Guernsey Finance has announced The Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma KCMG, a leading figure in global climate diplomacy and sustainable and transition finance, as keynote speaker for its Sustainable Finance Seminar 2025.
Taking place on Tuesday 16 September at RSA House, London, the 2025 seminar will build on the success of last year’s event, exploring how the private sector can scale up sustainable development, and the ways in which Guernsey’s financial services sector provides support for global clients and facilitates international capital flows.
The event will include topical discussions on the implementation of developments in sustainable finance and Guernsey’s role in facilitating these developments.
The event will feature two expert panel sessions focusing on sustainable finance in action - mitigation and adaption.
The first panel will discuss how investment funds across alternatives, private equity and venture capital are supporting Foreign Direct Investment into UK green investment projects, supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions and growth objectives through Guernsey-domiciled funds.
The second panel will discuss how blended finance mechanisms are being used to mitigate and adapt to climate change and humanitarian crisis responses, and how Guernsey’s insurance sector is adapting its risk financing mechanisms.
Strategy and Sustainable Finance Director Stephanie Glover commented: “We are thrilled to welcome The Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma to this year’s event. His international standing and experience at the forefront of global climate policy give him a unique perspective on both the urgency and the opportunity for financial markets to drive meaningful change. We’re proud to host this conversation in London, showcasing Guernsey’s continued leadership in sustainable finance on a global stage.”
Lord Sharma served as President of COP26 and was instrumental in securing the historic Glasgow Climate Pact, agreed by nearly 200 countries. He previously held several UK Government ministerial posts, including Secretary of State for International Development and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, before taking on the COP26 role full-time in 2021.
A chartered accountant by training, Lord Sharma spent 16 years in international investment banking prior to entering Parliament in 2010. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2024 and now serves as Chair of the UK’s Transition Finance Council. He also holds advisory roles with the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Climate Advisory Council and is a Distinguished Fellow at Conservation International.
Guernsey is a recognised leader in sustainable finance, combining regulatory innovation with industry expertise. The jurisdiction pioneered the world’s first regulated green fund regime and natural capital fund regime, helping channel capital into sustainable and nature focused investments. With more than £5 billion in net asset value across the regimes, Guernsey offers a stable, forward-thinking environment for investors and asset managers committed to sustainable finance.
For more information on the event or if you would like to attend, visit Guernsey Sustainable Finance Seminar or contact Guernsey Finance Events Executive Rosie Courtney on rosie@guernseyfinance.com
