Future Finance and Business - Expert Consultation Summary Notes

Abstract

The Visions and Pathways 2040 Expert Consultation for Future Business and Finance was part of a series of research and workshop activities aimed at identifing key disruptive forces relevant for contributing to the 2040 targets set by the project.Undertaken during June-July 2015, it involved a total of 27 people with expertise in the development of innovative financing and business models with a particular focus on the implications of these developments for triggering and driving rapid decarbonisation in urban settings. The expertise covered by the participants included: Banking, co-operatives, carbon markets, ethical investment, impact investment, philanthropic investment, climate/green bonds, social entrepreneurship, B-corps, solar financing, and sharing and collaborative economy. The objectives of the expert consultation were:Identifying the most promising examples of disruptive and game changing business and finance innovations needed to drive urban decarbonisation and resilience;Identifying the key obstacles preventing the rapid acceleration and scaling up of disruptive business and finance initiatives capable of driving urban decarbonisation and resilience;Identifying the actions needed to overcome these obstacles;Identifying the implications of this discussion for future business, research and policy priorities.The findings of the expert consultation will inform the scenario and pathway development process of VP2040 project.