Ethical Finance Global 2022 Summit produces prospect as career bridge to Ethical Fintech

Leaders from the world’s largest financial institutions have gathered in Edinburgh to address the climate crisis and other pressing global challenges; showcases the city as a center for education about sustainable finance.

The Ethical Finance Global 2022 Summit was held in Edinburgh this week.

Organized by Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), the summit is the largest financial services gathering in the country on sustainability since COP26, bringing together the World Bank, the Bank of Englandministers and many of the planet’s big companies.

Sarah Breedchief executive of the Bank of England, gave a keynote speech at the event on the “nature of risk” in what is the institution’s first significant announcement on nature-based finance.

In his speech, Breeden said: “Addressing the loss and degradation of nature is important to all of us on the planet. And in the round, this work will allow us to determine the nature of those risks, thereby enabling the bank and the financial system to play their part in the collective response to this critical challenge.”

Omar Shaikh, CEO of GEFI, added: “When we come together to share insights and commit to action, we can truly change the world. Alongside governments, private financial institutions must step up to help build a responsible, inclusive, sustainable and green future.

“This week, Scotland is once again taking center stage in the fight against climate change by bringing together professionals and experts to shape a better financial system. Larger financial services firms will need to show real leadership if ethical finance is to trickle down to smaller companies, through the supply chain and into the wider economy.

“The challenge of climate change is daunting – but giving up is simply not an option. Banks and financial institutions hold the key to building a more sustainable world.”

The summit produced an international prospectus to target students and professionals seeking a career in ethical, green and socially responsible financial services.

More than 160,000 people are employed in finance-related jobs and around £9.5 billion of responsible funds are already managed in Scotland.

GEFI evaluated more than seven courses, including master’s programs, against United Nationssustainable development goals before including them in their 18-page prospectus.

Topics include climate change finance and investment and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment.

In connection with the summit University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS) hosted 30 delegates on a management training course, having recently partnered with Asian Banking School (ABS), which is based in Kuala Lumpur.

Professor Colin Gardner, CEO of ABS, said: “The Asian Banking School is well positioned to be on the pulse of what the industry’s training needs are and where it is going. We ensure that our courses are innovative, leading and relevant.

“Therefore, when we wanted to collaborate on a new executive education program for bank executives covering the latest industry topics, we looked to UEBS to partner with.

“The collaboration has produced a fantastic program that has been warmly received by the Malaysian banking industry. We were particularly excited as our program dates coincided with the summit.”

“We all depend on global finance to make the right choices to deliver positive change and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” Shaikh continues.

“Ethical finance provides the opportunity to learn how finance can serve the economy without losing sight of the impact on society and the environment.

“Scotland has an enabling culture for sustainable finance. Our new guide will help full-time students and busy professionals find the right opportunity in their journey towards sustainable finance.

“The partnership between ABS and UEBSl is a testament to an inherent culture of inquiry that can in turn shape the world.”