Sustainable Finance

At its core, ESG encompasses several factors - environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and comprehensive governance practices. By engaging efforts from teams at every level of the organization in ESG initiatives, organizations can achieve more meaningful change and continue to embed sustainability into its business structure. As a result, companies who successfully harness the collective power of their employees, advance their sustainability objectives, and provide increased opportunity to foster innovation, reduce costs, enhance reputation, and prepare for long-term growth and resilience.

EnerSys Embraces AI to Elevate ESG Reporting and Compliance

In an environment where sustainability efforts are increasingly scrutinized and regulated, the collaboration between EnerSys and ESG Flo exemplifies the power of partnership, innovation, and shared commitment to a sustainable future. For companies embarking on their sustainability journeys, EnerSys and ESG Flo's success offers valuable lessons and inspiration, demonstrating that ambitious environmental goals are achievable with the right tools and partnerships.

In a world where the interconnection between businesses and the broader environment is undeniable, adopting a double materiality approach is a strategic imperative. By embracing both internal and external materiality considerations, organizations can navigate the complexities of sustainability more effectively, ensuring they not only minimize their negative impacts but also thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape.

"Sustainability now is a lot like finance in its early days," Says Sam Israelit, Chief Sustainability Officer at Bain & Company.

Sam Israelit, Chief Sustainability Officer at Bain & Company says "The analogy I often use is sustainability now is a lot like finance in its early days. If you go back to the early 20th century, you see that finance gradually became a formal function and discipline. Sustainability is currently in the same place."

Israelit draws an intriguing parallel between the current state of sustainability and the early days of finance. Nowadays, every business function must weigh the carbon impact alongside cost implications. For instance, companies developing new products must assess the carbon footprint of their materials.

Similarly, when establishing manufacturing locations or distribution networks, it's just as critical to assess carbon implications as it is to forecast costs.

Learn more about what he has to say about the main challenges companies face in relation to Sustainability.

The Future of Climate Change: From the Perspectives of Sam Israelit, Chief Sustainability Officer at Bain & Company

Sam maintains a positive outlook, envisioning a future where collaboration between companies and regulators, empowered by technology, will lead to effective solutions. As a first trend, he anticipates a convergence of carbon management with financial management. Secondly, he is enthusiastic about a continuous rise in investment in alternative energy sources, spurred by different tech startups. Also, he believes in the continued research and development around low-carbon impact materials such as alternative plastics.

Lastly, over the next decade, he believes that more and more people are going to realize that climate change is real and then they will increasingly expect companies to do something. And as part of that, there will be a willingness to pay for more sustainable products.

However, he cautions that the current pace of change is not fast enough and warns of more severe climate events as a result.

Happening now: "Beyond COP28 - Advancing Biodiversity Finance for Global Climate Impact" webinar, co-hosted by the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED).

Join to discuss the critical role of biodiversity finance in achieving essential advancements to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

📢 The Lab's 2024 Call for Ideas is now live!

As the Lab kicks off its 10th cycle, we will develop a record 10 ideas from the following streams:

Regional Programs:
🇧🇷 Brazil
🇮🇳 India
🌍 East and Southern Africa
🌎 Latin America (Mitigation & Adaptation)
🇵🇭 The Philippines

Thematic Streams:
🧑‍🌾 Agriculture and Food Systems
🌱 Climate Adaptation
🌡️ Open Idea/Climate Mitigation
🌲 High Integrity Forests

It's evident that in our pursuit of a greener world, more companies are making sustainability claims than ever before. While this surge in eco-conscious marketing is undoubtedly a positive step, it also brings to light the pressing issue of greenwashing—the act of misleading consumers with deceptive environmental claims.

On one hand, we've seen governments and regulatory bodies around the world introducing measures to combat greenwashing. They've established guidelines, imposed fines, and demanded greater transparency from businesses. But are these actions sufficient to curb the practice effectively?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Do you believe that current and incoming greenwashing laws and regulations are adequate, or do we need more robust measures to protect our environment and ensure businesses uphold genuine sustainability commitments? Have you come across any exemplary cases where regulations have made a significant impact?

Join us for a 1 day in-person course that equips fund managers with the understanding and tools necessary to navigate a climate impacted future.

Focus is on understanding tipping points, unexpected impacts of non-linear changes in earth systems, and critically evaluating the limitations of traditional climate and risk assessment models and their implications on financial decision-making.

This course will take place at Schroders Asset Management and is endorsed by the CISI. It will take place on the 1st of November. Flyer attached.

We are able to offer group packages and ticket discounts to selected organisations. Please contact me for more information: [email protected]