Let's Move from Words to Action
Climate change is a fact. In Alpine regions, melting glaciers are silent witnesses to the constant rise in temperatures on earth. In Switzerland and neighbouring countries more and more people call for action against climate change. Cities are declaring a climate emergency. Laws to reduce CO2 emissions are being worked on.
Within the economy, the financial sector plays a pivotal role in the transition towards a climate-neutral society. Many banks are in agreement and are committed to reducing the carbon emissions caused by their operations.
On 26 February 2020, Alternative Bank Schweiz hosted a summit in association with WWF Schweiz to explore how to put finance at the service of people and planet.
More than 300 people attended the event. Among them were representatives of Swiss banks, NGOs, regulators, politics and academia, as well as representatives from Climatestrike Switzerland and values-based banks from all over the world.
Part 1: Future Lab
Imagining a climate-neutral financial centre and creating viable ways to get there. Change is possible!
The first part of the summit provided a platform for discussions bringing together different actors in order to develop an agenda based on a shared vision. The vision was jointly developed beforehand by ABS, WWF and representatives of the Swiss Climate Youth Movement.
Climate change and the role and responsibility of finance:
«If nature loses, the financial industry will too.»
Keynote speech by Margaret L. Kuhlow, Finance Practice Leader, WWF International
Watch the keynote speech by Margaret L. Kuhlow (vimeo.com)
See the PowerPoint presentation by Margaret L. Kuhlow (.pdf)
Vision of the future:
It is 2030 and the Swiss financial centre is climate neutral
Before the summit, representatives of Alternative Bank Schweiz, WWF Schweiz and Climatestrike Switzerland developed a vision of the future for the Swiss financial centre. It depicts how four key actors of the financial system and those shaping it will act in 2030 if the Swiss financial centre were fully climate-neutral by this date.
Take a look at Vision 2030 (.pdf)
Change is possible:
«The financial system won’t change if we leave it to the professionals.»
Keynote speech by Otto Scharmer, Senior Lecturer MIT Management Sloan School / Co-Founder of the Presencing Institute
Watch the keynote speech by Otto Scharmer (ottoscharmer.com)
See the PowerPoint presentation by Otto Scharmer (ottoscharmer.com)
How to reach the goal of a climate-neutral financial centre:
Group discussions (fishbowl conversations)
Summit participants were invited to establish dialogue and discuss the vision developed by Alternative Bank Schweiz, WWF Schweiz and representatives of Climatestrike Switzerland. Discussions were held in four different groups, one per key actor treated in the vision:
- Financial institutions and their shareholders
- Private and institutional customers
- Policymakers and regulators
- Education and academia
The goal was to jointly determine which steps each actor needs to take to make the vision a reality.
Part 2: Evening Conference
Finance must and can care for the climate. What is the best way?
In the second part of the summit, key representatives and decision-makers from the Swiss financial centre presented their positions, reflecting on the ideas presented and developed in the first part of the event.
Financing Change, Changing Finance:
«Roll up your sleeves, and do it now.»
Keynote speech by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome
Watch the keynote speech by Sandrine Dixson-Declève (vimeo.com)
See the PowerPoint presentation by Sandrine Dixson-Declève (.pdf)
Finance must and can care for climate:
«There is not enough time to wait another ten years.»
Panel discussion with
- Jörg Gasser, CEO SwissBanking
- Margaret Kuhlow, Finance Practice Leader WWF International
- Oliviero Reusser, Representative of the Swiss Climate Youth Movement
- Tamara Vrooman, CEO Vancity Credit Union
- Fritz Zurbrügg, Vice Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank
Read a summary of the panel discussion in the summary of the Summit on the pages 7 - 8 (.pdf)
Closing remark by Alternative Bank Schweiz:
Take young climate activists as a source of inspiration
Martin Rohner, CEO of Alternative Bank Schweiz
Read a summary of Martin Rohners closing remark in the summary of the Summit on page 8 (.pdf)
Closing remark by Global Alliance for Banking on Values:
«The bank’s carbon footprint reflects the real economy.»
Peter Blom, CEO of Triodos Bank and Chairman of the Board of GABV
Read a summary of Peter Bloms closing remark in the summary of the Summit on page 9 (.pdf)