ADFIAP, on invitation by the Lima, Peru-based Latin American Financial Institutions Development (ALIDE), was represented in the Seminar on “Mitigation of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability:
The Role of Development Banks” which was organized by ALIDE and the Colombian Development Bank for Foreign Trade (Bancoldex) and was held in Bogotá, Colombia, from November 18 to 19 2010.

ADFIAP was represented in the event by the Germany-based UNEP/ Wuppertal Institute collaborating Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), ADFIAP’s partner in its environmental governance standards (EGS) project www.egs-asia.com. Mr. Julio Andrés Rozo Grisales was CSCP’s designated presentor.

The seminar-workshop provided participants with a perspective on the risks and opportunities of climate change as well as close the information gap that exists in respect of financial systems to finance projects to act against climate change and to create better tools to combat this phenomenon in the region.

The seminar also addressed mitigation instruments such as carbon trading and other forms of investment, availability and diversity of funding sources, and new business opportunities, among other topics.
In addition, topics related to strengthening of environmental management systems and social development in the financial sector, such as managing environmental and social risks, mitigating risks and identify market opportunities and developing corporate governance environment standards, were also discussed.

The organizers were interested in gaining insight on the approach undertaken by DFIs in Asia on environmental governance, particularly on the experience of ADFIAP and CSCP on the EGS project.
The event which was held at the Hotel la Fontana in Bogota was attended by 45 selected participants from development and commercial banks in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras and Chile as well as representatives from consultancy organizations and universities.