UIMP - CNMV Course: "Towards more sustainable finance: challenges and opportunities"

Securities markets have an important role to play in the transition towards more sustainable and inclusive growth. Many countries around the world acknowledge the pressing need to address the climate, environmental and social challenges, having set appropriate targets such as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Based on the European Green Deal, the European Union has taken charge of multiple initiatives and developed an ambitious regulatory agenda, in which the development of sustainable finance is an essential pillar.

Sustainable finance aims to incorporate environmental, social and good governance elements into business management and investment decision-making, ensuring the reliability of the information for investors. These manage the financial risks deriving from climate change, encourage transparency and a long-term view regarding economic and financial activities, thus enabling capital flows to be redirected towards products and investments that favour sustainable growth.

The course provided a comprehensive view of the situation of sustainable finance, the role of the different agents involved in the financial markets, in particular securities markets, as well as the main initiatives and challenges in place, offering a practical view of their implementation and development. To such purpose, top level representatives, from public and private institutions, of the most relevant areas related to sustainable finance, were relevant participants.

In order to reflect on the main messages and to provide a reminder for all attendees, students and speakers, the CNMV has published a summary of the speakers' interventions, which will allow verifying, in line with the course’s goal, whether the challenges and opportunities of sustainable finance, which were the subject of reflection and debate, have been properly addressed.