Abstract:
Namita Vikas’ talk would focus on the current preparedness of the Indian banking sector around ESG and climate risk management. The coverage would include global and national trends on this front, in the regulatory space and the market domain. It would give an indication of current integration of business sustainability and climate-smart practices within the products and processes of leading Indian banks. Case study approach would be employed to discuss a few relevant examples from within India as well as from across the globe.

Bio of the Speaker:
Namita Vikas is currently the Founder and Managing Director of auctusESG LLP, a global firm providing strategic advisory and enablement on sustainable finance, climate transition, ESG, and climate risk management. An award-winning senior business leader with over 30 years of diverse global experience in sustainable finance, ESG, and climate strategy across banking and technology. In her previous leadership role with a large Indian private bank, she led the maiden issuance of a green bond, and launched many innovative first-of-its-kind sustainable finance products. She was also instrumental in raising over USD 1 billion in green capital from marquee global DFIs.

Since 2020, following her passion to accelerate global sustainable finance and climate transition, at auctusESG, she has steered marquee global projects awarded by international governments, UN agencies, and global DFIs, in emerging markets like Latin America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa.

Namita continues to be a member of several expert committees on Sustainable Finance and ESG, including those by the Government of India, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Currently, she serves on the global advisory board of Climate Bonds Initiative, UK, the Finance Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and Digital Green, USA.