Sunday Brunch: sustainable finance and the innovation curve
Sustainability is a massive strategic challenge, using the innovation curve can help our preparation. The sustainability transitions will bring change, and executing change is tough. A good strategy is key. Sustainability professionals have a key role in preparing organisations for a new future.
What caught our eye - three key stories
Transition will be harder & easier than we think; sub-optimal optimisation; new way to protect crops?
When optimisation can be sub-optimal
"It's a system optimized to work fantastically, when everything's working fantastically." Coco Krumme, "Optimal Illusions: The false promise of optimization" Technology consultant Dr Jeffrey Funk highlighted a really interesting book by the applied mathematician Coco Krumme. An argument that Dr Funk often
The transitions will be harder and easier than we think.
There is a tendency to gloss over some of the challenges in delivering the sustainability transitions, to simplify what it is we need to do. And as a result our sustainability plans and proposals can jar with the people who actually have to deliver the change on the ground. This
European automotive - a sustainability strategy case study in slow motion?
Strategy is an area where sustainability professionals have the most to add to the long term success of their organisation. But sometimes the best strategy conflicts with the outcome we want - we need to stay true.
Sunday Brunch: stop right now, thank you very much
Transitions are tough but barriers can be overcome if we take the right sequence of steps.
Reputation and recruitment
The reputation of your business is almost certainly having an impact on your most important long term asset, the ability to recruit the best people. Not just entry level graduates, but all through the organisation. This might not generate the same headlines as the short term share price impact, but
Staying above water: a systemic response to rising flood risk
This is the title of a recently published report from Marsh McLennan. It highlights the alarming rate at which flood risk is growing globally, estimating that currently 18% of the global population is exposed. Even limiting post-industrial average global temperature rises to 2oC could double that percentage. The key message
Climate change spreading the impact of infectious diseases.
Tropical diseases are coming to a community near you, even if you live in the temperate 'north'. A recent FT article highlighted this topic, which we wrote about last year (perhaps they read our blogs? ). Some health issues that will arise from climate changes and environmental degradation don&
Commercial building cooling: design playing its part
Optimising existing HVAC helps, but initial design choices can also regulate temperature passively. Cooling is a large part of a commercial building's energy footprint so an important consideration.
Encouraging green steel developments
Some supply side and demand side developments in green steel: * H2 Green Steel has raised close to €1.5 billion through a private placement from existing investors (Altor, GIC and Just Climate) as well as new investors including Hy24, AP2 and Temasek. The proceeds will be used to finance the
ESG funds are ubiquitous in Europe - job done?
According to an article in the Financial Advisor Magazine, asset managers trying to sell funds in Europe are finding it “increasingly difficult” to do so unless their products are registered as ESG positive - quoting a study by analysts at Goldman Sachs. At one level this should be a cause
