In the lead-up to COP26, IFoA President Louise Pryor is chairing IFoA’s thought leadership series on sustainability sponsored by Milliman and Star Actuarial Futures.
Next month, the UK will host COP26, the United Nation’s 26th annual global climate summit, in Glasgow. COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and the summit will be attended by the 196 countries that are signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994. Leaders from around the world will be reporting back on progress since the Paris Agreement and, we hope, making further decisions about how to cut carbon emissions. As it is likely that big changes will be required to hit climate targets, such as moving away from gas heating and switching to electric cars, these decisions could directly affect daily life. Most experts believe the session represents the world’s best last chance to get climate change under control.
In the lead-up to COP26, we at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) are hosting a thought leadership webinar series on sustainability. I am delighted to be chairing the series, which brings leading experts, thinkers, and decision-makers together with our global membership to explore key sustainability issues. Drawing on the expertise of a diverse range of experts from within academia, the financial sector, and the profession’s own thought leadership community around the world, this series is not to be missed at what is a crucial time for action on climate.
With support from our sponsors Milliman and Star Actuarial Futures, the IFoA is hosting seven panel discussions on key sustainability issues which intersect actuarial work and the interests of wider society. Join us as experts including Professor Saleem Huq (Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development), Catherine Howarth (Chief Executive, ShareAction) and Jane Davidson (Author of #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David) discuss topics such as what developing countries need from COP26, opportunities for the financial sector, and climate justice and future generations.
Mobilising finance to achieve net-zero and to protect people and the planet is a key goal of COP26. Actuaries, and the wider financial sector, have a critical role to play in mobilising the private finance that is needed to increase urgent mitigation and adaptation activity. The IFoA has taken a strong position on sustainability as identified in its climate change statement. It is committed to supporting actuaries in their understanding of climate risk and opportunities and empowering them to use their skillset and influence to help equip the wider global financial services markets to accelerate a just and sustainable transition to net zero. There is a range of tools and resources, including practical guides and reading lists, available on the IFoA’s website to support members in developing this expertise.
