- Day 2 of the GSG Global Impact Summit speakers ran the gamut from actress/social entrepreneur Jessica Alba to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron. But the message of how to #BuildBackBetter ran through the panels.
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Democracy and stakeholder capitalism are inseparable. That was the collective message of the second day of the GSG Global Impact Summit, where speakers — including actress and social entrepreneur Jessica Alba, former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, and IMF president Kristalina Georgieva — connected the decentralized campaign to #BuildBackBetter post-COVID with the strategic use of capital to level the global playing field.
What does that look like, exactly? More microloans to entrepreneurs, especially in the Global South; opportunities for retail impact investment through pensions and green bonds; and bringing communities into investment decisions made about their future. Though the ongoing pandemic is often framed as an opportunity, Sean Hinton of the Soros Economic Development Fund reminded those gathered that the coronavirus “is an opportunity to build back better, but also a huge threat.” Only time will tell if the impact movement — and democracy itself — is moving quickly enough to meet it.
In Other News
A billionaire impact investing couple is tackling the dearth of gun violence research. Luxury brand Burberry plans to launch and sell a sustainability bond. Uber’s plan to reach zero emissions includes a 2030 deadline for transitioning to the exclusive use of electric cars for rides in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. More than a dozen companies committed to adding a Black board member by 2021. Air pollution has a quantifiable impact on the U.K.’s economy productivity. “Companion robots” are plotting to take over if you don’t visit your elderly relatives more often.
Levity Break
Meet the furry and be-finned finalists of the 2020 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards!