion and roadmap on integrating climate disclosures into reporting using the TCFD recommendations. Learn about the climate disclosures that are decision-useful for external stakeholders and how these flow into back-half reporting. What parts of the TCFD recommendations are hard to implement and why? Why is the Finance function core to the implementation of a climate strategy? KPMG's Bridget Beals, Partner in Climate Risk and Decarbonisation Strategy, and Helena Watson are chaired by Alison Ring, Director Public Sector, ICAEW.
Accountability and the Paris Agreement
Meeting the net zero emissions goals by 2050 will require businesses to actively reduce their carbon emissions now. To demonstrate action, investors are demanding Paris-aligned financial statements. The panel discuss potential options and what could be included. How can the financial statements promote accountability and behavioural change? What types of emissions should be included, and what about wider environmental impacts? The panel includes: Asif Chowdhury, EY, Sundip Jadeja, CDSB, Richard Murphy, Sheffield University, and Natasha Landell-Mills, Sarasin & Partners.
Governance
Boardroom blind spots: are you addressing climate risk?
Has your board started to prepare for the risks of climate change? Do you have the information you need to make the right decisions? Companies need to embed climate plans into core business strategy. This session provides practical advice for the boardroom on climate related questions. Chaired by Iain Wright, Managing Director, Reputation and Influence at ICAEW, the session panel includes: Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Chapter Zero Board and Alan Stewart, NED and Audit Committee Chair at Diageo plc.
PD Leake lecture: accounting in the Anthropocene
The 2021 PD Leake lecture considers the role for accountants in a time when human activity is having a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems. Professor Bebbington examines whether a new way of looking at these issues will mean that they can be addressed more effectively and how the institution of accountancy will need to adapt to do that.
Finance
Integrating sustainable finance
Learn how Aviva is integrating sustainable finance into their business, building climate risk into risk management, and encouraging others to do the same. Discover how biodiversity feeds into investment and underwriting, followed by an innovative discussion on developments in the SDGs and technology from David Marriage, as well as key insights from Jonathan Drew at HSBC Hong Kong, Richard Spencer, ICAEW, and Ben Carr from Aviva. The session was chaired by Zsuszanna Schiff, Technical Manager, ICAEW.
SMEs
How to get started on your journey to net-zero
Join this session to discover practical insights for those that work in or advise SMEs on how they can start decarbonising their organisations. Hear from Sam Lux, BEIS, who will discuss the government’s focus on SMEs, including the resources in the SME Climate Hub. Scott Johnson from Kung Fu Accounting will provide a member perspective and touch on what an accounting b-corp means. Fflur Lawson, Smart Energy, will present why energy efficiency is a major consideration for business. Finally, Mark Sait, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, will delve into what they can offer businesses working towards net zero and the practical support they provide. The session will be chaired by Sarah Reay, Sustainability Team, ICAEW.
Leadership
Greening your finances
Often when we think of the term green finance it is associated with what a business is doing. This session will help you understand how to take leadership in greening your personal finances, considering where your pension fund is held and personal investments that you can make. India White-Spunner and Ajay Johal, from Ruffer, deliver an introductory keynote, followed by a panel discussion with: Bruce Davis, Founder and Managing Director of Abundance Investment; David Hayman, Campaign Director from Make My Money Matter; and James Robinson, Chartered Financial Planner from Mazars Financial Planning. The session was chaired by John Gaskell, Head of Personal Financial Planning, ICAEW.
Climate skills and education
If you are newly qualified or been in a chartered accountant for many years, ESG work is moving up the agenda in all businesses. This session showcases what training and skills programmes ICAEW, CDSB and academics have to offer in this field. The session panel includes: Professor Jan Bebbington, Director of the Pentland Centre, Lancaster University and Gemma Clements, Project Manager at the Climate Disclosure Standards Board and Rosie Dunscombe, Technical Lead, Climate Change, ICAEW. The session will be chaired by Jessica Fries, Executive Chairman, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S).
Careers in climate
Are you looking to embark on an ESG or climate career? Whether you're a student looking to start your career, or a well-seasoned professional interested in making a change, this session provides a chance to hear the speakers' professional journeys and the skills needed to tackle climate change. Panellists include: Mark Jerome, Head of Internal Audit at Green Climate Fund, Josh Hasdell, KPMG Canada, and Riona Bowhay, Assistant Manager on KPMG’s Climate Risk and Decarbonisation Strategy team.