UNEP FI hosted its Regional Roundtable on Sustainable Finance for Latin America and Caribbean as a virtual event on 31 August–2 September 2021, with the support of IDB, RepRisk and eco.business Fund. The virtual event debated on the role of banking, insurance and investment in shaping ambitious responsible and sustainable strategies to proactively address the challenges and opportunities of a green recovery whilst transitioning to a low-carbon, inclusive and sustainable future in Latin America and Caribbean. The sessions included also conversations on greening financial systems, achieving net zero, blue economy, circular economy & much more.

Watch the videos of the different sessions of the virtual event here. Recordings available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Opening remarks – Day 1

• Eric Usher – Head, UNEP FI
• Ricardo Cuesta – CEO, Produbanco Grupo Promerica, and Member of the UNEP FI Banking Board
• Marisela Alvarenga – Chief of the Financial Intermediaries Division, IDB Invest

Greening the financial system for a resilient future: A regulatory perspective

• Ricardo Eyer Harris – Chief of Staff for the Director of Regulation, Central Bank of Brazil
• Mariana Escobar – Head of the Sustainable Finance Working Group, Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia
• Marcos Mancini – Senior Sustainable Finance Advisor, UNDP
• Moderator: Diego Herrera Falla – Sector Lead Financial Markets Specialist, IDB

Achieving net-zero goals in Latin America and Caribbean: Challenges and opportunities

• Martín Ezequiel Zarich – CEO, BBVA, Argentina
• Octavio de Lazari Jr. – CEO, Bradesco
• Edson Franco – CEO, Zurich Brazil
• Moderator: Maria Eugenia Sosa Taborda – Latin America and Caribbean Coordinator, UNEP FI

Addressing ESG risks through data

• Rafaella Dortas – Head of ESG, BTG Pactual
• Cesar Sanches – Sustainability Superintendent, B3
• Alejandro Martinez Feres – Head of Investments, Citibanamex
• Moderator: Gabriel Cecchini – ESG Advisor, Latin America, RepRisk

Opening remarks – Day 2

• Piedad Martin – Deputy Regional Director, Latin America and Caribbean, UNEP

Mapping ocean finance for a new decade: Sustainable Blue Economy

• Melissa Garvey – Global Director, Ocean Protection, The Nature Conservancy
• Valeria Ramundo Orlando – Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Greensquare Ventures
• Ray Klien – Group Head of Investment Banking, Republic Bank
• Milagros Rivas Saiz – Chief for Advisory Solutions, IDB Invest
• Moderator: Dennis Fritsch – Program Coordinator, Blue Economy Finance Initiative, UNEP FI

Aligning portfolios and setting targets for nature and biodiversity

• Gerardo Salazar Viezca – General Director of Risk and Credit Management, Grupo Financiero Banorte
• Antonio Wills Wiesner – Technical Assistance Associate, eco.business Fund
• Paula Peirão – Partnership Manager, The Nature Conservancy
• José Pugas – Partner & Head of ESG and Agribusiness, JGP Crédito
• Moderator: Juan Camilo Barreneche – Land Use and REDD+ Economics and Finance Consultant for Latin America, UNEP

The role of finance institutions in financing a circular economy

• Franco Piza – Head of Sustainability Area, Grupo Bancolombia
• Gema Sacristán – Chief Investment Officer, IDB Invest
• Teresa Rossi – Project Coordinator, Instituto Escolhas
• Amalia Sangüeza-Pardo – Sustainability Superintendent, Santander
• Moderator: Ignacio Sanchez – Resource Efficiency Officer, UNEP

Opening remarks – Day 3

• Patricia Coimbra – Human Capital, Sustainability and Marketing Vice President, SulAmérica Insurance Brazil, and Member of UNEP FI Global Steering Committee
• Celina Padilla Maerdi – President, Banco Hipotecario de El Salvador, and Member of UNEP FI Banking Board

Promoting financial health and inclusion for a resilient society

• Pia Tayag – Director of the Office, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA)
• Amaury Oliva – Director of Sustainability, Financial Citizenship, Consumer Relations and Self-Regulation, Febraban
• David Grey – Sustainability and Communication Manager, Banco Pichincha
• Ivani Andrade – Sustainability Superintendent, Bradesco Seguros
• Moderator: Rachael Mpashi-Marx – Project Manager, UNEP FI

Aligning gender targets and equality with international frameworks

• Tania Tamariz – Corporate Governance Manager, Banco Guayaquil
• Rebecca Ruf – Executive Vice President, Programs, Financial Alliance for Women
• Cintia Camargo – Director of Corporate Credit, Itaú Unibanco
• Moderator: Maria Eugenia Sosa Taborda – Latin America and Caribbean Coordinator, UNEP FI

Harnessing insurance for the SDGs: promoting access to insurance

• Alejandra Díaz Agudelo – Director of Sustainability, Seguros Bolívar
• Tomás Carmona – Head of Sustainability, SulAmérica Insurance
• Enrique Hederra – Head of Strategy, Development and People, AVLA
• Moderator: Diana Diaz – Programme Supervisor, UNEP Principles for Sustainable Insurance