ND Climate Investing Conference: Climate change through the lens of impact investing

Climate change presents daunting challenges along myriad fronts – environmental effects, government policies, human services – and business investment. In just the next two decades, an estimated investment of $53 trillion will be required to limit the rise in global temperature to under 2 degrees C, according to the International Energy Agency. Even at that level, the agency puts the odds at just 50 percent.

Given the size and complexity of the challenges, and the disastrous consequences of failure, it’s clear that new models of capital allocation and investment vehicles will not only be needed, but vital to providing new opportunities for innovation on a global scale.

The Notre Dame Climate Investing Conference, led by the Mendoza College of Business, will bring together researchers, business leaders, investors and environmentalists to explore the changing role and potential impact of investing in regard to climate change. The conference, “Climate Investing: Transition to a Low-Carbon World,” will take place Sept. 29 and 30 in McKenna Hall on the University of Notre Dame campus.

“This conference is occurring at a most opportune moment,” said Leo Burke, the director of Integral Leadership at Mendoza College of Business who is leading the conference. “In June, the Vatican published Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si’, which speaks to the moral issues involved. In December, the nations of the world will gather in Paris to address the issue of binding agreements on carbon emissions. We’re at the very beginning of a major shift in the global energy system.  This has significant implications for every sector of society—including business.”

The event is open to the public. Attendees can register through the conference website at climateinvesting.nd.edu.

Through keynote speakers, panels of experts and small group discussions, the conference aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the relevant issues surrounding climate change, determine actions that both institutional and individual investors can take, and identify new investing opportunities that will positively impact the climate.

Speakers and panelists represent a range of energy, investment, nonprofit and academic organizations, including Mark Campanale, founder and executive director of the Carbon Tracker Initiative; John Fullerton, founder and president of the Capital Institute; William Hederman, deputy director for Systems Integration and senior advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary; and Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.

“The issue of climate change is very complex and no single point of view is sufficient for generating solutions, so it is important to bring multiple perspectives into the room,” said Burke. “As we listen carefully to each other, I have no doubt that a more coherent mutual understanding will emerge. And such an understanding will be very helpful for guiding investment decisions.”

Climate Investing Conference co-sponsors include Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND GAIN), the Center for Social Concerns, the Notre Dame Minor in Sustainability, QCoefficient, Accenture and Nordam.

“We cannot escape the fact that climate change is shaping our way of life even now,” said Roger D. Huang, Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College of Business. “But it’s critical that we not merely accept a doom-and-gloom outlook. Instead, we need to bring our best minds together to envision the opportunities offered through impact investing – benefiting the environment while earning investors equitable returns – which is what this conference accomplishes.”