Recently, while participating in Finastra’s European Corporate Banking Day, TradeSun’s Chief Revenue Officer, Ian Laverty, was invited to join a panel discussion on sustainable trade and sustainable finance. Accompanying him in this comprehensive panel, led by Andy Mason from Finastra, were Ani Panse from First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mark Azoulay from McKinsey & Company. The conversation focused on sustainable finance, the implications of regulation, the complexities and opportunities presented by data, and what these factors mean for both customers and organizations. Below is a summary of the essential points discussed:

• 🌍 Sustainable Finance’s Definition and Importance: Sustainable finance is highlighted as capital aimed at achieving environmental, social, or governance (ESG) goals, aligned with the United Nations’ definitions. The discussion underlines the immense scale of capital reallocation needed for sustainable initiatives, estimated at $200-300 trillion by 2050, marking it as a significant capital movement post-World War II.

• 📊 Global Coordination on ESG Standards: The panel addresses the challenges of navigating through the “alphabet soup” of ESG standards and regulations, noting the emergence of consolidated frameworks like the Common Ground Taxonomy. This effort aims to harmonize different regulatory standards, although regional variations are expected to persist, particularly in response to localized needs like modern slavery regulations in APAC and Australia.

• 🏦 Banks’ Role in Supporting ESG Goals: Banks are seen as pivotal in promoting sustainable finance, not just in environmental aspects but also in supporting social projects and enhancing governance. The discussion includes examples of banks funding social initiatives like sewage treatment plants, schools, and hospitals, and helping clients improve sustainability practices.

• 📈 Challenges and Opportunities in Embracing Sustainable Finance: The conversation transitions to the difficulties banks face in grasping sustainable finance opportunities, mainly due to its novelty, the vast scope of potential investments, and the need to balance multiple objectives including risk management and identifying new growth areas.

• 🚫 Addressing Greenwashing Concerns: The panel tackles the issue of greenwashing, emphasizing the importance of independent data and automation in ensuring transparency and accuracy in sustainability reporting. This approach helps avoid greenwashing by providing objective assessments of sustainability efforts.

• 🔍 Leveraging Data for Sustainable Finance: The importance of reliable, independent data is underscored for banks to effectively monitor, assess, and report on sustainability. This data is crucial for developing sustainable finance products and for regulatory compliance.

The discussion concluded with reflections on the vast opportunities within sustainable finance, the importance of innovative products, and the critical role of data in driving the sustainable finance agenda forward.
Watch the full panel discussion above.