A replay is now available.
Why these webinars?
Together with representatives from B Capital Partners and Swiss Re, the International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC), the Central Dredging Association (CEDA) and Vital Ports explored what is needed in order to improve the connection between green-labelled funds and sustainable waterborne infrastructure projects. Against the backdrop of climate change, energy transition and loss of biodiversity, together with the fact that there are limited public budgets, means there is a bigger role available for finding sustainable funding for projects. As a result, the report “Financing Sustainable Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure; A joint study to explore financing of green coastal, river and port projects” was published. A free copy of the report can be downloaded here:
One main conclusion in the report is that sustainable waterborne infrastructure solutions are available, have been tested and are economically viable. Private capital could help to accelerate the uptake of such solutions. The report is an important first step towards realising this. The dredging industry and financial sector are mutually unfamiliar with each other’s environment and both sectors want to expand their green initiatives. So synergy can be found in cooperation. These webinars are one of the activities of IADC, with the aim to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable dredging projects and the development of a finance framework to realise these projects.
Two webinars
From the report, six key lessons were drawn in the joint study by technical and financial institutes. Applying these lessons will pave the way forward to accelerate the uptake of green solutions. In each webinar, three key lessons were discussed by representatives of the dredging sector, Vital Ports, Swiss Re and B Capital Partners. They explored, identified and clarified the role of private finance in sustainable Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure. The purpose of this is twofold: to raise awareness of sustainable dredging solutions within the financial community, and to start building a bridge between the worlds of sustainable dredging and private finance.
Interested in a replay of the webinars? You can watch them here:
Webinar 1:
The following key lessons were discussed:
- Joint screening by sponsors and private capital suppliers is strongly encouraged to improve the availability of private capital for this segment.
- Certification of green projects is instrumental and needed in line with Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and EU Taxonomy.
- Green solutions need policy incentives, favouring projects with green features. This will increase their uptake and allow the rerouting, or unlocking, of funds to support them.
Webinar 2:
The following key lessons were discussed:
- Standard legal frameworks need to be developed to allow private capital to enter the sustainable Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure market.
- Reporting tools and harmonised methodologies must be built to capture the associated Environmental, Social and Governance ( ESG) benefits which are often overlooked, particularly in relation to future savings, as these are difficult to quantify.
- The insurance industry as a "de-risker" can be transformational in establishing a longer-term investment framework.
The content discussed in the webinars are explored during the conference Financing Sustainable Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure on 9 February 2023 in Dubai. More information can be found here.