Driving Progress: How American Companies Are Powering Sustainable Finance
11:00 am - 12:30 pm EDT
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the U.S. economy, accounting for nearly half of private sector employment and contributing over 40% to GDP. As sustainability becomes a core expectation for businesses of all sizes, SMEs are demonstrating leadership through agile decision-making, creative problem-solving, and a strong connection to the communities they serve.
With more than 33 million small businesses in the U.S., their collective influence is significant, especially when it comes to shaping more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economies. From building greener supply chains to advancing equity and reducing environmental impact, SMEs are finding practical, high-impact ways to embed sustainability into their operations, even with limited resources.
This closed-door roundtable will bring together SME leaders to share strategies, surface common challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration that can accelerate sustainable business practices across the SME community in the United States.
Creating Change: The Essential Role of SMEs in Building a Sustainable Future
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EDT
As the urgency of climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality reshapes the global economy, sustainable finance has emerged as a business imperative, not just a moral one. The American private sector, with its capital, innovation, and influence, plays a central role in accelerating this transition.
Sustainable finance requires rethinking how capital is allocated, embedding environmental, social, and governance considerations into financial strategies, investment decisions, and risk assessments. It also demands new forms of accountability and long-term value creation.
This closed-door roundtable will bring together leaders from across the private sector and financial institutions to explore how U.S. companies are integrating sustainability into their financial models. Discussions will focus on emerging practices, market opportunities, and the tools needed to align business growth with positive environmental and social outcomes.
Moving Forward: The Role of the American Private Sector Beyond the 2030 Agenda
3:45 pm - 5:15 pm EDT
The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), represents a global commitment to addressing the most pressing challenges facing humanity and the planet. While the SDGs provide a framework for action through 2030, their expiration is not the end of the journey. The lessons learned, strategies developed, and momentum built around the SDGs will continue to shape global priorities.
In parallel, many companies have independently set 2030 targets across climate, equity, circularity, and other key sustainability areas. As this milestone approaches, there is a growing need to reflect not only on progress to date, but also on what comes next for both business and society.
This closed-door roundtable will bring together private sector leaders and senior sustainability professionals to explore the future of corporate sustainability beyond 2030. The discussion will examine how companies can build on current momentum, evolve their strategies, and continue driving innovation and impact in a post-2030 world.
