This month UK Finance is launching a COP26 and Beyond spring roundtable and webinar series.

The series is based on the expectations set out in Sam Woods? 1 July 2020 ?Dear CEO? letter and the four pillars of Mark Carney's COP26 Private Finance Strategy - reporting, risk management, returns (bringing in transition plans and net zero) and mobilisation of capital - and is built around:

• a structured member roundtable dialogue in which firms can exchange notes on progress being made and barriers that they are still seeking to overcome.
• a webinar series open to all with an interest in the greening of finance, in which we will explore key issues relating to the climate responsibility framework being put in place before turning more specifically to the steps that banking and financial firms are taking in devising strategies for supporting the transition to a net zero economy.

The programme has been designed to benefit a cross-section of banking and finance firms as they look to embed climate responsibility into their reporting, risk management, governance and strategy, as well as the growing number of firms advanced in making net zero by 2050 commitments.

Four webinars are planned for spring in association with EY. Each will involve a mix of professional briefings and discussion on topical issues, including ?breaking news? on latest developments.

Board Responsibilities and Reporting Considerations: 12-1pm, Wednesday 17 March

This will equip board members with a foundational understanding of their responsibilities regarding climate-related financial risk and sustainability strategy, including upcoming key regulatory requirements on governance bodies. It will provide an overview of the governance frameworks being put in place in support of financial and risk management decisions taking climate change into account and encourage banking and finance firms to develop and implement transition plans to adjust their businesses for a net zero world.

Climate Risk Management and Stress Testing: 11am-12pm, Wednesday 21 April

This highly topical briefing will include updates from leading practitioners on:

? financial risks and impacts of climate change: physical and transitional risks
? regulatory policy response and regulations
? climate scenarios overview
? approach to climate risk stress-testing
? integrating climate risk into risk management practices

Latest Developments in TCFD Reporting, 11am-12pm, Wednesday 19 May

This will also provide a highly topical briefing with discussion amongst leading practitioners on:

? the support growing globally for TCFD reporting and its strategic relevance
? key thematic challenges for financial institutions and practical guidance
? implementation considerations: data, process and systems enhancements
? issues concerning the EU taxonomy, including significant updates, and the question of UK alignment

Transition to Net Zero; 11am-12pm Wednesday 23 June

We will be joined by leading practitioners and leading policymakers for a briefing and discussion on:

? defining net zero: transition pathways, GHG accounting and science-based targets
? defining net zero strategy and objectives
? energy and carbon management
? the role of natural resources: the circular economy
? the importance of Just Transition

We look forward hugely to working with EY in presenting the webinar series and have structured the programme with the aim of giving it broad appeal to industry practitioners. These include board members and others with strategic overview or climate and sustainability responsibility, those putting in place the statutory and regulatory framework and other policymakers interested in the steps being taken within the industry.

Full details of each of the four webinars and how to register can be found here.