The seventh edition of Building Bridges, Switzerland’s largest sustainable finance conference, brought together 2,600 participants in Geneva from 6–8 October – an increase of 25% compared with last year – with thousands more joining online. A sponsor since the conference’s inaugural edition in 2019, UBP continues to support its mission of fostering constructive dialogue on sustainable finance and strengthening collaboration between the financial sector and the wider economy.
With the theme of ‘Investable Solutions to Global Challenges’, the conference brought together a broad community of asset and wealth managers, companies, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics and civil-society organisations, and an increasing number of asset owners also took part. Together, participants explored concrete ways in which finance can help shape a more resilient and sustainable economy.
The participation of some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurers, and institutional and private-market investors marked an important milestone for the conference. These institutions allocate capital on a significant scale, and the decisions they make today will influence economies, infrastructure and resilience for decades to come.
Opening the conference, Patrick Odier, President of Building Bridges, argued that the debate has shifted decisively away from identifying what needs to change to determining what is investable at scale and what will generate sustainable economic value.
He urged leaders to step up, reminding participants that while ‘capital is the engine’, policies, credible frameworks, innovation and implementation determine the direction, scale and speed of capital flows.
“The challenge is not the lack of awareness. It is not a lack of pledges, targets or announcements. The challenge is leadership. Leadership and whether decision-makers can convert these risks, technological innovation and policy ambitions into investment propositions that meet the requirements and that can adapt to a warming world.”
Patrick Odier, President of Building Bridges
This ‘implementation challenge’ was a recurring theme throughout the three-day event. The transition does not lack ideas or solutions; the more pressing task is translating knowledge and commitments into investment decisions, public policy and business actions at scale.
Building resilient economies
Against a backdrop of geopolitical fragmentation, economic uncertainty, energy shocks, rapid technological change and intensifying physical climate risks, the conference came to a broad agreement on the required outcomes: stronger and more resilient economies, sustainable food systems, and reliable energy supplies for the sake of long-term value.
Energy and food security, responsible AI, decarbonisation, climate adaptation and nature were among the themes that dominated conversations during the conference. However, discussions moved beyond the individual challenges, taking a wider, systems-based view to examine their interdependencies and trade-offs.
According to several speakers, the geopolitical tensions and volatility we are experiencing could provide much-needed impetus for the transition to a sustainable economy. By driving performance in the short term in areas such as clean energy and sustainable food systems, today’s crises may create opportunities for policymakers, businesses and investors to accelerate the profound changes needed to reshape the economy and build a more resilient future.
For example, oil-supply shocks and grid bottle necks linked to the Middle East conflict have reshaped energy transition strategies across many countries – a topic our experts recently discussed in a podcast. Electrification, renewable energy and energy storage are being ramped up in an effort to reduce exposure to supply disruptions and price hikes. While environmental considerations may not be the primary driver, the outcome – decarbonisation – nevertheless supports the sustainability agenda.
Pricing sustainability risks and seizing opportunities
Across panels and workshops covering topics such as climate, nature, agriculture, infrastructure and technology, experts repeatably urged businesses and investors to strengthen their ability to identify, assess and price exposures to risks related to climate, water, biodiversity loss and other sustainability challenges. As these risks – and the associated financial losses – increase, doing so is no longer a nice-to-have; it is essential to protecting profitability and supporting growth.
Although data and methodologies are more advanced in areas like climate, the field continues to evolve rapidly. Earlier this year, UBP contributed to a report published by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) which provides a practical, systems-based approach to help investors understand how interconnected environmental and social risks can amplify financial exposure. It also outlines actionable levers to build resilience, reduce volatility and support long-term development.
Sustainability risks are only one side of the equation; the other is the opportunity presented by credible solutions and long-term transition pathways. Participants at Building Bridges heard from business leaders and entrepreneurs across a range of sectors who are developing precisely these solutions.
John Kerry, the 68th US Secretary of State and Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize, underscored this point as he closed the conference, urging participants to act on “the choices that are available to us.”
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