{"id":1254,"date":"2025-06-25T10:32:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T08:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/?p=1254"},"modified":"2025-07-08T12:53:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T10:53:11","slug":"one-year-of-reflection-to-advance-sustainable-finance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/2025\/06\/25\/one-year-of-reflection-to-advance-sustainable-finance\/","title":{"rendered":"One Year of Reflection to Advance Sustainable Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One Year of Reflection to Advance Sustainable Finance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Co-founded by the media outlets ID, l\u2019Info Durable, and L\u2019Agefi, the Think Tank \u201c2030, Investir Demain\u201d has fostered a unique momentum to unite key players in sustainable finance. Its goal: to identify solutions and drive the evolution of industry practices toward a more responsible future.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

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How to Reconcile Economic Growth, Environmental Challenges, and Social Issues?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ambitious question has driven the Think Tank \u201c2030, Investir Demain,\u201d created by the media outlets ID, l\u2019Info Durable, and L\u2019Agefi. Launched in the fall of 2024, this platform initiative has brought together investors, corporations, researchers, public stakeholders, and experts throughout the year. The objective of this think tank is to foster discussions and reflections on the upcoming transformations in sustainable finance, share best practices and experiences, and identify concrete solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fuel these ambitious exchanges, six working groups focused on varied but highly topical themes, all centered around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Just Relocalization to Biodiversity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Environment:<\/strong> This theme animated three groups during their reflections, addressing biodiversity (a group co-founded by Candriam), climate challenges (LBPAM), and the city of the future (Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Social:<\/strong> A key pillar of sustainable development, explored through the lens of relocalization as a competitiveness and sustainability issue by the group co-founded by Sycomore Asset Management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Governance:<\/strong> Particularly ESG governance as a lever of transformation for companies, tackled by the group co-founded by osapiens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, at the intersection of environment and social aspects, the management of essential resources\u2014natural, human, and financial\u2014was the focus of debates within the group co-founded by Ecofi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ideas and solutions generated through this year-long collaboration have benefited from continuous media coverage by ID, l\u2019Info Durable, and L\u2019Agefi. They will also be presented in a white paper published on October 14th, coinciding with a special event organized by the two media outlets. This gathering will bring together over 200 guests for debates and conferences, continuing the Think Tank\u2019s mission: sharing best practices, finding solutions, and uniting financial actors around the major challenges of sustainable finance.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n CLIMATE <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    The objective of the climate-focused working group, co-founded by LBPAM, is to empower savers to improve their personal climate trajectory through their investments. In this context, the group is spearheading a new initiative: the creation of a digital platform\u2014a media outlet\u2014targeted at individual savers.<\/p>\n

    Whether in food, heating, or transportation, many of us are now highly aware of our role as consumers in contributing individually to reducing society\u2019s carbon footprint. However, this awareness seems to have limited influence on our behavior as consumer-savers.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

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    However, the leverage effect can be substantial. Holding just a few tens of thousands of euros in savings corresponds to a carbon footprint in CO2 emissions roughly equivalent to that of the average French citizen. In other words, the potential to reduce one\u2019s individual carbon footprint is as significant as a saver as it is as a consumer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But this observation alone is not enough. Convincing savers to integrate climate considerations into their investment decisions requires demonstrating that companies also have a critical role to play. For instance, a client-consumer will expect a brand, such as an automobile manufacturer or a real estate developer, to help transform their consumption habits by offering lower-carbon products. At the same time, they may observe that many of these publicly traded companies are actively engaged in their own transition efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most business development models are being reshaped by the imperative to decarbonize activities. All major sectors are affected\u2014not only automotive and energy, but also construction, aerospace, agri-food, technology, and finance, among others. Early movers will be value creators. This shift toward lower-emission production methods represents a significant source of opportunity and will be marked by bold industrial bets that will create tomorrow\u2019s champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While listed equity and bond markets tend to feature larger companies, investors have the opportunity to support the transformation efforts of SMEs and mid-sized companies, which face similar challenges. Within savers\u2019 portfolios, no single asset class holds a monopoly on decarbonization\u2014every segment can contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n FAIR (RE)LOCALIZATION <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    \u201cFair (Re)Localization\u201d as a Competitiveness and Sustainability Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The objective of the dedicated working group, co-founded by Sycomore AM, is to develop a best practices guide on shareholder engagement to raise awareness and support companies and investors.<\/p>\n

    The topic of reshoring production\u2014and even suppliers\u2014has become a routine point of discussion within shareholder dialogues concerning companies\u2019 financial challenges. Companies are now required to take this issue into account.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

    Relocalization Must Be Understood Through Its Multiple Dimensions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Relocalization involves various aspects, including social factors, job creation, labor availability, human capital management, and consumer expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This trend is a reality not only in France but across Europe. However, it will create tensions around resource access\u2014such as critical metals\u2014and the availability of sufficiently affordable energy sources. Productivity gaps between countries and the loss of key skills may also act as obstacles. Duplication of production chains will become necessary, though this will be inflationary. In a sense, globalization has not ended but is evolving into a multipolar system. No single country will have access to all necessary resources. Consequently, this multipolarization will lead to stronger blocs, such as BRICS+, \u201cfriendshoring,\u201d and commercial alliances between friendly nations aiming to secure their supply chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We aim to identify success and failure factors by sector and governance, highlight best practices, and define the most relevant strategies. Among the key success factors observed are the development of in-house skills and the ability to establish strong partnerships based on trust with suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Within the framework of the Think Tank initiative \u201c2030, Investing Tomorrow,\u201d the objective will be to ask the right questions to optimize responsible investment approaches and to develop a shareholder engagement guide.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n BIODIVERSITY <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Co-founded by Candriam, the biodiversity working group aims to analyze the implementation of a comprehensive and granular assessment that incorporates issues related to the geographical location of activities.<\/p>\n

    Evaluating biodiversity-related impacts and dependencies requires combining a localized approach\u2014focused on the ecological context surrounding a production site\u2014with a global perspective, in order to fully understand all biodiversity challenges within a world characterized by globalized value chains.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

    In this context, several critical questions arise: How can biodiversity impacts and dependencies be assessed at the local level? How can a company\u2019s overall impact on biodiversity be accurately represented? How should this impact be interpreted within the specific ecological framework in which the company operates (e.g., water risks, forest biomes, protected areas)? And finally, how can relevant data be obtained to support this analysis?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Accessing appropriate data is particularly challenging because assessing a company\u2019s biodiversity impact requires extending the analysis to its entire value chain. This complexity increases the further upstream one goes within the supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Both the representation and interpretation of this data within its ecological context present significant challenges for evaluating a company\u2019s biodiversity impact. Several questions remain open at this stage: How can an industrial group\u2019s production network be effectively mapped, taking into account production sites, potential plantations, goods flows, and their respective impacts on forests, water resources, indigenous populations, and protected areas? Which mapping approaches are most suitable when the insights needed boil down to a binary decision (In\/Out), a score, or a comparison among actors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The work of the biodiversity working group will need to identify viable solutions to enable investors to incorporate location-based issues into their analysis of companies\u2019 activity impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n ESG Governance <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    The working group dedicated to ESG regulation and governance, co-founded by Osapiens, aims to demonstrate how ESG regulatory compliance can serve as an opportunity for strategic transformation and value creation for companies.<\/p>\n

    Three major transformational drivers encourage companies to better integrate ESG issues. The most common is regulation: companies must measure and report on a range of action plans and processes, which prompts them to undertake introspection and realize they can reposition themselves strategically.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

    The second factor relates to a governance shift, often involving the founder\u2019s children who may be more sensitive to certain causes or business models, implementing policies that align better with current challenges. Finally, some companies must adapt to survive, as they face significant constraints linked to the environmental transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    From this perspective, establishing a robust ESG governance framework becomes essential. To drive this transformation, companies need a clear structure, defined processes, and authority\u2014elements difficult to achieve without appropriate governance. A clear divide is observed between large corporations, which have organized themselves to varying degrees of effectiveness and scope, and mid-sized companies (ETIs) and SMEs, which lag considerably behind on this complex topic that demands resources and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Climate change and adapting to planetary boundaries represent a civilizational shift. Transformation is inevitable. The core principle of the CSRD directive is to bring transparency and enable companies to identify how their various activities impact the planet. Yet, improvement is impossible without measurement. Therefore, regulation is indispensable, and companies that fail to adapt will cease to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n URBANIZATION <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    Within the working group dedicated to urban planning and the city of the future, co-founded by Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, the objective is to analyze the potential for scaling proven local solutions. One such project presented involves energy infrastructure aimed at generating green energy through the capture of gas from decommissioned coal mines.<\/p>\n

    This specific gas capture initiative, located in northern France and Wallonia, is highly commendable as it delivers dual benefits: not only does it produce renewable energy, but it also captures methane emissions that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

    The challenge is significant in terms of limiting global warming, as methane has a greenhouse gas impact approximately 80 times greater than CO\u2082 over a ten-year period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Specifically, this project involves installing cogeneration units on former coal mines. Decompression wells have been strategically placed throughout the entire network of abandoned mine galleries, which extends over 100,000 kilometers in northern France. Capturing methane at the outlets enables the generation of green electricity, benefiting from a regulated tariff set by the French government for a period of fifteen years. Additionally, the project produces green gas, distributed via GRT Gaz\u2019s network, as well as green heat supplied to local communities under a long-term contract with the city of B\u00e9thune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Edmond de Rothschild participated in this initiative through a bond issuance by Fran\u00e7aise de l\u2019\u00c9nergie (FDE). This bond, issued in 2021, aimed to deploy cogeneration units at mine gas capture sites. The bond was subsequently extended with additional debt. Edmond de Rothschild has invested nearly \u20ac85 million in FDE, supporting not only this project but also others across different countries and technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n CRITICAL RESOURCES <\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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    The working group co-founded by Ecofi focuses on critical resources, specifically the sustainable management of natural, human, and financial resources as the foundation for a just and responsible transition.<\/p>\n

    The level of maturity among all stakeholders\u2014both companies and investors\u2014regarding biodiversity protection is comparable to that observed for climate issues about fifteen years ago. At present, there is objectively a lack of reliable measurements and consensus on indicators. As a result, the integration of biodiversity considerations into investment processes remains largely underdeveloped.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n

    However, there is substantial research available on biodiversity loss, which represents a tangible risk that companies must address. Corporate approaches to biodiversity tend to focus on very specific issues\u2014such as pesticides, deforestation, plastic pollution, or palm oil\u2014but biodiversity is rarely considered in a comprehensive manner. It is not yet a criterion factored into supplier selection. The approach remains largely compliance-driven, aiming to meet regulatory requirements. For example, most companies affected seek primarily to limit their impacts, but have not yet embarked on biodiversity restoration initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Each stakeholder group\u2014public authorities, companies, and financiers\/investors\u2014has a crucial role to play. Establishing dialogue with all parties is essential. The development of regulatory frameworks is necessary, and their enforcement must be rigorous, though without stifling corporate growth. The European Commission\u2019s publication last February of the Omnibus Directive can be seen as a setback. Among other things, it scaled back the ambition of the Due Diligence Directive, limiting it to direct suppliers only, and weakened the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as 80% of companies originally subject to transparency obligations will no longer be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Public authorities must design effective incentives to encourage citizens and companies to adopt best practices. We expect concrete and relatively straightforward initiatives from regulators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Content prepared by Florent Berthat \u2013 Agefi, Ludivine Garnaud \u2013 Agefi, and Thomas Saint-L\u00e9ger \u2013 ID L\u2019Info Durable.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    One Year of Reflection to Advance Sustainable Finance How to Reconcile Economic Growth, Environmental Challenges, and Social Issues? This ambitious question has driven the Think Tank \u201c2030, Investir Demain,\u201d created by the media outlets ID, l\u2019Info Durable, and L\u2019Agefi. Launched in the fall of 2024, this platform initiative has brought together investors, corporations, researchers, public […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unclassified"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1254"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1255,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1254\/revisions\/1255"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2030investirdemain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}