Panel: Ageing population and demography: the role of financial institutions

How can financial institutions help to resolve the problems of adequate pensions for an ageing  population in Europe?  Can the financial sector provide effective mechanisms to promote and facilitate inter-generational solidarity? What innovative answers are being looked at? This panel will look at the tools the different market players bring to this major social challenge.

Energy policy and climate change policy are currently high up the political agenda. The Commission is currently seeking to develop a common energy policy for Europe. Key to its plans will be a move away from the use of fossil fuels toward low carbon energy sources. Amongst the policy tools identified by the Commission is the use of market based instruments, such as the emissions trading scheme (ETS), to encourage energy efficient behaviour and the shift to renewable energy sources.  In a recent Green Paper, the Commission highlighted the ETS, tax incentives, and the use of tradable white certificates as cornerstones of its climate change policy.  Issues debated by the panel will include, the role financial market actors can play in the development and operation of these new markets, and the ways in which financial markets are already helping to promote real incentives to environmentally behaviour.