While defense and new technology funding, particularly in artificial intelligence, are currently taking center stage, financing for the environmental and energy transition seems to have faded from the headlines. Yet, funding this transition remains an absolute imperative and must stay a top priority.

The rollback of environmental policies under the Trump administration created a gap that was quickly exploited by proponents of lower environmental standards and climate skeptics, who advocate for a return to business as usual—an economy free from environmental constraints.

However, the situation remains critical. While the most pessimistic IPCC scenarios are now considered unlikely—a 5°C warming by 2100 seems to have been ruled out—the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C is now out of reach. The challenge now is to do everything possible to keep warming below 2°C.

In this context, financing transition projects is more of an urgent necessity than ever. This roundtable will provide an opportunity to take stock of sustainable finance: regulatory developments, funding levels, the effectiveness of green products, and more, in order to assess where sustainable finance truly stands today.

Program (in progress)

Speakers:

• Anna Creti, Professor at Université Paris Dauphine–PSL; Director of the Climate Economics Chair (Université Paris Dauphine–PSL – Institut Louis Bachelier)

• Philippe Mongars, Deputy Director General for Financial Stability and Operations, Banque de France

Moderator:

• Cédric Fuentes, Program Director, AEFR

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