CPD 5

The decisions made by nations at COP26 – the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, UK – will shape the investment environment for the coming decade. With leaders from 196 countries and around 20,000 accredited delegates expected to attend the event, the challenge for superannuation funds will be to understand the likely financial impacts on superannuation fund investments. Whether investing member money or answering questions from superannuation fund members, this masterclass will provide a foundation of how, why and where COP26 will impact superannuation funds moving forward.

Presenters:

• Alison Atherton, Research Director, ISF
• The Honourable Bob Carr, Industry Professor (Business and Climate Change), UTS; Former Premier of NSW and Australian Foreign Minister
• Prof. David Karoly, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Climate Resilient Enterprise
• Gordon Noble, Partnership Manager, Institute for Sustainable Futures; Co-author of Australian Sustainable Finance Roadmap
• Dr Sven Teske, Associate Professor and Research Director, ISF

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe current and likely future physical impacts of anthropogenic climate change
• Describe implications of COP 26 for Australia and Australia’s financial system
• Recognise the role of The Paris Agreement in addressing climate change
• Recognise international developments that have the capacity to shift Australian financial markets

Net Zero is a term being increasingly used in the media – but how does it financially impact the investments made by superannuation funds? According to the United Nations body that assesses the science of climate change (IPCC), the definition of net zero is “when anthropogenic CO2 emissions are balanced globally by anthropogenic CO2 removals over a specified period.” With all Australian States and Territories already committed to reaching net zero by 2050, Australia’s economy is beginning the process of transformation. In the aftermath of COP26, this masterclass will unpack the financial implications of these targets.

Presenters:

• Alison Atherton, Research Director, ISF
• Kriti Nagrath, Senior Research Consultant, ISF
• Dr. Sarah Niklas, Research Consultant, ISF
• Gordon Noble, Partnership Manager, Institute for Sustainable Futures; Co-author of Australian Sustainable Finance Roadmap
• Dr. Simran Talwar, Senior Research Consultant, ISF
• Dr. Sven Teske, Associate Professor and Research Director, ISF

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise issues around pathways to transition to net zero emissions by 2050 in key economic sectors and regions
• Explain some of the initiatives that State and Federal Government are implementing or have implemented to support transition to net zero emissions

APRA has released its draft prudential guidance on climate change financial risks, which closed for consultation on 31 July 2021. The draft PPG sets out APRA’s expectations on how a prudent APRA-regulated institution would take a strategic and risk-based approach to the management of the various risks and opportunities arising from climate change. It focuses on the expectations of APRA-regulated entities to engage with boards, sub-committees and senior management. This masterclass will unpack what the PPG means for super funds, whether they’re engaging with trustees or assessing the impact of climate risks and opportunities. 

Presenters:

• Alison Atherton, Research Director, ISF
• Dr Deborah Cotton, Senior Lecturer, UTS Business School, Finance Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney
• Donna Lopata,PhD candidate, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney
• Gordon Noble, Partnership Manager, Institute for Sustainable Futures; Co-author of Australian Sustainable Finance Roadmap

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain how APRA is implementing its focus on climate risk for superannuation funds
• Describe ways in which financial system participants are incorporating climate risk into operations
• Describe some of the implications that climate change will have on the financial risks for Australia’s financial system.