Andrew Howell

Head of Research, Sustainable Finance Environmental Defense Fund

Andrew Howell is Head of Research, Sustainable Finance at EDF, where he is responsible for engaging with the investor community to help accelerate the energy transition. He works on a range of sectors including oil & gas, petrochemicals, transportation and natural climate solutions. Previously, Andrew was an equity research analyst with Citi Research for nearly two decades, where he led a top ranked research team focused on emerging and frontier markets. Andrew has also worked at the Emerging Markets Investors Alliance, where he led investor ESG engagements in the mining and energy sectors. Andrew attended the University of Pennsylvania and Insead, holds the CFA and Fundamentals of Sustainable Accounting (FSA) designations, and is fluent in French and Russian.

Main Conference Day 1: Wednesday, December 4

4:15 PM Banking on Sustainability: The Role of Financial Institutions in Methane Mitigation

In the United States, sustainable investment has become imperative, driven by the urgent need to address climate change. Supported by initiatives such as the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) And Climate Action 100+, the private sector is quickly realizing its pivotal role in supporting the evolution of transparent emissions data and driving emissions reduction. With an estimated $100 billion of investment required by 2030 for effective methane abatement, there is an urgent need for alignment between financial institutions and industry strategies. This panel will bring together leading U.S. banks to discuss their approach to methane abatement within the oil and gas industry. Our panellists will:


  • Discuss the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) and the PCAF Standard –how does this allow for science-based targets?
  • Explore why some institutions are choosing not to use the PCAF standard
  • Examine how investors perceive methane emissions mitigation not merely as a risk management strategy but as an avenue to unlock hidden value and promote long-term sustainability
  • Discuss what companies can do to restore confidence in emissions reporting and mitigation plans and what investors regard as best practice
  • Explore what methane data investors are using today, and what will they require in future
  • Highlight the potential merits of the clean energy financing ratio shareholder proposal and how it ties into upcoming CSRD disclosures

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Andrew.

Download The Latest Agenda