Dentons participated in the Sustainable Cities Series 2021 hosted by the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce (CUKCC) and the Scottish North America Business Council (SNABC). The three-day event tackled the challenges and opportunities facing all organizations ahead of COP26 in November (in particular, policymakers and those engaged with capital markets).

The event provided practical examples of how the great cities of Glasgow and Montreal, and London and Toronto, are looking to address the challenge of moving to carbon neutral and what this means for:

• Policymakers and planning departments
• Sustainable infrastructure (energy, utilities, transportation and real estate)
• Accessing capital markets on the best terms (equity and debt)
• Attracting institutional and retail investors
• Contracting and managing the risks

Focus on Glasgow and Montreal

Two major city planners outline their plans for moving towards carbon neutral

How do we build a green future that has a stronger economic growth post pandemic? This is the real challenge of our time that will impact how society lives, the jobs available and the wellbeing and health of all. The source of our energy and how we retro-fit heating across commercial and residential properties need to be addressed. Regulatory and planning challenges are combined with the complexity of public and private transport networks that are decades old. How do we redevelop these to fit into a carbon neutral future? Investment is needed and it is fantastic to see some of our world-leading economies looking at how we can finance green economies, but we do not have the luxury of time. Decisions need to be made today which will impact future generations, but this has to be undertaken while our global economy is trying to restabilize after the shock it suffered from the pandemic. Watch the full video to hear these issues discussed in greater detail.

Speakers included:

• Fraser Wilson, Scottish Financial Enterprise
• Martin Valenti, Head of Climate Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise 
• Patrick Aubin, SVP, Cities and Development, EDPM Canada, SNC Lavalin 
• Stéphane Paquet, President & CEO, Montreal International

Managing the risks – the legal, consultant and insurers’ perspectives 

Is it all about measuring, managing, mitigating or litigating? What one thing would our panel do to manage the risk? Would giving people statistics on their daily energy consumption make society more accountable? Would this help us all realize that little steps can have a big impact? Pressure is being placed on businesses, but does it need to be stronger? Do the legal implications of non-compliance need to catch up, so our journey to carbon neutral cities becomes easier? Watch the full video to hear these issues discussed in greater detail. 

Speakers included:

• Caroline Haynes, Global Director of Urban Solutions, Hatch                     
• Alison Bryce, Partner, Dentons Glasgow

Focus on London and Toronto

Two major city planners outline their plans for moving towards carbon neutral   

Are we stuck on the message that more needs to be done to tackle climate change and this has led to inertia? Should we not focus on what we have achieved and what is possible going forward for society to be part of that? We can be optimistic that, if the world's nations work in partnership, we can achieve. Arguably public and private partnerships are needed as one to deliver a carbon neutral future. But does society need to stop and ask what sacrifice each individual in the developed world needs to take now to help future generations? What do we have to give from today for tomorrow? Watch the full video to hear these issues discussed in greater detail.

Speakers included:

• Jennifer McKelvie, Toronto City Councillor & Chair of Infrastructure and Environment Committee
• Peter Daw, Interim Assistant Director of Environment and Energy and Head of Climate Change, Greater London Authority
• Roy Pinnock, Planning Partner, Dentons
• Isabelle Smith, Associate Director, UK & Europe, Infrastructure, Atkins
• Nicholas Iliff, Project Director, Commercial Specialist, Project & Structured Finance Group, Infrastructure & Projects Authority

Managing the risks – the legal, consultant and insurers’ perspectives

Several risks need to be mitigated but, with city budgets stretched post pandemic, do we run the risk that a failure to take action now will have an impact across all socio-economic groups – particularly those smaller and less represented? How do we manage against this? Does implementing regulatory measures bring certainty and deliverability in sectors, such as the construction and manufacturing industry? An immediate action should be to measure the carbon in an organization's supply chain so that it can be managed before the regulations arrive. To tackle this, could the integration of the offset market with the voluntary carbon schemes work to demonstrate carbon neutrality in the supply chains? Would this stop inertia and enable the gap to carbon neutrality to be bridged? 

Watch the full video to hear these issues discussed in greater detail.

Speakers included:

• Susan McGeachie, Global Director, Strategy & Finance, Climate Change and Sustainability, Hatch
• Meredith Jones, Partner, Global Head of ESG, Aon
• Stephen Shergold, Partner, Dentons
• Kate Broer, Partner, Dentons