How financial services must respond to the Chancellor’s challenge to the sector at COP26 November 8, 2021 The major surprise announcement for the UK’s financial sector at COP26 came this week in the form of a pledge by the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for the UK to become the ‘world’s first net zero aligned financial centre.’ This very bold ambition, which we see as a natural leadership step for the UK to take [...]
‘Euston seven’ who lived 31 days in HS2 tunnels have all charges dismissed October 7, 2021 Seven Londoners who lived in a 100 ft network of tunnels under Euston Square Gardens for 31 days to stop HS2 have had all charges dismissed, the group told City A.M. this morning. The defendants were part of a group of nine people, aged 16-48, who occupied the tunnels between 27 January and 27 February [...]
Chief executives are distracted by the shiny lights of ESG and social media January 13, 2022 During the EU referendum campaign I encouraged my team to turn off all social media. As the Director of Communications for Vote Leave, this might seem like an odd instruction, given we were charged with understanding the mood of the British public. But the truth is it’s all too easy to get distracted by the [...]
The Big Four: brace yourself for the legislative changes affecting business in 2022 January 11, 2022 An old proverb says the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago – but the second best time is now. This year is set to see significant regulatory changes with real consequences for UK financial and professional services. Many firms will have been preparing for them for months, if not years. Some [...]
Saturday Read: Two sustainable fashion gurus on a mission to make soil sexy in London November 27, 2021 Far from providing a pivotal road map, COP26 has at least uncovered a few tangible solutions for multiple industries to move forward. For the first time ever, fossil fuels have been noted and added to the final agreement, albeit rather half heartedly, with a little help from India and China. Another key take-away [...]
Financial services firms admit they do not have carbon neutral targets in place March 19, 2021 Financial services firms are struggling with net zero targets, with more than half (51%) of firms saying they do not yet have a target in place to achieve carbon neutral status. Just 18 per cent of financial services firms have a plan to achieve carbon neutral status by 2025, and 16 per cent claim they [...]
COP26 one week down: Optimists and cynics on the climate summit’s progress so far November 8, 2021 The first week of the climate summit has brought some major commitments but critics say they are just more hot air. A range of high-profile climate activists have already labelled COP26 “a failure” but other voices are warning their message of doom could be as bad as denying climate change altogether. Here is a guide [...]
HSBC open to climate talks but cannot ‘condone vandalism’ April 22, 2021 Following a climate protest which saw windows smashed at its City headquarters, HSBC has said that it welcomed discussion on climate change but that it could not ‘condone vandalism’. “We welcome meaningful dialogue on our climate strategy; however, we cannot condone vandalism or actions that put people and property at risk,” a spokesman said. “We [...]
Exclusive: Meet London’s sustainable fashion wizards who are on a mission to make soil sexy November 23, 2021 Far from providing a pivotal road map, COP26 has at least uncovered a few tangible solutions for multiple industries to move forward. For the first time ever, fossil fuels have been noted and added to the final agreement, albeit rather half heartedly, with a little help from India and China. Another key take-away was the [...]
Space: Reversing net zero progress or climate saving grace? November 9, 2021 The new space age, dubbed Space 2.0, could unleash a raft of climate benefits, such as real-time modelling – but the carbon-dense sector has environmental advocates nervous. Prince William has criticised the second revival of the space race and emerging space tourism which billionaire’s Richard Branson, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have been gunning for [...]