Planet & Profit: How the Private Sector is Embracing Climate Action and Driving Profits
How the Private Sector is Embracing Climate Action and Driving Profits and how Governments are helping with Brad Dockser '85, MBA' 89
Though today it may feel like a lifetime ago, the economic, political, social and cultural impacts of last year’s convening of the World Economic Forum cannot be overstated. For many participants, attendees and observers, Davos 2020 marked the beginning of a new era in sustainable investing. And as the market-wrenching public health, climate and social justice events of the last year, and especially the corporate world’s reactions to them have shown, the observations made last year in Davos are proving remarkably prescient.
From record global capital inflows into environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds and record volumes of sustainable debt issuance, to the thousands of voluntary climate commitments by corporations, institutional investors and policymakers the world over, it’s evident that 2020 will go down in history as the year that capital markets began to define and embrace “true” sustainability. (Additional Information: here and here)
And for veteran sustainability investor Brad Dockser ’85, MBA ’89, the CEO and Co-Founder of energy solutions firm Green Generation (GreenGen), it’s increasingly clear 2021 will be the year in which we see inter-institutional coordination and cooperation, consumer advocacy and, importantly, supportive government intervention combine to firmly integrate conventional finance and sustainability – establishing the foundations for the global economy of the 21st century and beyond.
Over the course of the event, Dockser will seek to make sense of these trends, particularly as they relate to climate change and climate action, and examine the efforts that leading companies and investors in the U.S. and elsewhere are taking to convert present and emerging threats posed by our changing climate reality into profits to accelerate ESG. And with an eye to the Biden-Harris administration, the conversation will not only cover Washington’s response to these trends thus far, but will also delve into an analysis of the roles that governments and public-private collaboration play in securing the future of sustainable finance.
Speaking on Earth Day, Dockser will explain why he is optimistic about climate and the environment.
Brad Dockser is GreenGen’s CEO/Co-Founder, transforming the world’s built environment through its visionary turnkey approach integrating energy, real estate, technology, and capital markets to Operate in the Green. Previously, Brad spent 20+ years in real estate investment. As Principal with MacFarlane Partners he oversaw their mid-Atlantic business; as Founder; and as Managing Director for Starwood Capital Europe oversaw operations, direct investments, and operating joint ventures and financing activities throughout Europe; and earlier founded Starwood Capital Asia and managed their Asian operations. Brad received an A.B. cum laude in Economics '85 and a Master of Business Administration, '89 both from Harvard University. He is a member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), US Green Building Council, and Harvard’s Asia Center Advisory Committee. Brad serves on ULI’s Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance’s global advisory board and is also Chairman of ULI’s Washington Sustainability Committee and Chair of the ULI Redevelopment and Reuse Product Council.
This virtual event will take place on Earth Day.
April 22, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Harvard Club Members - FREE
Nonmembers - $15.