Here are the latest News , Blogs and Resources from the Rio Club

Rio ESG: Plugging into Expertise

Listen to Dan Botterill, CEO and Founder of Rio ESG, talk to Taylor Martin from Triple Bottom Line about how a company can quickly size up their ESG efforts.

1 February, 2023

Our Journey to Net Zero: Two Years On

In 2020, we set science-based targets to achieve Net Zero within our organisation. Two years on, we look at our progress and approaches we have put in place.

31 January, 2023

Dan Botterill comments on the rise of AI

While scientific advances alone are unlikely to tackle the climate crisis, there are many innovations that can help humanity meet its environmental commitments.

Businesses ‘throwing away’ money on unscrupulous green advisors

Firms of all sizes paying advisors for reports on sustainability, ethics, and carbon footprint to avoid backlash and boycotts from eco-conscious consumers

One in four companies quietly shelving progress on net-zero pledges

CEO and Founder of Rio ESG comments in the Independent online about the emerging phenomenon of green hushing.

Rio's CTO Brian Flynn speaks to The Center for Data Innovation

The Center for Data Innovation spoke with Rio's CTO Brian Flynn about data technology and AI and reporting

Guides / Whitepapers

Your guide to biodiversity and nature-based solutions

Our guide to Nature-based Solutions and biodiversity looks at the changing legislative landscape and importance and relevance of nature positive financing.

18 January, 2023

16 January, 2023 / Nature-based Solutions,

The World Economic Forum, 2023.

This year's World Economic Forum in Davos will look to address climate action failure, extreme weather and biodiversity loss.

3 January, 2023 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Getting ESG-ready in 2023

With 90% of Companies Developing an ESG Strategy, are you ESG Ready in 2023?

22 December, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Looking ahead to ESG in 2023

With the rapid trajectory of sustainability and ESG investing, we look ahead to 2023 and consider what next year could look like for industry and beyond.

12 December, 2022 / Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity,

Guidance on becoming a nature-positive business launched at COP15

The impetus on biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions is gathering momentum, with COP15 paving the way on how to deliver a net-positive impact on nature.

6 December, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability, Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity,

Beyond Carbon Reporting: Nature-related policies

As COP15 begins, we look at the trajectory of the global policy environment with regards to nature-related standards.

29 November, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability, Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity,

Call for UK presence at COP15

2022 is a critical year for biodiversity and our planet but, with an ever-changing legislative landscape, where do businesses start with ESG reporting?

25 November, 2022 / Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

How do you strike a balance between climate urgency and climate fear?

Do we need to see more positive news to create momentum to drive solutions & change or do we need to be confronted with the stark reality of climate change?

21 November, 2022 / Climate Change, cop27, Biodiversity,

COP27: What Can We Take Away From This Year's Global Climate Summit?

As COP27 closes with mixed headlines on progress, what can we take away from this year's global climate summit?

17 November, 2022 / Climate Change, cop27, Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity,

New tools and strategies are required to address biodiversity

Popular understanding of biodiversity and nature-based solutions remains in its relative infancy, but these are issues companies and investors will need to become increasingly comfortable with in the very near future. Anna Chilton of Rio ESG explains why their future – and the future of the planet as a whole – may depend upon getting this process right.

16 November, 2022 / Climate Action, cop27, Nature-based Solutions,

COP27 'Biodiversity Day': Climate and nature agendas are entwined.

Environment Secretary calls for action to protect and restore nature at COP27.

15 November, 2022 / cop27, Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity,

Biodiversity and ecosystems for transformative adaptation action

With vast sums of money being invested in biodiverse solutions, how do countries, cities and corporations keep ahead of the changing policy landscape?

COP27: Adaptation and Agriculture Day

COP27: Adaption and Agriculture Day saw developments and discussions centred around food systems, soil health, land use and more.

14 November, 2022 / Waste, Carbon, Climate Change, cop27,

11 November, 2022 / Climate Action, Carbon,

Decarbonisation Day - COP27

Decarbonisation Day aims to promote discussion on how heavily polluting industries can reduce their emissions using innovative techniques.

10 November, 2022 / Climate Change, TCFD,

Important Updates from COP27's Finance Day

COP27's Finance Day offers important updates to coalition drives, a huge new emissions report, and key carbon market formations.

9 November, 2022 / Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

UN Secretary-General has urged zero tolerance for net-zero ‘greenwashing’

António Guterres applauds the growing number of governments and organisations pledging to be carbon-free but denounces greenwashing ‘net-zero’ pledges.

7 November, 2022 / Environmental Law and Compliance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Carbon,

COP 27: GLOBAL IMPACTS & EXPECTED CLIMATE OUTCOMES

Over 120 world leaders have arrived at the COP27 summit, as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns COP27 must address urgent & credible climate action.

Looking towards COP 27

Leaders from 200 nations will gather in Egypt's Sharm-el-Sheikh this November to discuss how countries can take climate action under the Paris Agreement.

1 November, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

25 October, 2022 / Circular Economy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Environmental Law and Compliance, TCFD,

Scope 3 Emissions to be Included in Required Company Disclosures

Reporting on Scope 3 emissions will be included as part of required company disclosures, according to a statement Friday by the ISSB, marking a significant milestone in the development of climate and sustainability-related reporting standards for companies.

13 October, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Carbon, TCFD,

Defining the role of the modern CSO

As organisations seek to place sustainability at the heart of their strategic decision-making, what role should the chief sustainability officer play in driving performance, culture and attitudes?

5 October, 2022 / Environmental Law and Compliance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

What are Sustainable Financial Disclosure Regulations? | Rio

We offer an explainer on the SFDR's regulatory technical standard coming January 1st, 2023. and the new rules on investment reporting. Learn more with Rio.

30 September, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Affordable and Clean Energy,

Energy Aware

Rio Learn is offering a FREE 'How to Make Energy Quick Wins at Home' course as part of our Energy Efficiency series.

26 September, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Climate Change,

How democratising access to ESG expertise can turn intent into action

In order to position sustainability and ESG at the heart of one’s business strategy, actionable insights are required that can only be created through leveraging leading tech and talent. Rio ESG founder Dan Botterill discusses the need to 'democratise' access to these essential resources.

21 September, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Carbon, Climate Change,

Zero Emissions Day (September 21st)

Zero Emissions Day raises awareness about the harm caused by carbon emissions but how do we offset carbon footprint and how do carbon offsets work?

20 September, 2022 / Artificial Intelligence (AI), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

How AI in ESG can help drive net zero

AI and machine learning are on an accelerated track to enterprise maturity, but there’s still a way to go to convince customers of their true value and best uses, says Brian Flynn, CTO at Rio ESG. (Photo by gonin via iStock)

14 September, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability, Meet our team,

Meet our team: Anna Chilton

Introducing Anna Chilton; our new sustainability professional with over a decade of experience, specialising in Nature-based Solutions and connecting the dots between business strategy and sustainability.

8 September, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability,

World Cleanup Day, 2022

World Cleanup Day is one of the biggest civic movements of our time but what can we do about the global waste epidemic day-to-day?

The Future of Climate Finance

Our CEO Dan Botterill shares his thoughts on the evolution of ESG to sustainability and real impact, as he sits on the panel at the Future of Climate Finance conference.

22 June, 2022

'Eco-conscious' fashion brands continue to produce emissions

Rio ESG's comment on recent Guardian article

20 April, 2022

5 April, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability, Meet our team,

Meet our team: Emma Neudegg, Junior Consultant

Welcome to the team Emma!

Our Journey to Net Zero: A Year On

Last year we set science-based targets to achieve Net Zero within our organisation. So, a year on, we’re looking at the targets we set, what practices or policies we put in place to achieve them and where we are now.

31 March, 2022

3 March, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

New research reveals that only 10% of plastic is currently recycled

How Rio ESG is contributing to the fight against plastic pollution.

25 February, 2022 / Corporate Sustainability, Meet our team,

Why your brand-new returns end up in landfill, not a warehouse.

Ever wondered whether buying and returning clothes online is a sustainable practise?

3 February, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Bridgepoint's Head of ESG, James Holley, talks investment data

A discussion between Chief Executive, Dan Botterill and James Holley, Head of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) at Bridgepoint.

13 January, 2022 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Why isn’t this a standard? | Insights from a Climate Change Investor

'That simple data-driven process is the way it’s going to have to go.' Karl Andersen, Managing Director at AVG Group Sarl, talks about his approach to ESG Due Diligence, what to look out for, and where he thinks ESG is headed.

1 December, 2021 / Circular Economy, Corporate Sustainability,

A circular economy is imperative to global climate action

At Rio, we believe transitioning to a circular economy is an imperative part of tackling the climate crisis. However, the importance of a circular economy can often be overlooked in business and organisational strategies.

17 November, 2021 / Learning,

What is Sustainability Thinking and How Will it Impact Jobs in the Future?

As sustainability education helps us to see the bigger picture, no matter where we work, it also shows how every workplace action can impact the climate.

10 November, 2021 / Meet our team,

Meet our team: Topaz Bascombe, Sales Development Representative

Topaz has joined us to reach and connect with current and potential customers.

What does the transition to clean energy look like?

The energy shift is already happening. No longer a “nice to have,” it's a major topic at every company level and a central theme of COP26. It’s high time to look at the impacts this transition will have today and in the future.

4 November, 2021

How Can Data Impact Sustainable Investing and Mobilise 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.

28 October, 2021

Ep.13: The SDGs as a guiding light for business with purpose with Robbie Epsom, CBRE Investment Management

In this episode, we chat with Robbie Epsom, EMEA Head of ESG for CBRE Investment Management.

26 October, 2021

21 October, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Meet our team,

Meet our team: Ellen Osborne, Senior Sustainability Consultant

As our team expands, we welcome new talent like Ellen Osborne, who joins Rio as a Senior Sustainability Consultant.

14 October, 2021 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation Reporting Requirements: A Closer Look

What does EU SFDR require from a reporting standpoint and what will you need to provide?

7 October, 2021 / Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

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?

4 Strategies for Conducting ESG Analysis for Investment Funds

Despite the ongoing growth in ESG Investing, there remains numerous challenges when analysing ESG performance for investment funds. We examine four strategies to respond to these challenges and improve ESG information and data.

1 October, 2021

Key Considerations for Carbon Offset Due Diligence

Offsetting is often included in an organisation's net zero strategy however, it is important that sound due diligence is completed before purchasing offsets to ensure credibility. We highlight key points to look for in your due diligence and how to avoid low-quality offsets.

24 September, 2021

The Basics and Importance of Water Footprinting | Rio

Water shortage is a great concern to individuals, the environment, and the economy. We explore water footprinting and how you can get started. Learn more here.

17 September, 2021

What to Know About the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)

The UN Climate Change Conference's are one of the most important events focused on driving climate action. This year, COP26 is occurring in Glasgow, starting 1 November 2021. This guide provides background information on the significance of the event, what previous conferences have accomplished and the focus for this year.

8 September, 2021

Just the Basics: How to Conduct a Materiality Assessment

Materiality assessments help organisations pinpoint top sustainability issues and where significant progress can be made. But why does it matter and how do you do it? In this blog, we provide the basics for you and highlights key steps in conducting an assessment.

3 September, 2021

Ep.12: Sustainability in Australia & Change Management with Mandhy Senewiratne, Fyrefly

In this episode, we chat with Mandhy Senewiratne, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Fyrefly Global Sustainability.

1 September, 2021

Our Inaugural Impact Report

Our first-ever impact report highlights our annual progress against the Rio manifesto. We discuss how we have developed our product, expanded our team, and supported our clients - ultimately, our efforts to help individuals and organisations to be more sustainable.

31 August, 2021

12 August, 2021 / Carbon,

Consistency is Key: Collecting ESG Data from Portfolio Companies

Consistency and standardisation across an entire portfolio is important to be able to compare performance and progress. We provide tips for collecting ESG data from portfolio companies and discuss how a software solution can help streamline this process.

26 August, 2021

Guides / Whitepapers

Demystifying Net Zero: A Simple Guide to Sustainable Strategies

The practical guide to carbon reporting and reduction.

26 July, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

SECR Reporting Guidance and Compliance | Rio

We address key questions around Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) compliance in the UK, and tackling it effectively. Learn more with Rio.

What to Look for in Sustainability Training for Employees

How can you approach and initiate sustainability training for your staff? It’s a complex topic to tackle if you’re starting from scratch. Here’s a guide to making it happen successfully, along with the key features to look for when choosing sustainability learning programmes for employees.

19 July, 2021

Ep.11: From Investment Banking to Driving Responsible Investment with Helen Wiggs, ShareAction

In this episode, we chat with Helen Wiggs, the Head of Corporate Climate at ShareAction, a non-profit focused on driving responsible investment.

14 July, 2021

Ep.10: Reflecting on 20 Years of Sustainability with Paul Dickinson, CDP

In this episode, we chat with Paul Dickinson, the Founder and Chair of CDP - the world's largest environmental data disclosure system.

7 July, 2021

Private Equity ESG: Disclosure, Due Diligence, Monitoring & Policy

What do ESG disclosure and due diligence mean in private equity? What ESG policies govern firm and portfolio companies? How is ESG monitored in PE? We explain.

16 June, 2021

Practice What We Preach: Our Net Zero Targets

At Rio, we are committed to practising what we preach which is why we recently set science-based targets to achieve Net Zero within our organisation. Learn more about the entire process including how we calculated our carbon footprint, the targets we have set, and our next steps.

28 May, 2021

6 May, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), TCFD,

Ep.9: The Rise of ESG & Dynamic Materiality with Carlos Sanchez, Smart Sustainability

In this episode, we chat with Carlos Sanchez, who is the Global Environmental Manager at Phillip Morris International (PMI) and the author of Smart Sustainability - his personal blog.

27 May, 2021

What is ESG Reporting and what are ESG Ratings? | Rio

What are the differences between ESG Reporting and ESG Ratings? Join us as we answer these questions and provide definitions to both. Learn more with Rio.

Guides / Whitepapers

Your guide to ESG Ratings

We put together this guide to help you understand ESG ratings and how your organisation can improve its score.

28 April, 2021

19 April, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

GRESB Rankings Explained: Reporting for Sustainable Real Estate Investment

This guide to sustainable real estate investment reporting breaks down GRESB Assessments, GRESB rankings, the GRESB Green Star, and alternatives to GRESB.

8 April, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Reporting on ESG Using SASB Standards

What are the SASB Standards, and how do they measure ESG performance? Here’s what you need to know about the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Ep.8: Integrated Sustainability Reporting & Standardisation with Mardi McBrien, CDSB

This episode we chat with Mardi McBrien, Managing Director at the Climate Disclosure Standards Board.

29 March, 2021

25 March, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Carbon,

What Is Scope 4? Reporting Avoided CO2 Emissions & More

The term Scope 4 is used to describe avoided emissions as well as home-working emissions in some situations. We explore both concepts and the importance of their consideration in full scope carbon reporting.

19 March, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG),

Reporting with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) | Rio

What are GRI Standards? Who sets them? View our overview of GRI sustainability reporting and how to simplify it for your organisation. Learn more with Rio.

11 March, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, Carbon,

Making the CDP A List: Your Guide to CDP Reporting

This guide to CDP reporting covers how CDP scores are determined, what it means to make the CDP A List, and how reporting software can support your disclosure.

International Women's Day 2021: We choose to challenge

For this year's International Women's Day, we are introducing the women on our team and choosing to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality.

8 March, 2021 / Events,

Ep.7: Leading with Purpose & Environmental Justice with Dave Carlos, JustOne UK

This episode we chat with Dave Carlos, the Managing Director at JustOne UK about everything from environmental justice and greenwashing to fake Christmas traditions and fun nights out in London.

5 March, 2021

4 March, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Climate Action, Carbon, Climate Change,

How to Set Science-Based Targets for Reducing GHG Emissions

What are science based targets, which organisations use them, and how can you set them for your own business to reduce GHG emissions?

Ep.6: Sustainability Storytelling & Systems Thinking with Hannah Phang, Futerra

We chat with awesome sustainability professionals about their experience in the industry and the songs and gadgets they would take with them into a hypothetical doomed 2050 Britain.

24 February, 2021

18 February, 2021 / Corporate Sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Carbon, Climate Change, TCFD,

Standardised ESG Framework Tracker: The Latest Updates

There are currently too many ESG frameworks, and a landscape of competing ESG standards is not sustainable. But which will become the universal framework?

Desertification Island Discs with Katie Leggett

Dan Botterill, CEO of Rio ESG, chats to Kate Leggett, Head of Sustainability at Eat Real+PROPER|WARP Snacks.

16 October, 2020

Desertification Island Discs with John Bromley

John Bromley, Head of Clean Energy at Legal & General Capital, talks to Dan Botterill, CEO at Rio about all things sustainability and what gadgets he would take with him to a fictitious 2050.

6 August, 2020

Desertification Island Discs with Andy Cartland

Andy Cartland, Founder of Acre; talks to Dan Botterill, CEO at Ditto Sustainability.

9 July, 2020

Desertification Island Discs with Robert Spencer

Robert Spencer, Head of Sustainable Development at AECOM; talks to Dan Botterill, CEO at Ditto Sustainability.

29 May, 2020