(the Money Matters webinar series is now over – you can find the links to video recordings, presentations and blog posts below)
At the COP21 in Paris in December 2015, the world’s nations agreed the end of an era: The fossil fuel based global economic system is coming to an end.
While there is an ever-growing momentum around the de-carbonisation of investments, there is little common understanding on how these funds should be re-invested in order to support the transition to a just and sustainable economic system. Foundations could lead the way in showing that ethical and sustainable investments can have a major impact on delivering on the pathway that the Paris agreement has paved. However, the EDGE funders Alliance wants to go one step further: It’s not just about divesting from fossil fuels. Alternative investments should incorporate a justice lens in all investment and live up to the ethics and values of philanthropy, as formulated in vision and mission statements – the emergence of a system that not only respects planetary boundaries, but also addresses growing inequalities and global justice.
In order to open a conversation around the question on how investments can have a meaningful impact in support of the foundation’s vision and mission, while respecting the financial imperative of liquidity, security and profitability, EDGE Funders Alliance, in partnership with the Ariadne Network and Europeans for DivestInvest, hosted a series of webinars. These conversations looked at the question of “ethical investment” from different angles, allow to deepen the discussion and help foundations in the process of considering the impact and ethical dimension of their investment portfolios.
The #EDGEtalk webinar series was a space for dialogue on the rationale and practices of ethical investment for foundations. It provided foundations with meaningful, up-to-date and independent information on ethical investment, created a space for peer exchange and learning, and informed the future work of the EDGE Ethical Investment working group.
Documentation:
14 March 2016:
Beyond COP21: What does de-carbonisation mean for investments?
Speakers:
– Ellen Dorsey, Wallace Global Fund (executive director) / DivestInvest Philanthropy (member of the steering committee)
– Alexander El Alaoui, Germanwatch (advisor financial markets and transformation) / Brot fuer die Welt (advisor ethical investment)
Moderation:
– Matthias Fiedler, Bewegungsstiftung (director) / EDGE Ethical Investment working group (chair)
11 April 2016:
Value based investments – How to support the emergence of an economy based on justice and sustainability?
Speakers:
– Charly Kleissner – KL Felicitas Foundation, 100%IMPACT Network
– Jo Andrews – Ariadne
Moderation:
– Matthias Fiedler, Bewegungsstiftung (director) / EDGE Ethical Investment working group (chair)
9 May 2016:
How to change from conventional to ethical investments: Practical examples from foundations
Speakers:
– Matthieu Calame, Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer
– Eilert Lund Rostrup, Karibu Foundation
Moderation:
– Matthias Fiedler, Bewegungsstiftung (director) / EDGE Ethical Investment working group (chair)
13 June 2016, 15h to 16h CEST (Brussels time):
On the road to ethical investment:
deepening the discussion – exploring needs, challenges and possible solutions to get going
After inspiring exchanges with a range of highly knowable and experienced speakers, this forth and (for now) last #EDGEtalk in the Money Matters webinar series on ethical investment will focus on peer exchange between participants. It will be the opportunity to deepen the discussion on ethical investment challenges, to share and seek advice on the practicalities of implementing ethical investment policies, and to explore perspectives for collective action, in view of the physical meeting of the Ethical Investment working group at the EDGE Europe retreat from 8 to 10 July 2016.
Moderation: Matthias Fiedler, Bewegungsstiftung (director) / EDGE Ethical Investment working group (chair)
In cooperation with:
