Geneva
UNECE, the London Business School and Carbon Club will co-host the 3rd edition of the UNECE Public-Private Roundtable on Green Economy on the theme “Carbon mechanisms and innovative financing for green infrastructure” on 16 June, 18h45 – 20h15  at the London Business School.
The UNECE Public-private roundtables on green economy series, was launched in March 2011 with the aim of bringing together leading figures from the public and private sectors to forge actionable outcomes for the green economy, in the run-up to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, 4 - 6 June 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the upcoming Seventh Ministerial Environment for Europe Conference, 21 - 23 September 2011, in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The UNECE Public-private roundtables on green economy will be accompanied by a number of publications, including a conference document for the Seventh Ministerial Environment for Europe Conference and a larger edition on Investing in Green Infrastructure to be published by the United Nations in 2012, which will draw on the research and public policy work done by the London Business School, the larger United Nations system and other contributors.
The overarching theme of the roundtables 'Investing in Green Infrastructure' was chosen as the focus area for a number of reasons. In the post-crisis environment, infrastructure investment has received renewed interest among policymakers and investors. There is an increasing recognition that old infrastructure must be upgraded and modernized, while at the same time such investment can help to boost growth and create new jobs. Further, in building the future green economy, there is a significant need for newer, greener infrastructure across key sectors, especially in the areas of energy, transport, and construction but also for the efficient management of natural resources. In the light of operating market failures and tight public budgets, putting in place and financing these technologies is a key challenge. Greater collaboration between public and private sector is needed to move forward on policy reform and on creating and putting in place the mechanisms that can deliver on these investments.
This roundtable will look at the challenges of green infrastructure investment and discuss carbon financing and other innovative financing mechanisms as possible solutions, with a particular focus on the potential of green public-private partnerships, green bonds, and green private finance initiatives.
Panellists will include Marco Keiner, Director, Environment Division, UNECE, Nicholas Jennett Head, European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC), European Investment Bank, Michael Wilkins, Managing Director, Global Carbon Markets, Standard & Poors, Scott McGregor, Chief Executive Officer, Camco, James Emanuel, Director, South Pole Carbon Asset Management
For further information, please visit: http://www.unece.org/env/greeneconomy/welcome.html or contact Laura Altinger at: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/ENV/11/P25