New Court

In the past year, there have been many watershed moments in climate change activism. We saw Extinction Rebellion shutdown cities, Greta Thunberg become a household name, and brands and consumers across the board reject single-use plastic. 2019 has since been regarded as the year sustainability became ‘mainstream.’

In this episode we speak with Mike Azlen, Founder and CEO of Carbon Cap, which aims to cap and reduce carbon emissions through its World Carbon Fund. Mike examines the gathering momentum of climate change activism, exploring the potential challenges, and even advantages, that green policies may face in the aftermath of COVID-19. He also discusses the positive impact that carbon cap and trading policies have had, and their ability to continue reducing carbon emissions over the long term.

In this podcast, we provide some insight into our investment process, sharing our views on portfolio holdings amidst the ongoing market volatility.

In what would have been the lead up to RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we speak with horticultural designer, presenter and writer Nick Bailey, who shares his wisdom from a remarkable 25 years in horticulture. He suggests what to plant at this time of year, how to best deal with pests, and how to brighten up any size of outdoor space.

Nick reflects on the unfortunate cancellation of “the pinnacle of global horticulture”, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, but he assures us that there will be an abundance of coverage, which will no doubt satisfy any revitalised passion for all things horticulture.

With many of us missing our usual quota of live sports, the unprecedented postponing of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics came as another blow to this summer’s events calendar. However, the disappointment felt by fans and spectators must pale in comparison to that felt by athletes who had hoped to be competing in the Games. One such athlete is Owain Doull, Welsh road and track cyclist. 

We speak with Michael Gilmore, Head of Research at Albizia Capital, who shares his thoughts not only on the challenges presented by Coronavirus, but also on the wider regional pressures facing the South-Eastern Asian market, together with an in-depth look at the Fund’s research strategy and stock selection.

For the second instalment in this series we are delighted to share with you our discussion with explorer and environmental activist David Mayer de Rothschild. David has carved a path beyond the family business, from expeditions to social enterprises, notably crossing the Arctic in 2006, becoming the youngest British person ever to reach both geographic poles.

David speaks with us about his experience dealing with isolation on expeditions; the importance of routine, maintaining a sense of purpose and appreciating the people and comforts we so often take for granted.

As we all adapt to isolation, find new daily routines and try to cope with the current uncertainty, we speak with British skipper Alex Thomson to gain some wisdom on dealing with isolation. As one of the world’s top solo offshore sailors, Alex spends months alone at sea separated from society, everyday comforts and loved ones, putting him in a unique position to reflect on the current situation facing our world.

Looking back at the first quarter of 2020, we consider the impact of COVID-19 on an initially promising economic outlook. Exploring how portfolios have fared, we analyse how diversifiers have worked to offset market volatility and suggest that there is much opportunity to be found in these exceptional circumstances. 

Exploring the recent governmental measures used to tackle COVID-19, we question whether it's premature to interpret the economic shutdown as longer-term damage. Taking a specific look at portfolio protection and the performance of diversifiers, we maintain that the market currently presents more opportunities than threats.