Climate and Renewable Energy Trends for Investors Will Be Major Focus of The SRI Conference in November

DENVER, Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A former Colorado governor, experts from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the World Bank, Patagonia, and the investment world will address the 27th annual SRI Conference November 9–11, 2016 in Denver. They will share their information and insights about climate change and renewable energy development to help guide investment decision-making in the months and years to come.

For more information about The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing, go to http://www.SRIconference.com.

"Climate change and renewable energy go right to the heart of the 'All in for Impact' focus of the 2016 SRI Conference," Steve Schueth, president of First Affirmative Financial Network and producer of The SRI Conference, said. "Long before climate and renewable energy became front-burner issues for other investors, the sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investment industry was concentrating on making sense of these topics from an investing perspective. The conversation this year will explore a number of cutting-edge topics, including climate risks for investors, the impacts on agriculture, and what this means for the empowerment of women."

Among the key elements of The SRI Conference agenda are the following plenary sessions and breakout panels:

• Clean Energy: Policy and Opportunities in the New America. In the 21st century, our wealth of energy resources must be adapted to the challenges of sustainability. Very few Americans have a breadth of experience in this arena comparable to former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and former National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Director Dan Arvizu. Governor Ritter is now the director of the Center for the New Energy Economy, Colorado State University. Arvizu is a consulting professor at the Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University.
• Climate Change – Risks and Solutions. Climate change is an ever-evolving risk to investors, though also an area of investment opportunity. With an eye to the recent Paris Accord, this panel will provide an overview of the different solutions that are available for investors and how they can better integrate climate change into their investment portfolios. Moderator: Heike Reichelt, head of investor relations and new products at the World Bank. Panelists will include: Stephan Bonte, director of sustainable investing, Standish Mellon; and Bill Page, senior vice president and portfolio manager, Essex Global Environmental Opportunities Strategy.
• Social Implications of Climate Change and the Opportunity for Women's Empowerment. The impacts of climate change are disproportionately affecting the poor, with women carrying an outsized burden for their families and communities. Learn how investing in and empowering women can combat practical challenges and provide solutions, including the faster adoption of renewable energy solutions and sustainable agricultural practices globally. Moderator: Julie Gorte, senior vice president for sustainable investing, Pax World Management. Panelists will include: Najada Kumbuli, officer, strategic initiatives, Calvert Foundation; and Rich Ferlauto, former director, Corporate Governance and Pension Investment, AFSCME, and former deputy director of policy, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (invited).
• Agriculture and Climate Change: New Leadership for Impact Investors. New research indicates that restorative, organic agriculture, widely deployed in cultivated lands, may safely sequester enough carbon to reverse climate change in a significant way. Speakers will address the crucial role of investors in leading this transformation. Moderator: Alisa Gravitz, president and CEO, Green America.  Panelists will include: Rick Ridgeway, vice president, Environmental Initiatives, Patagonia; Tom Newmark, founder and chair, The Carbon Underground; and Ricardo Bayon, partner and co-founder, Encourage Capital.

For the full conference agenda, go to http://www.SRIconference.com.

ABOUT THE SRI CONFERENCE
The 27th annual SRI Conference will be held November 9–11, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Denver, Colorado. The SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com) is the premier annual forum for investors and investment professionals engaged in sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investing. Conference participation includes investment professionals, institutional investors, and related organizations. The SRI Conference features educational sessions and focused opportunities to network with hundreds of like-minded individuals, organizations, and leaders in the field of Sustainable, Responsible, Impact investing.

The SRI Conference is produced by First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (http://www.firstaffirmative.com), a Registered Investment Advisor offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious, impact-oriented investors (SEC File #801-56587).

EDITOR'S NOTE
For assistance with The SRI Conference registration and sponsorships, please contact Krystala Kalil, Conference Coordinator at 888-774-2663 or Krystala@SRIconference.com.

SOURCE First Affirmative Financial Network, Colorado Springs, CO

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