Weekend chat: Many companies and investors fear greenwashing claims, says sustainability guru February 6, 2022 Increasing biodiversity and expanding nature-based solutions to solve the climate crisis through so-called voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) are currently a hot topic. VCMs, which encompass all transactions of carbon offsets that are not purchased with the intention to surrender into an active regulated carbon market, do include offsets that are purchased with the intent to re-sell [...]
How can the blockchain help tackle climate change? February 1, 2022 | City Talk When you think of all the use cases for blockchain technology, solving the existential threat that is climate change is probably not one of them. If anything, crypto has had to play defence in 2021 when it comes to environmental issues, as big questions have been posed about the industry’s energy consumption and sustainability. Well, [...]
Exclusive: Half of all UK bosses plan to hire new tech staff this year January 31, 2022 Digital transformation is a key focus for UK businesses in the coming months. While costs have been a deterrent to innovation over the past year for many firms, the majority are looking to funnel investment into new technology projects in 2022. Nearly half of those polled admit that the cost of development has impeded their firm [...]
UK tech special: The rocky but unstoppable rise in startup valuations January 30, 2022 The accelerated growth of startup valuations has sparked debate around the world, particularly in the markets where this has been reflected in the most significant raises and the speediest unicorns. Despite ongoing pandemic uncertainty, a quarter of the UK’s 116 unicorn tech companies became unicorns during 2021. Investment climbed significantly, up to £26bn in 2021 [...]
Sales and productivity have jumped since move to four-day work week, says London tech firm January 25, 2022 A London-based tech company has seen a 30 per cent boost in sales since moving to a four-day work week, the agency told City A.M. Since the change to a four-day, 32 hour working week, implemented in October of last year, technology consultancy company THRYVE ahas also seen its productivity go up by 20 per [...]
Nearly 2 million people were killed by air pollution in just one year January 22, 2022 New research published this morning shows that air pollution killed just over 1.8m people in 2019 alone. The study into fine particulate matter concentrations and the mortality rate in cities found that approximately 86 per cent (2.5 billion people) of urban inhabitants lived in areas that exceeded the World Health Organisation’s 2005 air quality guidelines. [...]
Exclusive: Most investors could not care less about ESG and sustainability January 20, 2022 With COP26 a few months behind us, more than half of UK investors admit sustainable investing is not a priority for them, with just under 45 per cent saying it is important and it is a priority in their investment portfolio. In fact, less than a third of British investors say COP26 and the UK [...]
Not so green after all: Hardly any Brit plans to stick to climate goals in 2022 January 17, 2022 Less than one in ten people in the UK are likely to keep resolutions around making positive climate decisions in 2022, according to new research shared with City A.M. today. Even fewer consumers said they are aspiring to live more sustainably this year, favouring resolutions around becoming healthier and fitter instead, according to the founder [...]
CEOs zoom in on ESG and climate change as world enters third pandemic year January 11, 2022 Climate risks dominate global concerns as the world enters the third year of the pandemic, according to a new World Economic Forum report shared with City A.M. today. The Global Risks Report 2022 sets out that while the top long-term risks relate to climate, the top shorter-term global concerns include societal divides, livelihood crises and [...]
Retail investors flock to sustainability firms January 10, 2022 Retail investors have flocked to ‘cleantech’ and sustainability firms as they look to capitalise on a wave of new entrants to the sector.