The Bermuda Business Development Agency’s first Bermuda Climate Summit, on May 23 and 24, is being presented in partnership with the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers and the ratings agency KBRA.

Climate thought leaders have already packed out the invite-only event, but those interested in the wait-list can e-mail bermudaclimate@bda.bm.

The opening welcome dinner on May 23 is followed by May 24 discussions, including a keynote lunch, panel presentations, roundtables, solutions showcase, networking opportunities and a cocktail reception.

David Hart, BDA CEO, said: “We are honoured to welcome global leaders to Bermuda for this extraordinary event to network, share ideas, and discuss vital solutions to the global climate crisis.”

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, and Jim Nadler, president and CEO of KBRA, will kick off proceedings by discussing Bermuda’s work in climate risk finance and how an increase in this type of financing can help mitigate against the worst effects of climate change, the benefits that innovative new technologies bring, and what a new climate finance economic pillar for Bermuda might look like.

John Huff, president and CEO of Abir, will moderate a panel on building resiliency in the face of climate change.

Panellists include Bronwyn Claire, senior programme manager, ClimateWise, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge; Ekhosuehi Iyahen, secretary general, Insurance Development Forum; Abhisheik Dhawan, sustainable finance and partnership specialist/corporate lead on climate change, United Nations Capital Developments Fund; and Steven E Seitz, director, Federal Insurance Office US Department of the Treasury.

Additional sessions will feature discussions about applied technology innovations to discuss the scale and nature of our current and anticipated climate challenges, an executive-level discussion on the growing importance of ESG and its intersection with re/insurance and investing, and how the development of specialty financing products within the re/insurance industry can help address climate change amid increasing consumer and regulatory pressure for climate risk management.