This blog summary was kindly written for Finsif by Mali Ilse Paquin, founder of Poppeli Consulting.
What does the Nordic competitive edge, AI in finance and Moomins have in common? They were all discussed on stage at the NordicSIF 2026 event which was hosted on August 25 by Finsif (Finland´s Sustainable Investment Forum) in central Helsinki.
Despite the sunny weather outside, 260 sustainable investment leaders from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Finland) attended the sold-out event
The roaring conversations taking place in the halls of the historic Paasitorni building illustrated how the Nordic Sustainable Investment Community is still going strong, celebrating 10 years of NordicSIF this year.
The event kicked off with discussions about the trends shaping the future of investment, but also the special role Nordic investors can play globally.
The Nordics are a rising geopolitical middle power. The attendees were encouraged to leverage their collective assets -such as their economic weight, globally competitive companies, sophisticated capital markets, and legacy of trust- to build flexible, outward-looking coalitions.
Investors were reminded of the importance of engagement. Studies have shown that consistent and focused engagement can reduce emission intensity and strengthen long-term targets. Finance leaders should also exercise their voice with regulators and policymakers to shape effective practices, rather than relying solely on reporting or voting.
At a time where ESG constraints are shifting towards defense, human rights were rightly discussed. We learned that only 8% of the world’s 10,000 largest listed companies publicly report using stakeholder engagement for human rights risk assessment, according to the OECD. In the Q&A, the audience was encouraged to practice human rights due diligence as far as the value chain goes.
AI and smart technologies were also hot topics. The sharp and context-rich presentation ”AI and Sustainability: The Good, Bad and Ugly” offered nuanced perspectives on the benefits of AI for sustainable investing, but also its risks. Investors were warned about the dangers of greenwashing regarding data centers. Claims of 100% renewable energy-powered centers should not include remote offset strategy. True sustainability requires local and temporal matching of renewable energy.
Elsewhere, the importance of technology development for decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors was emphatically put forward. But with a caveat. These innovations need scale-up capital, not only early-stage financing; an approach the Nordics could embrace further.
A few companies were invited to speak. Some well-established names, like the Finnish giant Kone, but also promising startups, like Origin by Ocean, founded by scientist Mari Granström. During the panel on the blue economy, participants were reminded of the “ocean blind spot”, where oceans are seen as infinite resources, leading to poor risk pricing and outdated data usage. Participants learned further how oceans are also vulnerable to climate change. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which plays a significant role in the world’s climate, may be reaching a tipping point that would lead to global weather disruptions and colder temperatures in the Nordics.
In her closing remarks, Finsif´s board member Nina Rudanko urged the sustainable investment professionals to “stop asking whether an investment is ESG compliant and focus on the essential part: What makes a company or an investment more valuable and more resilient in the future?”
She invited them to take one idea, question, or connection from the conference back to their colleagues or boards to foster ongoing impact.
A touching moment occurred when Finsif passed the baton to IcelandSIF, who will be hosting the 2027 edition of NordicSIF in Reykjavík. A Moominmamma plush toy was presented to the Iceland delegates, since the famous character is a symbol of gentleness and resilience.
Auspiciously, resilience is the theme of next year’s NordicSIF in Iceland, a nation built on weathering storms, whether the meteorological kind or the economic kind.
Ten years in, the Nordic sustainable investment movement shows no signs of slowing down. See you in Reykjavík.
Mali Ilse Paquin
Climate and Nature Risk Advisor for Renewable Energy Investments, Poppeli Consulting
Mali is the CFA Institute-certified founder of Poppeli Consulting, an AI-native finance consultancy based in Helsinki. She has nearly ten years of experience in climate and sustainability, including a landmark $1 million study for a Canadian Ministry of Environment.
Nordic Sustainable Investment Forums
The NordicSIF event is hosted each year on a rotational basis in the Nordic capitals. IcelandSIF is welcoming the members of Nordic Sustainable Investment Forums to Reykjavik in June 2027!
