Academics and experts from industry will discuss the importance of nature to the global economy and the risks to our financial systems if we ignore it

Earth Day event to explore how finance sector can help save the planet

University of Exeter academics and business leaders will explore how the finance sector can save the planet in a special documentary screening and panel event for Earth Day on 22 April.

The panel discussion will be chaired by Professor Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Exeter Business School and founder of Arctic Basecamp, a unique science-communication platform that holds a flagship event at the World Economic Forum in Davos each year.

It will follow a screening of the WWF documentary Our Planet: Too Big To Fail, a film showing the impact of investing-as-usual on the planet and highlighting the importance of nature to our global economy and the catastrophic risks to our financial systems if we choose to ignore it. 

The film includes interviews with some of the most influential names in the finance sector such as former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Sir Partha Dasgupta and campaigner Catherine Howarth.

A line-up of distinguished academics and experts from industry will debate and analyse the key issues highlighted in the film afterwards.

They include Professor Ben Groom, Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics at the University of Exeter Business School; Professor Tim Lenton, Director of the Exeter’s Global Systems Institute; Marine de Bazelaire, Group Adviser on Natural Capital at HSBC; Ray Dhirani, Head of Sustainable Finance & Green Economy at WWF-UK, Eoin Murray, Head of Investment, International at Federated Hermes and Dr Bevis Watts, Chief Executive of Triodos Bank.

Professor Whiteman said: “Preventing climate change and restoring our environment is not possible without a fundamental shift in the way we conduct business and organise our economies.  

“Systemic risk is a real threat, the pandemic has shown us that it can happen. And an even greater crisis could be on the horizon unless we change the way we do business, by putting the climate and our natural environments centre stage.”

“I am very much looking forward to exploring these important issues alongside leading voices from industry and academia.”

The event is free and open to professionals, students, academics and anyone else who is interested. However, places are limited so please do book in advance. Register here. 

Date: 14 April 2021