CNBC's "Sustainable Future Forum" explores the big issues and new ideas from Europe and Asia that foster not just growing businesses but a sustainable world.
Watch live on our YouTube channel. Here's the full schedule for the week:
Monday, October 18, 2021 : Responsibility & Regulation
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The way in which we achieve a Sustainable Future is everyone's responsibility. From big business regulation and government targets to SME initiatives and personal consumer choices. We are all now environmental activists, but the way we engage with the issue is always unique.
CNBC breaks down the demographics of change and the laws and regulations that can guide it.
Fireside: The role of capital markets in the green transition
2 p.m. SGT/HK | 7 a.m. BST
Money Report
Laura Cha, chairman of HKEX.
Capital markets can play a vital role in providing an efficient and regulated trading platform for sustainable investing. We'll hear from HKEX Chairman Laura Cha, an active champion of HKEX's commitment to sustainability, on what they are doing to promote green finance and what part regulation plays in the region's transition to a more sustainable finance ecosystem.
Fireside: The existential threat of climate change to island nations
2:15 p.m. SGT/HK | 7:15 a.m. BST
Aminath Shauna, Maldives' minister of environment, climate change and technology.
Rising sea levels and the flooding caused by climate change threaten the existence of island nations like the Maldives. 80% of its islands are less than a meter above sea level and 90% of them have reported flooding. Aminath Shauna, the Maldives' minister of environment, climate change and technology says the Maldives could disappear by the end of the century. She joins us to talk about persuading the world to act quickly to tackle climate change and how some smaller countries like the Maldives are leading the way.
Fireside: How you can profit by fixing the world's problems
6:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:30 a.m. BST
Paul Polman, co-founder and chair of Imagine.
Climate change and inequality — and other profound shifts like pandemics, resource pressures, and shrinking biodiversity — threaten our very existence. Government cannot tackle this alone and business must step up. So says former Unilever boss Paul Polman in his seminal book, "A Net Positive," co-written with sustainable business guru Andrew Winston. They reveal for the first time key lessons from Unilever and pioneering companies around the world on how you can profit by fixing the world's problems, not creating them. To thrive today and tomorrow, they argue, companies must become "net positive" — giving more to the world than they take.
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 : Providing Energy
No discussion on our Sustainable Future would be complete without taking a look at how we are going to power the change. Fossil fuels are still our main source of energy but things are changing.
CNBC takes a look at the energy transition, from the role incumbent energy providers will play, to the new start-ups that are looking to change the business model one green-step at a time.
Fireside: Financing Indonesia's climate commitments
2 p.m. SGT/HK | 7 a.m. BST
Sri Mulyani Indrawati, minister of finance for Indonesia.
As the largest energy consumer in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is crucial to the region's energy transition. The country's finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, joins us to discuss the $5.7 billion she says is needed every year to fund its green energy transition, how it plans to finance the shift to net zero and what the government's climate goals are ahead of COP26.
Panel: Where is Asia-Pacific on the road to decarbonization?
2:15 p.m. SGT/HK | 7:15 a.m. BST
Richard Lancaster, CEO of CLP Holdings, and Malcolm Turnbull, former prime minister of Australia.
As prime minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull played a pivotal part in putting climate change on the national agenda. In his latest role, as inaugural chairman of GH2, he aims to put green hydrogen production front and center of the region's shift toward decarbonization. Joining him is Richard Lancaster, CEO of CLP Holdings, one of the largest investors in the electricity industry in Asia-Pacific, to discuss the task ahead and what steps they have been taking to phase out their coal-fired assets by 2040.
Panel: Can hydrogen power the energy transition?
6:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:30 a.m. BST
Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam, and Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy.
With the clean energy transition underway, hydrogen is back in the spotlight. Offering a light, storable and energy-dense solution to providing cleaner energy, green hydrogen is playing an increasingly important role in the journey to a low-carbon future. We'll hear from Italian energy infrastructure operator Snam and Germany's Siemens Energy about the role hydrogen can play in powering the energy transition, whether that transition is coming fast enough and what investment is still needed.
Fireside: Accelerating the energy transition
7 p.m. SGT/HK | 12:00 p.m. BST
Ignacio Galán, chairman and CEO of Iberdrola.
Ignacio Galán, the CEO of Iberdrola, has long been a champion of renewable energy, transforming the company from an operator of fossil fuel plants into an offshore wind and solar powerhouse. He wants there to be a sense of urgency in Europe's transition to cleaner energy, and will discuss how we get there, what his strategy is to double Iberdrola's renewable power capacity by 2025, and what impact the gas crisis will have on Europe's long-term decarbonization goals.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 : Industry Response
It's time to talk targets and check the promises that companies set. Are the goals achievable and what should happen if they're missed? As we race toward a Sustainable Future, it's vital that we meet the needs of different industries. From the big tech giants to the specific sectors such as agriculture and fashion. All industry has part to play but will some step up faster than others?
Fireside: Protecting the world's precious water resources
2 p.m. SGT/HK | 7 a.m. BST
Takeshi Niinami, CEO of Suntory Holdings.
For Suntory Holdings, one of the world's leading producers of whisky and other beverages, the supply of water is vital to business. Takeshi Niinami, the company's CEO, joins us to talk about protecting the world's precious water resources and setting ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions.
Fireside: The diversity dividend
2:15 p.m. SGT/HK | 7:15 a.m. BST
Suneeta Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospitals.
As managing director of Apollo Hospitals Group, Suneeta Reddy is one of the biggest names in India's health care sector, and a trailblazer for business women across the world. She'll join us to talk about how diversity on the Apollo board has driven growth, how to encourage greater gender parity in leadership and how Apollo Hospitals is incorporating ESG into its long-term strategy.
Fireside: A sustainable future for aviation
6:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:30 a.m. BST
Michael O'Leary, CEO of RyanAir.
Until electric or hydrogen-powered planes become a viable alternative, could alternative fuels or more efficient aircraft hold the key to reducing the aviation industry's carbon emissions? Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, joins us to talk about his vision of flying in a more sustainable way.
Panel: How big business can become more sustainable
6:45 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:45 a.m. BST
Mario Greco, CEO of Zurich Insurance, Dolf van den Brink, CEO of Heineken, and Carolan Lennon, CEO of Eir.
From net-zero targets to carbon tax and even linking executives' pay to action on climate change, each sector is looking at different ways to become more sustainable. Joining us to share their insights on what it means for industry to become greener are Mario Greco, the CEO of Zurich Insurance, Carolan Lennon the CEO of Eir and Dolf van den Brink, who's the CEO of Heineken.
Fireside: Driving Nissan to a greener future
7:15 p.m. SGT/HK | 12:15 p.m. BST
Makoto Uchida, CEO of Nissan.
The auto industry is undergoing a seismic transformation as it responds to demands to reduce CO2 emissions and a dependency on fossil fuels. Nissan has announced it will electrify all of its new models in key markets by the early 2030s. CEO Makoto Uchida joins us to discuss how the automaker is fulfilling its sustainability goals, what investments they are making in electrification and recycling and what the wider industry response has been.
Fireside: Is the tide turning for sustainable fashion?
7:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 12:30 p.m. BST
Livia Firth, founder and creative director of Eco-Age.
Acclaimed sustainability activist Livia Firth has long been critical of the fashion industry's greenwashing. She will be joining us to talk about whether the pandemic has caused a rethink into how we dress, whether circular fashion is more than a marketing tool and the launch of her new Renaissance Awards to honor young leaders in sustainability.
Thursday, October 21, 2021 : Money & investing
We turn the spotlight on money flows and how they can help influence the way we treat the planet.
Environment-focused finance is a growing but sometimes bewildering industry.
From full finance systems such as Carbon Trading, to specific and new asset classes like Green Bonds, the choice on where to put your cash has never been greater. CNBC demystifies the systems, analyses the products and shines a light on where some of the world's most influential investors see the best (and greenest) returns.
Panel: What next for ESG investment in Asia?
2 p.m. SGT/HK | 7 a.m. BST
Yimei Li, CEO of ChinaAMC, and Loh Boon Chye, CEO of Singapore Exchange.
Analysts have hailed Asia as the new frontier for sustainable investment. Boosted by China's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, the region brought in a record $25.4 billion in ESG funds in 2020, up 131% on the year before. ChinaAMC's CEO Yimei Li and Loh Boon Chye, CEO of SGX, join us to discuss what has been driving growth, whether the momentum can continue, and what challenges remain.
Fireside: ESG opportunities in real estate
2:20 p.m. SGT/HK | 7:20 a.m. BST
Lee Chee Koon, Group CEO at CapitaLand Investment.
The built environment accounts for 38% of all GHG emissions, and therefore has a pivotal role to play in achieving net-zero carbon by 2050. Ranked as one of the top real estate companies in the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World" index, CapitaLand has been leading the way in setting ambitious sustainability goals for the sector. CEO, Lee Chee Koon, joins us to discuss how the company is integrating environmental considerations into its investments, what ESG opportunities there are in real estate and how the industry is transitioning to a more sustainable future.
Panel: How investing with principles doesn't mean sacrificing returns
6:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:30 a.m. BST
Tim Adams, president and CEO of the Institute of International Finance, and Fiona Frick, CEO of Unigestion.
Sustainable finance is booming. A record $231 billion was raised in the first quarter of this year alone, selling green, social and sustainability bonds and $347 billion was poured into ESG-focused investment funds last year. Tim Adams, president and CEO of the Institute of International Finance, and Fiona Frick, CEO of Unigestion, join us to discuss what products are making a difference and how investing with principles does not mean sacrificing returns.
Friday, October 22, 2021 : Technology & Innovation
The fourth industrial revolution is also going to be a green revolution. Technological advancement and innovation is promising to make our industries, lives and future more sustainable.
CNBC meets those at the forefront of research and digital development to explore how the technology works and what environmental benefits it can bring to us all.
Panel: Harnessing technology for a greener future
2 p.m. SGT/HK | 7 a.m. BST
Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO of Schneider Electric, and Anish Shah, CEO and managing director of Mahindra Group.
From AI to big data to electric vehicles, digitization and technology are playing a key role in our quest for a carbon-free future. Joining us to discuss how technological solutions can help businesses and governments deliver on their sustainability goals are Schneider Electric CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire and Anish Shah, CEO and managing director of the Mahindra Group.
Fireside: Smart technologies for sustainable cities
2:20 p.m. SGT/HK | 7:20 a.m. BST
Shaoqian Jia, CEO of Hisense Group.
From creating smart, sustainable cities to producing more efficient products, consumer electronics giant Hisense is playing it's part in China's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060. We'll hear from CEO Shaoqian Jia on how the company is using cutting-edge technology to reduce carbon emissions.
Fireside: Tackling greenwashing with blockchain
6:30 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:30 a.m. BST
Kim Raath, CEO of Topl.
ESG commitments "mean nothing without proof" believes Kim Raath, CEO and founder of Houston-based start-up Topl. In a bid to increase accuracy and transparency to ESG reporting, Topl introduced blockchain to the process, using the technology to standardize and automate reporting, as well as track performance and progress. As companies face mounting pressure to report accurate ESG data, Raath joins us to discuss how Topl's blockchain technology is increasing trust, who can access it and what kind of impact it will have.
Fireside: Driving the electric vehicle revolution
6:45 p.m. SGT/HK | 11:45 a.m. BST
Nico Rosberg, sustainability entrepreneur and former F1 world champion.
We'll hear from F1 legend and sustainability entrepreneur, Nico Rosberg, on how the Extreme E all-electric racing championship is changing the perception of electric cars; what the future holds for e-mobility and whether his green investments are offering good returns.
