Sustainable Development Seminar

DLT and Sustainable Development: A Landmark Seminar at UCL

On 29th September 2023, the DLT Science Foundation hosted "DLT and Sustainable Development" seminar at University College London (UCL). The event attracted 40 participants from various sectors, and featured a distinguished panel of experts: 

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• Chloe Ceren Tartan, Technology Sustainability Manager at Accenture
• Viv Diwakar, CIO of The HBAR Foundation 
• Simran Singh, Data Technology & Innovation Division at the Financial Conduct Authority
• Niall Roche, Founding Partner of The Building Blocks and Senior Teaching Fellow and CTO-in-Residence at UCL School of Management. 

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Maxime Nicolas (UCL) opened the session by shedding light on the broader impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects on emerging technologies, particularly DLT, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of how we can leverage these technologies to foster sustainable practices.

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Simran Singh followed with a presentation that drew from her experience with the FCA's Digital Sustainability Sandbox pilot. She shared outcomes and learnings, demonstrating the practical applications and benefits of DLT in promoting sustainability in the financial sector.

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The session then progressed with valuable contributions from Niall, Chloe, and Viv, who highlighted the practical challenges and prospects of integrating DLT into various service sectors. They emphasised the importance of a pragmatic approach to technology adoption, considering these sectors' real-world complexities and needs.

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A significant part of the dialogue revolved around the alignment of fintech with ESG imperatives. The speakers discussed how DLT could be a game-changer in championing sustainable finance offering innovative solutions to long-standing challenges.

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The event acted as a breeding ground for innovation and new ideas, gathering experts and enthusiasts alike with a view to sharing knowledge, but also relationship-building and fostering a collaborative environment to contribute to finding viable solutions to complex sustainability challenges.

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