COP21 downloadable guide: RI’s comprehensive agenda of events in Paris

It’s no mean feat figuring out what is on the agenda at COP21. RI has, however, done the leg work, so you don’t have to. We’ve put together a special PDF/Excel guide for readers with as comprehensive an overview as possible for all the main COP21 meetings, side events and conferences taking place in Paris until December 11.
The listing overview can be downloaded from the PDF attached in the left hand column titled: downloads
RI also has two UNFCCC accedited journalists, Hugh Wheelan and Vibeka Mair, who will be reporting directly from COP21 over the next two weeks to bring you the COP21 news that matters to institutional investors.
ESG Magazine issue 2.
In addition, Issue 2 of ESG Magazine is published this week, the first in a two-part COP21 special. ESG Magazine issue 2 focuses on the fundamentals of climate change for investors: international policy, investor response, fiduciary duty, CO2 measurement and engagement, and socio/economic pressure. We’re calling it the ‘risks’ issue for shorthand.
It’s sister issue in March will highlight the technologies pioneering the environmental revolution, as well as the leading investment responses to climate change from asset owners (pension funds/insurers) and their agents (asset managers/banks). Let’s call it the ‘returns’ issue.
We’ll be flagging up fully the release of ESG Magazine issue 2 later this week.Good Cop, Bad Cop?
In reality, of course, neither the ‘risks’ or ‘returns’ label satisfies for either publication given that climate change is a hugely complex combination. The good news is that in 2014 more money than ever before — at least $391 billion — was invested in low-carbon and climate-resilient actions. The bad news is that brown financing still outstrips this massively, and C02 emissions show little sign of abating. Globally, the IEA estimates that fossil fuel ‘subsidies’ alone are nearly $550 billion per annum.
Encouragingly, institutional investors are increasingly part of the discussion about mobilising that climate finance; and many of the biggest will be in Paris. It is fundamental, of course, given their role as shareholders and long-term financiers that they are brought clearly into the fold. Investors have the potential – and we would argue, the responsibility – to influence how seriously their investee companies – particularly energy giants – take climate change, and manage the difficult, but necessary transition. And, they can mobilise vast amounts of social capital on behalf of their billions of beneficiaries to invest in green energy, buildings and transport infrastructure, as well as support a practical, and vital price on carbon in financial markets. Sadly, it’s taken all too long to get here: perhaps an indication of how ‘financially’ seriously climate has been taken to date. Let’s hope though that we have a good COP21, which takes clear, practical steps in which markets and investors are brought on board to be good rather than bad cops in climate finance.