Sustainability matters increasingly affect and concern central banks around the globe, while the perception of what they are legally empowered to do may differ depending on the jurisdiction at hand. This conference "The Role of Sustainability in Central Banking" will launch the new book Central Banking and Sustainability, published by Cambridge University Press, which forms the basis for the talks and panel discussions. Bringing together a curated panel of chapter authors and experts in the field, and hosting lawyers, economists, and political scientists, this conference will create a platform to systematically assess the role of central banks in matters of sustainability from different perspectives in academia and central banking practice – some more favourable of a proactive engagement of central banks in sustainability policies, others more critical and vigilant of legal and legitimacy boundaries of such engagement.
The methodological approaches the authors deploy include legal-doctrinal analysis, empirical analysis, and economic theory. The essays together provide a balanced assessment of the role central banks can and should play in sustainability matters, addressing legal aspects, legitimacy concerns, and concerns of interinstitutional balance as well as economic and operational considerations. The book covers both developed and developing economies, where central banks are already facing the dire consequences of the warming climate.
Hosted at the University of Zurich during Zurich Climate Week, we look forward to a conference that brings together selected authors of the book to present their research findings and engage in critical discussion through scholarly exchange. It is aimed at an interdisciplinary and international audience from academia and practice, as well as students, and seeks to strengthen the visibility and relevance of this evolving field.