The University of Oxford has today announced the winners of the ‘Insight Investment – University of Oxford Prize for Greening Finance’, the pre-eminent prize for this important area of research and practice.
The winners were announced at the World Forum on Enterprise & the Environment 2024, Oxford University’s flagship event on enterprise and the environment. The annual Greening Finance Prize (the ‘Prize’), established through a generous endowment provided by Insight Investment, a £663bn1 global asset and risk manager, recognises two categories:
- Outstanding Service – the individuals or not-for-profit organisations who have provided outstanding support for the furtherance of sustainable finance.
- 2024 winner: Emmanuel Faber, Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board, and formerly the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Danone.
- Outstanding Research – that helps society better understand how environmental change influences finance and investment, and how economic and financial systems can contribute to achieving global environmental sustainability.
- 2024 winner: Professor Rob Bauer, Professor of Finance (Chair of Institutional Investors) at Maastricht University and holder of the Elverding Chair on Sustainable Business, Culture and Corporate Regulation.
Please see notes to editors for further details of the work that was recognised.
Emmanuel Faber said: “I am grateful to the University of Oxford’s Sustainable Finance Group for recognising how sustainability is at the core of a well-functioning economy. My experience with the incredible people at Danone showed how much leadership is a collective dynamic.
“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the many brilliant colleagues at the IFRS Foundation, our partners and the broader ecosystem – who are working to bring transparency on value chains and time horizons that are critical for urgently-needed more resilient economics.
“Since the ISSB was created at COP26, jurisdictions accounting for around 55% of global gross domestic product have started to introduce ISSB Standards in their regulatory frameworks. More are coming. They will future-proof capital markets and the economy they support.”
Professor Bauer said: “I am truly humbled and deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, including co-authors and partners in the pension and investment world. Hence, I share this recognition with those who inspired and supported me throughout the years. It motivates me to keep striving for a meaningful impact in our field.”
Abdallah Nauphal, Chief Executive Officer of Insight Investment, said: “While sustainability practices have evolved to become a significant consideration in long-term investment decision making, research linking finance and sustainability topics is still in its infancy. To better understand how decisions made by the investment industry are likely to influence the financial and environmental outcomes of tomorrow, investors need research incorporating rigorous financial analysis. The research prize recognises quality academic work but also highlights the urgent need for closer collaboration between investors and academics to provide evidence that can increase the resilience of the financial system.”
Dr Ben Caldecott, Chair of the Prize Panel and the founding Director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group at the University of Oxford, said: “The winners have not only advanced our understanding of how environmental challenges intersect with finance but also offered practical solutions that will shape more resilient and sustainable financial systems. At a time when the world faces unprecedented environmental and economic challenges, recognising and supporting such ground-breaking research and leadership is critical. I am deeply inspired by the contributions of all the recipients and excited to see how their work will influence the future of finance.”
