SustainableBusiness.com Newswire
04/01/2009 11:13 AM ET
News from: Eurosif
Eurosif, Sustainable Finance bodies Demand Green Action at G20 Summit
Paris, 1 April 2009 — Eurosif, the European Sustainable Investment Forum, has joined with its sister organisations across the globe to send a message to world leaders meeting in London tomorrow to address the global financial and economic crisis.
In their statement “Transforming global capital markets”, the six-strong networks of global sustainable and responsible finance organisations (ASrIA, Eurosif, RIAA, Social Investment Forum, SIO and UKSIF) say:
“The current economic crisis affords a unique opportunity and imperative to transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient and socially sustainable economy.
As the umbrella organizations for the sustainable and responsible finance industry worldwide, we call on world leaders to respond to this challenge by incorporating sustainability and social responsibility measures into both the economic stimulus packages for short-term recovery and the longer-term reform of the credit and investment markets.”
The statement outlines the measures proposed. These include:
· Financial instruments and incentives to building the green economy using private investment alongside direct government support; and
· Financial reform measures to require greater transparency and facilitate responsible ownership.
Matt Christensen, Executive Director of Eurosif says:
“The difficult, present situation offers an historic opportunity for world leaders to adopt transformational policies that address longer-term systemic issues in the world capital markets. As the financial crisis requires a global response, it is particularly important that the networks of sustainable and responsible finance organisations speak in a unique voice. This global statement fits particularly well with Eurosif’s current discussions with the European institutions to demand greater transparency and accountability in the European capital markets.”
For more information please contact:
Patricia Lavaud Head of Communications
Eurosif
+33 1 40 20 07 67
patricia@eurosif.org
www.eurosif.org
