Understand sustainability. Make better decisions.

We had a great two days at the Net Zero Festival listening to some fascinating talks and meeting some very exciting innovators in the sustainability space. There was a broad array of topics ranging from greenwashing regulation to space solar power. Here are some of our takeaways from the event:

In the complex world of corporate sustainability, companies face a delicate balancing act. How can they effectively communicate their environmental efforts without falling into the traps of greenwashing (overstating efforts) or greenhushing (underreporting efforts)?

The UK Chancellor's recent announcement of stricter regulations for ESG rating agencies marks a significant development in the corporate landscape. This follows the EU's recent adoption of “Regulation on the Transparency and Integrity of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Rating Activities” or “ESGR”. Both the UK and EU hope this will increase the consistency and transparency of ESG ratings. The loss of confidence in (financial) rating agencies was a major repercussion of the 2008 financial crisis due to their failure to identify subprime securities: this regulation intends to ensure agencies remain an independent arbiter to bolster investor confidence in ESG-related ratings. It also presents an opportunity for businesses to better identify areas for improvement and make more informed decisions about their sustainability strategies.

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.

In this episode, we chat with Mandhy Senewiratne, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Fyrefly Global Sustainability. Dan and Mandhy discuss the challenges within sustainability in Australia, her background in water and construction, why we all need to lead by example and more. Enjoy!

In this episode, we chat with Helen Wiggs, the Head of Corporate Climate at ShareAction, a non-profit focused on driving responsible investment. Dan and Helen discuss whether ESG is here to stay, the Investor Decarbonisation Initiative, her journey from investment banking to responsible investment and more. Enjoy!

As businesses work to reduce their carbon emissions, employee engagement becomes a critical factor in achieving real, lasting change. When employees actively participate in sustainability initiatives, they help drive progress. But how can companies make carbon reduction engaging?

The UK Chancellor's recent announcement of stricter regulations for ESG rating agencies marks a significant development in the corporate landscape. This follows the EU's recent adoption of “Regulation on the Transparency and Integrity of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Rating Activities” or “ESGR”. Both the UK and EU hope this will increase the consistency and transparency of ESG ratings. The loss of confidence in (financial) rating agencies was a major repercussion of the 2008 financial crisis due to their failure to identify subprime securities: this regulation intends to ensure agencies remain an independent arbiter to bolster investor confidence in ESG-related ratings. It also presents an opportunity for businesses to better identify areas for improvement and make more informed decisions about their sustainability strategies.

On 27 June 2023, under the IFRS Foundation (International Financial Reporting Standards), the ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board) released the S1 and S2 reporting standards.