Climate Risk Podcast

Hear from David Carlin, Head of Risk at the UNEP Finance Initiative, as we dive into their latest reports covering the climate risk tool landscape, the use of AI in disclosures, and 1.5 degree warming scenarios.

As the world's leading authority on the environment, the United Nations Environment Programme (or UNEP), has a mission to inspire, inform, and enable nations and peoples to improve their quality of life, without compromising that of future generations. And, they recognise the critical role of the financial system in achieving this goal. Through UNEP FI – their Financial Initiative – they convene networks of banks, insurers and investors to help accelerate sustainable development, as well as manage the associated risks.

Today's guest is an energetic part of this network, helping financial firms tackle issues such as climate scenario analysis, climate risk assessments, and navigating the world of sustainability regulation. In this episode, we'll explore some key insights from his work, including:

· How the landscape of climate risk tools and analytics providers is changing, for example with the increased use of Machine learning and AI;

· The challenges of translating the science of climate change to actionable insights for financial practitioners.

· And our guests' secrets for reaching 100,000 followers on LinkedIn to help drive awareness of these vitally important topics.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected] Links from today's discussion:

• UNEPFI homepage – https://www.unepfi.org/
• UNEPFI's 2024 Climate Risk Landscape Report – https://www.unepfi.org/themes/climate-change/2024-climate-risk-landscape/
• David Carlin's LinkedIn page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-carlin7/

David Carlin, Head of Risk, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEPFI)

David and his team support financial actors across the world to develop best practices for managing environmental risks and identifying environmental opportunities.

Alongside his current role, David advises the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and is the founder of Cambium Global Solutions, which helps governments, corporations, and financial institutions address environmental challenges. Prior to his current role, David worked as a Principal in Finance, Risk, and Public Policy for Oliver Wyman.

Hear from George Marshall, Author of "Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired To Ignore Climate Change," as we dive into the psychology of climate change.

If you follow this podcast, you probably already have a good understanding of the nature of climate change, the risks it poses and why we need to act decisively and with urgency. But many people don't listen to the podcast, and even if they did, they might think it was a lot of nonsense. Depending on people's worldview, values, and socio-cultural background, the same message can be interpreted in many ways. That's why in today's episode, we're focusing on the psychology of climate change. We'll be exploring questions such as:

· What is it about the human brain that makes it so hard for us to accept the reality of climate change and take steps to address it?

· How is it possible that, when presented with overwhelming evidence of climate change, even the evidence of our own eyes, we can still choose to ignore it?

· And given our biases and shortcomings, how can we still find effective ways to communicate the dangers of climate change to audiences that are typically closed off to receiving those messages?

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected]

George Marshall, Author and Climate Change Communication Expert

George is a consultant in the public communication of climate change, and the psychological obstacles to attitude and behaviour change. His key interest is the design of narratives that can build a consensus for climate action across the whole of society. His insights draw on hundreds of focus groups and structured interviews listening to people expressing their hopes, fears and doubts about climate change.

His book "Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change", explores the social and psychological obstacles to climate action. It is currently on its seventh printing and was listed by Esquire as one of the '15 essential books on climate change.'

Hear from Simon Sharpe, Director of Economics at the UNFCCC Climate Champions, as we explore three key problems that are impeding the transition to net-zero and how to address them.

We know that reaching net zero emissions quickly enough to avoid the worst impacts of climate change will be very challenging. But are we making it even more difficult than it needs to be?

Today's guest thinks so, particularly when it comes to climate science, economics, and climate diplomacy. That's why in today's episode, we'll be looking at how we could make all three work more effectively. We'll explore:

· How climate science must change in order to generate meaningful action within our political institutions;

· How economists became overly fixated on carbon pricing, while missing other policies that would be even more impactful in accelerating the transition to net zero;

· And how the current model of climate diplomacy could be altered to allow for faster net zero negotiations.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected]

Simon Sharpe, Director of Economics, UNFCCC Climate Champions

Simon took up his current role in early 2022, having previously held several senior positions in the UK government, including as Deputy Director of the COP26 Unit, and as Head of Climate Change Strategy for both the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

In 2013-15, he created an international climate change risk assessment project, working with experts from the UK, USA, China, India, and other countries. In addition to influencing the understanding and assessment of climate change risk in its partner countries, its findings were extensively cited by the Scientific Advisory Board of the UN Secretary General. It also inspired new thinking in the academic community, with a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change using it to argue that 'climate science needs to take risk assessment much more seriously'. More recently, he has worked with partners in the UK, China, India and Brazil to create the world's first government-backed project to apply complexity economics to climate change. His paper on economic tipping points, 'Upward-scaling tipping cascades to meet climate goals: plausible grounds for hope', was the most downloaded paper in Climate Policy journal in 2021.

Simon has published influential reports and created ground-breaking international projects in climate change risk assessment, economics, and diplomacy. His recent book, "Five Times Faster," draws from Simon's ten years' experience at the forefront of climate change policy and diplomacy.

Hear from Dr. Jakob Thomae, Project Director for the Inevitable Policy Response, as we discuss their latest forecast and what it means for the transition to net-zero.

Scenario analysis is the natural tool for anyone wanting to understand how climate-related risks might evolve over coming decades. The vast majority of climate scenarios, regardless of who produced them or what level of warming they predict, tend to report similar levels of physical risk over the next couple of decades or so. However, predictions about transition risk tend to be quite different between scenarios.

This episode focuses in on the transition, and in particular the extraordinary work being done by the Inevitable Policy Response (IPR) to figure out the most likely course of the transition to net zero. We'll explore:

· The IPR's surprisingly optimistic forecast, and they believe the world might look like by the end of the century;

· The methodology behind their forecast, and how it differs from the scenarios produced by other groups; and

· What this forecast means for risk and finance professionals.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected]

Links from today's discussion:

• The Inevitable Policy Response: https://ipr.transitionmonitor.com/
• Theia Finance Labs (formerly known as the 2° Investing Initiative): https://theiafinance.org/
• Jakob's first book, 'The Kill Score: On the Trail of Our Ecological and Social Footprint': https://rb.gy/ydnxvu
• Paris Agreement Capital Transition Assessment (PACTA): https://pacta.rmi.org/
• The International Energy Agency (IEA): https://www.iea.org/
• How Bad are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee: https://howbadarebananas.com/
• Jakob's second book, 'The Little Book of Big Risks: From Atomic Bombs to a Zombie Apocalypse': https://rb.gy/8lk1no

Dr. Jakob Thomae, Project Director, Inevitable Policy Response

Jakob Thomae is one of the leading global experts on sustainable finance and long-term risks. In June 2023, Jakob was appointed Project Director for the Inevitable Policy Response (IPR), a climate transition forecasting consortium commissioned by the Principles for Responsible Investment. The IPR helps investors navigate the risks and opportunities arising from climate policy acceleration, volatility and transition.

Jakob is the co-founder of Theia Finance Labs (formerly known as the 2° Investing Initiative) where he currently serves as Research Director. Jakob is also Professor in Practice at SOAS, University of London, where he teaches a Green Finance course. His recent book "The Kill Score" explores the impact of sustainability on human lives.

Jakob has served as advisor to central banks around the world including the Japanese Financial Services Agency, the Brazilian Central Bank, the Bank of Thailand, the Bank of England, the Bundesbank, the Dutch Central Bank, and EIOPA. He holds a PhD in Finance from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers.

Hear from Thomas Vaassen, Co-Founder and CEO of Meridia, to learn how the EU Deforestation Directive is changing the nature of data required across supply chains.

Supply chains are becoming an ever-greater focus for risk professionals. Firms increasingly want to measure the carbon footprint of their suppliers, or better understand their resilience, in the face of increasingly severe weather shocks. We are also seeing legislation driving greater transparency, which hinges on our ability to get accurate data.

Although often taken for granted in the developed world, having good quality data on property rights is not a given in many parts of the world and this, in turn, makes analysis of complex and often remote components of supply chains very challenging.

That's why today's episode will focus on:

• How legislation, such as the European Deforestation regulation, is changing the data landscape for firms;
• The practical challenges for obtaining good quality property rights data in remote locations; and
• How the world of data might change over coming years, with advances in technology and data collection.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected]

Thomas Vaassen, Co-Founder and CEO of Meridia

Thomas is currently the CEO of Meridia, a data partner that focuses on traceability and transparency, living income, and regenerative agriculture. Prior to this role, he was the Founder and CTO of Meridia, where they provided affordable land documentation to smallholder farmers. Thomas also served as the Program Director of the Investment Ready Program NL, where he helped green ventures prepare for investment and growth. Thomas has a background in managing social and sustainable initiatives, as Managing Director of Impact Hub Amsterdam, and the Chairman of the Board for Impact Hub Association. Additionally, he co-founded Blik-Opener, an organization that offers career coaching and development programs. Thomas also has experience in consulting, as a Founding Partner of Realize!, a consulting company that specializes in organizing for fast growth.

Hear from Jo Paisley and Maxine Nelson of the GARP Risk Institute as they look back on key learnings from the latest season of the Climate Risk Podcast.

As we head into 2024, Jo and Maxine look back at the past year of Climate Risk Podcasts, reviewing key learnings from our guests and discussing ongoing trends in climate risk management.

From academics to ambassadors, CEOs to entrepreneurs, we've upheld our promise to showcase a variety of different perspectives on climate risk and sustainability. This episode re-examines the rich knowledge that has been shared on the Climate Risk Podcast over the last 12 months, creating a narrative of climate and nature risk wisdom to guide our listeners through this fast-moving field.

So, today's episode will explore:

• What we've learnt about the physical risks associated with climate change and nature loss;
• The key risks that arise in the transition to a net-zero world; and
• How financial firms are managing these risks.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

Links to featured episodes:

David Schimel and Pooja Khosla - Bridging the Gap between Climate Science and Risk Management

Dr. Erica Thompson - The Power and Pitfalls of Models in Climate Risk Management

Rohan Hamden - Why Extreme Climate Physical Risks Are Closer Than You Might Think

Mike Azlen - The Future of the Carbon Markets Explained for Risk Professionals

Dr. Nicola Ranger - Balancing Mitigation and Adaptation: Insights for the Financial Sector

Simon Zadek - TNFD and Beyond: An Introduction to Nature in Finance

Professor Jo Handelsman - Soil: An Invisible Crisis and Massive Climate Opportunity

Nigel Topping - The COP28 Survival Guide: How it Works and What to Expect

Jane Stevensen - License to Drill: What New Oil & Gas Extraction Means for the Energy Transition

Nicky Dee - From Startup to Sustainability: Innovating For The Climate Emergency

Natalia Dorfman - Powerful Risk Management: Insurance Foundations for High-Integrity Carbon Markets

Carys Taylor - How Film and Television Are Adapting to Climate Change

Chris Howland and Lars Popken - Embedding Climate Within Risk Management: A Practitioner's Guide

Ron Dembo - Dealing with Uncertainty in Scenario Analysis: Stochastic vs. Deterministic Approaches

Also discussed in this episode:

GARP Whitepaper - Biodiversity Loss: An Introduction for Risk Professionals

Jo Paisley, President, GARP Risk Institute

Maxine Nelson, Ph.D, Senior Vice President, GARP Risk Institute

Hear from Dr. Erica Thompson, as we examine the modelling ecosystem and when we need to escape it to make real-world decisions.

Climate science – like many areas of our lives, such as economics or public health – is based upon models. These models are often used to justify certain courses of action, such as investments in climate mitigation or adaptation, or even lock downs during the pandemic.

But what makes a 'good model'? Is it purely how well it forecasts? Or are there other aspects that we need to consider, such as reliability, complexity, and how well it deals with uncertainty? And who gets to decide how good a model is?

In this episode, we'll take a closer look at these questions and explore some of the nuances of models, including:

· How to judge how good a model is,

· The vital importance of understanding the values which underpin models

· And how models have the power to shape the very future which they forecast.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected]

Links from today's discussion:

• Praise for Escape From Model Land: https://www.ericathompson.co.uk/books/
• IPCC Working Group III 2022 Mitigation of Climate Change report: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_SummaryForPolicymakers.pdf
• Yale's William Nordhaus wins 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics: https://news.yale.edu/2018/10/08/yales-william-nordhaus-wins-2018-nobel-prize-economic-sciences

Erica Thompson, Associate Professor of Modelling for Decision Making at UCL's Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy

Erica's book, Escape from Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It, was published in December 2022 and was shortlisted for Best Maths Book of 2022 by Chaulkdust Magazine, a specialist magazine for mathematicians.

Erica moved into her current role in April 2023, where she investigates the appropriate use of mathematical modelling to support real-world decisions, from mathematical and statistical questions about methodologies of inference from models, to psycho-social questions about the formation of confidence and the role of expert judgement.

Erica is also a Fellow of the London Mathematical Laboratory, where she leads the research programme on Inference from Models, and is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the LSE Data Science Institute. Erica previously held a series of roles at the LSE's Centre for the Analysis of Time Series, initially as a Senior Policy Fellow, and subsequently as Co-Director and Acting Director.

Erica holds a BA in Experimental and Theoretical Physics and a Master of Mathematics degree from Cambridge University. She completed her PhD in Physics at Imperial College London.

Hear from David Schimel and Pooja Khosla of Entelligent, as we explore the intersection of climate science and risk management.

For over 30 years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, has reported on the future physical impacts of climate change, based on the best available science. But these predictions have tended to underplay the likelihood of extreme risks. This is in part because scientists have focused more on the centre of the distribution rather than the extremes, which is likely to have been in part a reaction against an increasingly politicised level of scrutiny.

However, for risk professionals, the tails of the distribution are of particular importance. They also need also to think about the nature of the transition, which will depend on a number of factors, such as technological improvements and policy changes. Here, we have also seen systematic errors – for example, just consider the errors in forecasting the cost of solar energy.

So in today's episode, we'll take a closer look at the balance of these errors on the physical and transition side. We'll explore the intersection of climate science and risk management, including:

• How the politicization of climate change has shaped how climate scientists communicate its risks and opportunities.
• The challenge of translating climate science into actionable financial risk data; and
• How ignoring the less likely impacts of climate change can lead to greater losses and missed opportunities.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected] Links from today's discussion:

- Entelligent homepage: https://www.entelligent.com/

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report: https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar4/

- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

- Article: Do Two Climate Wrongs Make a Right? By David Schimel and Charles Miller: https://www.entelligent.com/news-and-perspective/do-two-climate-wrongs-make-a-right/

David Schimel, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board at Entelligent, and Senior Research Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Dave is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Entelligent, and a Senior Research Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has a 30-plus-year career working in top research positions and leadership roles in carbon cycle climate interactions and global climate modelling. Dave was a Convening Lead Author for the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report, for which it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. In 2012, he was named a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America.

Pooja Khosla, Chief Innovation Office, Entelligent

Pooja is the Chief Innovation Officer of Entelligent, and along with Dave, invented the company's patented Smart Climate® technology. A data scientist and econometrician, Pooja's 15-year career has focused on predictive modelling, microfinance, and the design of investment tools. She has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder, and speaks and writes extensively on climate risk and investment.

Hear from Simon Zadek, Executive Director at NatureFinance and Senior Advisor to the TNFD, as we explore the growing intersection of nature and finance.

With the recent release of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures Framework (TNFD), the idea of nature risk is now in the spotlight for many finance professionals.

Even though some may have encountered elements of 'nature' in their work before, for example when looking at supply chain risk, it may not have been labelled as such. And with many just getting to grips with climate risk management, there is an open question around how to incorporate nature-related issues.

That's why in today's episode, we'll take a closer look at the concept of nature in finance. We'll reflect on:

• How it's defined, and what risks it presents to our economies;
• What the TNFD framework covers and what this means for risk professionals; and
• The risks and opportunities that nature presents.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on nature and climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected] Links from today's discussion:

• NatureFinance homepage: https://www.naturefinance.net/
• Recommendations of the TNFD: https://tnfd.global/recommendations-of-the-tnfd/
• Taskforce on Nature Markets homepage: https://www.naturemarkets.net/
• EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en
• EU Regulation on deforestation-free products: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en
• Report - Making Nature Markets Work (Taskforce on Nature Markets): https://www.naturemarkets.net/publications/making-nature-markets-work-extended-report
• Report - Breaking the Environmental Crimes-Finance Connection (NatureFinance): https://www.naturefinance.net/resources-tools/breaking-the-environmental-crimes-finance-connection/
• Report - More for Less: Scaling Sustainability-linked Sovereign Debt (NatureFinance): https://www.naturefinance.net/resources-tools/more-for-less-scaling-sustainability-linked-sovereign-debt/

Simon Zadek, Executive Director at NatureFinance and Senior Advisor to the TNFD

Simon currently holds a number of leadership roles, including Executive Director at NatureFinance, co-lead of the Taskforce on Nature Markets, and Senior Advisor to the TNFD, Chair of Finance for Biodiversity, and Director of Migrant Nation.

Simon has also previously held many senior roles within the UN, including as Head, Secretariat, UN Secretary General's Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals, as Senior Advisor on Finance in the Executive Office of the Secretary General, and as Co-Director of UNEP's Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System.

In these roles, he co-Chaired China's Green Finance Task Force, and led the Green Finance Study Group secretariat under the Chinese, German and Argentinian G20 Presidencies.

Prior to this, he was Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum and the Global Green Growth Institute, founder and CEO of the international think tank, AccountAbility and Development Director of the New Economics Foundation.

He was Visiting Professor at the Singapore Management University and the Copenhagen Business School, and has been a senior fellow at Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, Harvard`s Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Southern Africa, amongst others. He has worked with many corporations, governments and multi stakeholder initiatives on their sustainability and broader strategies, been a member of the International Advisory Board of Generation Investment Management, and has published extensively, including the award winning book, The Civil Corporation.

Hear from Nigel Topping, Former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, as we set the scene for COP28 in Dubai.

The COP, or Conference of Parties, is the annual convention of the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This is where all the high-level decision-making around the global transition to net-zero occurs – as such, it's an incredibly important event for stakeholders all around the world.

With the next one just around the corner, this episode will set the scene for COP28 in Dubai, explaining the inner workings of the COP and identifying the key issues up for discussion. We'll explore:

• The successes and shortcomings of the COP mechanism, and how it squares up to the challenge of multilateral negotiations;
• The complex ecosystem of government, business, civil society and lobbying that has coalesced around the formal proceedings, and the challenges and opportunities that it brings;
• And the headline issues that will be faced (and hopefully resolved) over the course of COP28.

To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr

For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate

If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: [email protected] Links from today's discussion:

• UNFCCC High-Level Champions - https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/global-ambassadors/
• Our Episode with Sir Dieter Helm - https://www.garp.org/podcast/not-net-zero-cr-210708
• UNFCCC, Global Stocktake - https://unfccc.int/topics/global-stocktake
• The Inevitable Policy Response - https://www.unpri.org/sustainability-issues/climate-change/inevitable-policy-response
• Institute and Faculty of Actuaries/University of Exeter, The Emperor's New Climate Scenarios - https://actuaries.org.uk/emperors-new-climate-scenarios
• Rocky Mountain Institute, X-Change: Electricity - https://rmi.org/insight/x-change-electricity/

Nigel Topping, Global Ambassador with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions

As one of the 14 Global Ambassadors, Nigel was selected by the UN to help accelerate the implementation of net-zero targets and climate adaptation. Until November 2022, Nigel was the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from COP26 in Glasgow, having been appointed by the UK Prime Minister in January 2020.

Working alongside Egypt's High-Level Champion for COP27, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Nigel helped strengthen collaboration and drive action from businesses, investors, organisations, cities, and regions on climate change, and coordinate this work with governments and Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Previously, Nigel was CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. Before that, he was Executive Director of the CDP, following an 18-year career in the private sector, having worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing. Nigel is also a non-executive director of the UK Infrastructure Bank, and is a member of the UK's Climate Change Committee.