Recently, CPP Investments hosted the Alberta Energy & Growth Forum in Calgary featuring a line-up of industry leaders speaking about investment trends, innovation, and the future of the Canadian energy industry.
The purpose of the event was twofold: demonstrating the value CPP Investments provides through our global reach, sophisticated investment approach and market-leading returns, as well as communicating our approach to investing as we navigate the global challenge of climate change.
The agenda covered timely topics related to the importance and evolution of the Canadian energy sector. In his opening remarks, President & CEO John Graham touched on how the sustainability revolution is a full economy-wide transition, much like the digital revolution that started in the 1990s. He also spoke about where CPP Investments sees attractive investment opportunities across the entire energy spectrum, and how we are working to better anticipate the transition pathways of our investments.
The featured panel focused on the future of energy. In this session Graham and Chief Sustainability Officer Deb Orida joined top executives and thought leaders from the Alberta energy sector. They discussed how an industry with a strong track record of adaptation can further evolve, as traditional energy companies increasingly pursue opportunities in carbon capture, renewables, hydrogen, and technological innovation.
Graham closed the panel with three key take-aways from the discussion:
- There is an important, positive shift underway from looking primarily at the investment risks of climate change to the financial opportunities of decarbonization;
- Collaboration is needed to go beyond general agreement on reducing emissions to action; and that
- Alberta and Canada have a great story to tell as they navigate the energy transition, given their strong track record of innovation, technology, and experience.
You can read a copy of John Graham’s speech from the Forum here.