Prince William calls on finance bosses to ‘invest in nature’ April 8, 2021 Prince William has urged global finance leaders to “invest in nature” in order to combat climate change and benefit “our children and grandchildren”. The Duke of Cambridge’s comments were made in a speech during a session of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s virtual Spring Meetings event. The duke launched his ambitious £50m Earthshot [...]
Barclays condemns climate activists’ protest following smashed windows in Canary Wharf April 7, 2021 Barclays has responded to the protests outside their London headquarters this morning, urging Extinction Rebellion to halt any “criminal damage to our facilities and [putting] people’s safety at risk.” Climate change protestors broke windows at the London headquarters of Barclays in Canary Wharf earlier earlier this morning. The activists from the Extinction Rebellion group reportedly [...]
Net zero front and centre in G7 meeting hosted by Sunak April 6, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak chaired a meeting with his G7 counterparts today, where the importance of achieving net zero emissions targets were the main focus of discussion. The meeting, which Sunak hosted alongside Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, will be the first in a series taking place this week. In a statement the Treasury said: [...]
Retail investors back Rio Tinto climate accountable proposals April 6, 2021 Retail investors have backed climate accountable proposals from Rio Tinto, which the miner will vote on this Friday, as accountability is pushed higher on this year’s agenda. 71.5 per cent of retail investors have called for chairs and CEOs of the mining giant to be held to account on Environments, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, [...]
Government denies reports that Cop26 climate summit could be postponed March 31, 2021 The government has denied reports today that the UN Cop26 climate summit in the UK could be postponed past November. A report from Sky News today suggested that Boris Johnson was trying to keep the Glasgow summit on-track for November, but that options were being considered to postpone it or conduct it virtually in the [...]
TED climate summit to take place in Edinburgh ahead of COP26 March 31, 2021 Politicians and scientists from around the world will gather in Edinburgh later this year for a four-day TED summit to discuss solutions to climate change. The Countdown Summit aims to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and work towards reaching net-zero by 2050. TED and Future Stewards launched [...]
Climate change remains top priority at LGIM as it piles pressure on boards March 31, 2021 Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) increased its company engagements last year amid the pandemic and the looming threat of climate change, it said today. The asset manager’s Active Ownership report published today reveals engagements jumped 21 per cent and LGIM opposed the election of more than 4,700 company directors. There was a significant [...]
To solve the plastic conundrum, we have to make it a problem for finance March 30, 2021 Plastic is the much-maligned detritus of modern living. It is the broken toy, the used carrier bag and the surgical face mask polluting our streets, streams and oceans, which countless recycling schemes and beach cleans have failed to tackle. With the right backing, plastic can become a force for good as a valuable re-usable commodity. [...]
COP26: Good fortune and lofty statements won’t tackle climate change, but business can March 30, 2021 It is the lines of the hapless but heroic Ted Hastings, in Line of Duty, which so often steal the show. Hastings’ common refrain “now we’re sucking diesel” should set the scene for COP 26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this year. Taken literally, it is an outcome we badly need [...]
Shell suggests linking director’s pay with climate performance March 29, 2021 British-Dutch energy giant Shell has suggested linking its director’s pay with the groups’ climate performance today, as climate resolution edges to the top of industry discussion. The move would signal a shift in priorities in the energy sector, as directors currently receive bonuses that are tied to natural gas production volumes. Shareholders are set to vote [...]