In this COP26 special edition:
- COP26 and mobilising finance (with data)
- Welcome to our new consultant
- Working with Amazon to educate kids on recycling
- Latest podcast episode
A note from our CEO, Dan
First up, we hope you are well and Sunday is a big day. COP26 kicks off and its halloween...a coincidence? Given some of the pre-event PR announcements I think its all looking a bit scary for the ambitions of COP26.
COP26 has set 4 key goals, under a banner of 'uniting the world to combat climate change'.
Goal 1: 'Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach'. In the last week, amongst other things we have seen Australia announce a 2050 Net Zero target, while Saudi Arabia is taking a contrarian position of 2060. Neither of these announcements likely fill you with confidence given other recent news describing the lobbying efforts of these nations to dampen the climate science...
Goal 2: 'Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats'. This, looks like the least 'noisy' area, while the ambitions remain amazingly vague. One recent news item that has received a lot of attention in the UK is the behaviour of water companies in terms of sewage discharges to water courses. There have been protests and MPs publicly slammed for voting against more stringent measures. There is clearly a massive disconnect between commercial development and environmental protection, and this inbalance is a different league in the developing world.
Goal 3 -'Mobilise finance'. Developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100B in climate finance per year by 2020 and international financial institutions must play their part too. Of course, we are seeing the markets move towards SRI and ESG as standard investment practices but the politicians have let us down again with the $100B pledge slipping to 2023.
and last but not least the ultimate cop out COP goal....
Goal 4 - 'work together to deliver.' I'm just not going to go there other than to say, of course, we must!
However, while we will be positive, let's not rely solely on political actions to move sustainability along. Let's do it because its the right thing to do. Because it's a better business model.
With all that said, I'm really looking forward to COP. I think I'll learn a lot, see movement in the right direction, and hope to find solutions we can collaborate with and promote to drive Net Zero much earlier than 2050.
All the best,
- Dan Botterill, CEO
COP26 and the changing ESG landscape
How Can Data Impact the Mobilisation of the Financial Sector
While sustainable investing has taken off these past few years, there remains one big barrier for investors who want to take the leap: the unavailability of data. We look at how high-quality data can mobilise the finance sector and the technology that can help to streamline the related processes. Read more.
Mobilising Finance: COP26 and the role of Climate Finance
What is 'climate finance' and how can the financial sector mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis? COP26 recognises that fast and effective change cannot be achieved unless effective climate finance is involved, with the financial sector mobilised to achieve our climate goals. Read more.
EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation Reporting Requirements: A Closer Look
Now the question is: How can the EU encourage its financial market participants and financial advisors to invest in sustainable options? This is where Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) enters. SFDR is a solution put forward by EU’s High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) on sustainable finance. Read more.
Welcome to our new team member
Welcome Ellen Osborne who has joined Rio as a Senior Sustainability Consultant, bringing many years of experience working across private, public and charity organisations. Ellen is passionate about minimising our impact on the planet. markets.
What do you hope to see come out of COP26?
"I hope COP26 generates a renewed sense of urgency and commitment to making real positive change internationally. It might sound perverse to say, but I’m glad COP26 was delayed by a year as the environmental destruction that swept the world in 2020 (the wildfires in US and Siberia, floods in Europe and China, and Typhoons in the Philippines just to name a few) really proved no nation is safe from the climate crisis and global united action is required."
Whats new with Rio? Bespoke learning content.
Rio Engage provides hours of free online learning content to support individuals and organisations in being more sustainable; and in addition to this, we also provide organisations with bespoke content too.
Our most recent bespoke content has been three recycling learning modules for Amazon, aimed at young people. Early childhood is the best time to introduce good values and positive habits. Learning through play and interacting with educational content is one of the best and easiest ways to retain knowledge. Learning modules focus on recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and packaging.
The modules are free and Amazon welcomes everyone to take advantage of these great resources (look for the three orange monsters!)
If you would like a free Rio Engage learning account, sign up today, and if you would like to talk to us about bespoke content development, please contact us.
Latest Podcast
Ep.13: The SDGs as a guiding light for business with purpose with Robbie Epsom, CBRE Investment Management
In lucky number 13, we speak with Robbie Epsom, EMEA Head of ESG for CBRE Investment Management, about transparency, change and constant improvement in the industry, the effects of ESG on the property sector, and the need to think more broadly to achieve the SDGs. You can listen to Robbie's playlist at Apple.
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