Social Impact Investing for Ecological Conservation
Presentation Abstract
Social Impact Investing—as a range of strategies to fund organizations, programs and projects with both economic and social returns—has been looked to as a major new tool for advancing important social causes. Financial institutions face increasing demand for socially responsible investment opportunities, and yet in the environment sector such investments have generally been limited to green infrastructure and energy efficiency. Businesses have begun to understand the necessity to embed ecological considerations into their supply chains, going beyond corporate social responsibility and integrating this thinking to ensure the long term viability of their organization. Among conservationists there is a range of comfort levels with respect to engaging with the private sector, but investors in this realm represent a substantial and growing demand (to the tune of billions per annum).
Such novel funding models can yield both ecological and economic gains, as demonstrated by some conservation organizations via new multi-institutional partnerships (including governments at municipal, regional, and national levels). This talk explores the opportunities and impediments for social impact investing, with particular attention to the Salish Sea, including funding models for proposed new MPAs in the region. We conclude that there is potential for innovation and new types of collaboration to connect resource use, protection, and resilience in an effort to meet national and regional conservation goals.
Session Title
Social and Policy Interconnections
Conference Track
Salish Sea Snapshots
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Snapshot
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Social responsibility of business; Environmental economics; Industrial management--Environmental aspects
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Social Impact Investing for Ecological Conservation
2016SSEC
Social Impact Investing—as a range of strategies to fund organizations, programs and projects with both economic and social returns—has been looked to as a major new tool for advancing important social causes. Financial institutions face increasing demand for socially responsible investment opportunities, and yet in the environment sector such investments have generally been limited to green infrastructure and energy efficiency. Businesses have begun to understand the necessity to embed ecological considerations into their supply chains, going beyond corporate social responsibility and integrating this thinking to ensure the long term viability of their organization. Among conservationists there is a range of comfort levels with respect to engaging with the private sector, but investors in this realm represent a substantial and growing demand (to the tune of billions per annum).
Such novel funding models can yield both ecological and economic gains, as demonstrated by some conservation organizations via new multi-institutional partnerships (including governments at municipal, regional, and national levels). This talk explores the opportunities and impediments for social impact investing, with particular attention to the Salish Sea, including funding models for proposed new MPAs in the region. We conclude that there is potential for innovation and new types of collaboration to connect resource use, protection, and resilience in an effort to meet national and regional conservation goals.
