Sustainability and me. (Part 2)

A lot has changed since I posted Sustainability and me. (Part 1). Most directly for me I have a new job as Global Head, Sustainable Finance.?

My day to day focus has shifted to look at how we can proactively support clients with their sustainable financing needs and continue to oversee environmental and social risk management.?And I’m loving it!?I cant ever imagine doing this effectively without being able to talk to clients about what financial support we can offer them and also how they can manage and mitigate their environmental, social and climate risk.?

I’m a huge believer that the sustainable finance agenda really does need to look at both the opportunity and risk side of the equation.?Not only does this approach give confidence against greenwashing and avoids the need for “green hushing”, but fundamentally it’s how I believe we’ll see sustainable action.

And that’s one of my main hopes for 2023: to move from announcement to action.?

We are never short of reading about a big commitment or new alliance, and these do have their purpose…but we need to see real, enduring and tangible action.?2030 and 2050 are not so far in the future.?

Pleasingly, regulation and regulators are catching up and encouraging momentum.?But they clearly don’t talk which can lead to announcement and counter – announcement (think US IRA and then the EU's response). If this leads to double the action I'm all for it!

I’m also hopeful that the hardline “one size fits all” approach to carbon neutrality without taking into account daily realities will soften.?Yes there is no Planet B and everyone is in this together, but surely those with the broadest shoulders should carry the most??It was encouraging to see what happened at the 11th hour at COP 27 with the announcement of a loss and damages fund; but now let’s see some action!

Its also pleasing to see the evolution of headline topics in sustainability and the focus on Biodiversity is welcome.?But again here we need to see action.?Frameworks and regulations can all play their part and these are developing at a rapid pace but let’s just start!

For me personally I want to work on supporting social mobility initiatives.?I want to see diverse backgrounds and experiences come together and right now that’s a real challenge in sustainability (just search for the top 10 CSOs of global organisations).?

And now I’ve announced it, I will hold myself to account to actually do something about it!

Amit