In an era of shifting alliances and regulatory flux, financial actors face a landscape shaped by geopolitical instability, sanctions regimes, the rise of regional energy blocs, and the mounting security risks of climate change. This opening session sets the stage for the summit, charting the forces reshaping capital flows, market access, and cross-border cooperation—and exploring how leaders can navigate volatility without losing sight of long-term sustainability.

Global finance is being reshaped by fractured geopolitics, shifting regulatory regimes, and the emergence of regional energy blocs. Sanctions, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related security risks are redefining market dynamics. This panel examines how financial leaders can adapt strategies, mitigate cross-border risk, and seize opportunities in an era where political volatility is the new normal.

As Canada navigates the twin pressures of decarbonization and competitiveness, financial institutions face a strategic pivot: how to integrate climate alignment into core operations without undermining growth. This panel explores the structural shifts—governance, capital allocation, risk management, and disclosure—that can enable a resilient, profitable, and low-carbon financial system.

Finance is no longer a bystander in the climate transition – it is a catalyst. This panel examines how financial institutions and their corporate clients can actively direct capital toward transformative climate risk adaptation and resilience, and transition to green economy. From innovative instruments to blended financial models, we explore the tools, policies, and partnerships that can scale impact while delivering competitive returns.

Join Wendy Berman, Chair of Canada’s Sustainability Standards Board, for a candid look at how ISSB-aligned sustainability standards—including Canada’s own CSDS—are reshaping reporting expectations for companies and lenders. She’ll unpack why investors demand clear, comparable climate and sustainability data, and how lenders can unlock business value by adopting these standards. Wendy will also highlight what’s ahead for SMSBs under OSFI’s Guideline B-15, and how both organizations are focused on keeping CSDS and B-15 requirements in sync.

Understanding how physical climate impacts credit losses in SMSB loan portfolios. Floods, wildfires, and extreme weather are no longer distant threats—they’re material credit risks. This panel examines how physical climate impacts can drive loan defaults for small- and mid-sized businesses (SMSBs). Industry experts will discuss data-driven risk assessment, portfolio stress testing, and adaptation strategies to protect both lenders and borrowers in a more volatile climate.

Artificial intelligence promises to transform climate and ESG finance—enhancing data quality, accelerating disclosure, and identifying emerging risks. But it also raises questions about bias, accountability, and regulatory oversight. This panel explores the opportunities and pitfalls of AI-driven decision-making in sustainable finance, offering insights into governance, trust, and the balance between innovation and prudence.

Corporate sustainability reporting is too often dismissed as regulatory boilerplate—worthy but peripheral. Yet a growing body of evidence shows that doing better than peers on decarbonisation, disclosure, and sustainable operations can be a driver of returns, not a drag on them. This panel brings together measurement specialists, ratings agencies and exchanges to explore how markets are sharpening the tools that tie environmental performance to financial value. Drawing on real-world case studies—from index methodologies to corporate strategies—the discussion will cut through the jargon to show how sustainability can expand market share, attract capital, and improve resilience in uncertain times.

Climate resilience is no longer just a moral imperative—it’s a market opportunity. This panel examines how targeted investments in proven resilience solutions can deliver competitive returns while generating measurable social, economic, and environmental benefits. Through real-world case studies and scalable models, we explore how investors can unlock value, de-risk portfolios, and strengthen communities in a changing climate.

The Sustainable Finance Summit has been invited to ring the closing bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange recognizing the role of financial institutions, investors, and innovators in driving climate-aligned growth and resilience.