Join the Deliberation Gateway Network for a thought provoking discussion about how ordinary citizens can redefine what responsible investing truly means.
$60 trillion worldwide is stored in pensions and endowments.* This money is meant to secure people’s futures, and it’s so powerful it has the potential to shape our whole society. Is this money invested wisely to secure the flourishing of humanity and the planet?
For years, investment experts have held the reins, saying their duty is to get the highest returns for beneficiaries. But is that all there is to responsibility? Is it enough to simply chase profit?
Now, a big question is on the table. In New York, a court case challenges a public retirement funds decision to pull investments from fossil fuels. A jury—ordinary people—will decide if that move was a wise, fair, legal choice. Against this backdrop the increase in participatory budgeting in New York opens a door to something even bigger. Imagine if regular citizens, with the right knowledge, could weigh in on these crucial decisions. Could they help set standards that serve everyone’s best interests—steering investments away from harm, pushing companies and professional stewards to do better? How would their voices reach the people in charge?
During this important conversation we’ll hear from Professor Emmeline Cooper, lecturer on sustainable investing at Cranfield University, Forrest Sparks, designer of public participatory processes, and Tim MacDonald, lawyer and financial theorist. This event will be mediated by Dr Chris Forman FRSA, research scientist, advocate for deliberative democracy and leader of Deliberation Gateway - A thematic network of the RSA.
Photo attribution: The original image can be accessed via Unsplash and is the work of Towfiqu barbhuiya.
*Pension Markets in Focus. OECD. 2024
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