The Nature & Biodiversity Challenge

Online in Zoom

Tuesday 10^th December 2024

13:10 – 17:10 GMT

Sponsored by

Engaging with Nature for Better Pensions

During our 4-Part “Rethinking” series on Climate Change in Q1 of 2024, 180 delegates debated in detail how pension schemes are confronting the real risks of climate change and investing more effectively and profitably in the energy transition. But what of nature and biodiversity, for which degradation on a global scale has been well documented and on which the effect of most investment decisions is pervasive?

Are the considerations the same, or are there key differences in the stewardship and governance challenges impacting natural assets and in the investment opportunities they offer?

Pensions practitioners from across the industry – representing both LGPS and corporate schemes – will discuss how they are confronting these challenges. Assisted by some compelling Case Studies, there will be particular emphasis on the practical choices they are taking in pursuit of nature goals for the greater benefit of their members and society at large.

In common with all SGPE Masterclasses, the event will be highly interactive, with free and frank exchanges of views, and participants encouraged to engage and contribute proactively throughout.

Chair

Keynote Speaker

Agenda

Devil's Advocates

Mark Barry, Partner, Black Isle Advisory Partners
Sally Bridgeland, Chair, Brunel Pension Partnership
Bobby Riddaway, Managing Director, HS Trustees

A panel of Devil’s Advocates will be on duty for the course of the afternoon.

They will be available to pose challenging questions to any of the conference speakers when invited to do so by the Moderator of each session. They will provide an end of day summary of the main learning and action points from the conference.

13.10 – 13.30

Meet & Greet

13.30 – 13.50

Welcome & Introduction

Masterclass Chair:
Marian D’Auria
Global Head of Risk & Sustainability
GFG Alliance

Programme Director:
Stephen Glover
Director
SG Pensions Enterprise

13.50 – 14.30

Panel Discussion: Identifying the "Win-Win" in Nature & Biodiversity Investments

Moderator:
Maria D’Auria
Global Head of Risk & Sustainability
GFG Alliance

Julius Pursaill
Strategic Adviser
Cushon NatWest

Paul Hewitt
Responsible Investment Manager
London Pensions Fund Authority

Mark Hill
Climate & Sustainability Lead
The Pensions Regulator

Our expert panel will debate how leading pension schemes and wealth managers are managing nature risks in investment portfolios through effective stewardship in the main asset classes.

Equally they will consider natural capital and biodiversity investment opportunities in an asset allocation context. What does an increased allocation to nature investments look like, how is it financed, and what are the increased return and diversification benefits expected from it?

14.30 – 14.55

Presentation: Identifying & Incorporating Nature Risks in Investment Portfolios

Eveliina Sario
Product Strategist
EMEA Sustainable Indexing
BlackRock

Arne Klug
Biodiversity Research Director
MSCI

How to identify the main nature and biodiversity risks embedded in investment portfolios is a critical question.

Our speakers will give expert insights into the risks they consider most important to consider, and share key insights into how to maximise investment outcomes based on the available data sets.

14.55 – 15.20

Case Study 1: The Practical Implementation of a Nature Investment Strategy

Marion Maloney
Head of Investment
Environment Agency Pension Fund

Ruth Murray
Investment Director
Gresham House

Speakers from the EAPF and Gresham House will explore the practical implementation of a current nature and biodiversity investment strategy the EAPF is pursuing and how it became an investable opportunity.

They will describe how this fits in with existing SAA policy at the EAPF, the risk and return benefits it is expected to deliver, the key decision factors and the wider societal gains to be anticipated

15.20 – 15.45

Coffee Break

15.45 – 16.10

Case Study 2: How to Make Nature an Investable Asset Class

Robert Gardner
CEO & Co-Founder
Rebalance Earth

Darran Ward
Head of Alternatives
West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Climate change and Nature loss are driving water risks – too much (flooding), too little (drought), and too dirty (pollution) – These challenges are rippling through financial systems, value chains, and communities.

Darran Ward, from West Yorkshire Pension Fund, will discuss their investment in Rebalance Earth, a fund manager committed to investing £10 billion over the next decade to restore natural infrastructure in the UK.

Using Plymouth as an example, Rob Gardner will showcase how investing in Nature as business-critical infrastructure delivers financial returns by mitigating risks like flooding while providing environmental and social benefits to create a world worth living in.

16.10 – 16.50

Panel Discussion: Reimagining the Future – Action Points & Practical Takeaways

Moderator:
Kerry King
Executive Director of Capital Markets
Accounting for Sustainability

Emma Hunt
Head of Responsible Investment
HSBC Bank Pension Trust

Kaisie Rayner
Director
A Future Worth Living In

Nick Spencer
Sustainable Investment Strategist
Gordian Advice

For nature and biodiversity losses to be reversed and tangible gains to be realised, practical stewardship, asset allocation and investment policies need to be devised that genuinely embrace the
nature challenge and can demonstrate clear results, impact and financial performance.

Drawing upon the success stories from the case studies this afternoon, our panel will debate the lessons that key market participants – asset owners, trustees, consultants, managers – must learn and apply to
make these goals a sustainable reality.