How important is COP 30 to investors? In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose podcast we sit down with Michael Schlup and Johnny Brom from SAIL Investments to talk all about COP and the other key events around this.  

We hear about how COP has evolved, the role of investors and the other events and announcements that we should look out for.  We also dive into the significance of COP 30 being held in Brazil – home of the Amazon rainforest and many industries that are extremely nature-dependent.  We discuss why we feel optimistic about positive change because of the economic value that nature brings.  We get into some practical examples of what the investment industry can do to drive systemic change and change behaviour and mindsets around nature.   

When we talk about the Energy Transition a lot of discussion is around renewable energy and grid infrastructure.  But to successfully transition, there is so much more we need to think about – from the way we build our houses, to our heating systems and the cars we drive.  All of this will need capital and could pose an exciting opportunity for investors – if structured suitably. 

In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose podcast we speak to Sam Hollister and Stephen Harkin from LCP Delta about the wider opportunity set for investors when it comes to supporting Energy Transition.  We also dig into the current policy environment in the UK and how this may evolve over time.   

Financial inclusion is key to meeting global sustainability goals, with a huge number of people around the world still lacking access to mainstream financial systems.  Improving financial inclusion is linked to improved human and economic development.  

In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose Podcast we speak to Lorna Logan from Stewart Investors about just how important financial inclusion is – and how investors can find some great opportunities in this sector!

The energy transition poses one of the greatest opportunities of our lifetimes – from both an economic and impact perspective.  But in times of such geopolitical uncertainty, it can be unclear exactly what the future looks like. 

In this episode we are joined by Hilkka Komulainen, Quinbrook’s Global Head of Sustainability and Impac,t to dive into this subject.  We discuss how the cost of action compares with the cost of inaction, how to centre people in the Energy transition and the huge opportunity set that exists for investors!

A significant amount of money is concentrated across a small handful of bulk annuity insurers – and this pot is only growing as more Defined Benefit Pension Schemes go to buyout.  

These insurers are long-term asset owners and so are significantly exposed to sustainability-related risks and opportunities.  

In this episode we are joined by Tatiana Von Petersdorff and Matt Foley from EY to find out how the pensions industry is coming together to address sustainability and impact in pensions insurance.

The world around us feels quite scary – whether it’s the rollback of sustainability practices, the rise in hate speech and oppression, or the ongoing wars - there are many things that can leave us in despair.

As sustainability professionals who are looking to tackle these issues, this landscape can be very challenging to navigating, often leading to burnout.  

In this episode, we have an open and honest discussion about how we can tackle burnout and retain hope for a better future, where financial systems support people and planet.

Laasya Shekaran and Richard Giles welcome Geneviève Morin of Fondaction, to the Podcast to discuss how purpose drives their investment approach. 
 
 Imagine taking a challenging point in a country’s history – a time where there was severe recession, bankruptcies and high unemployment levels – and turning it into a new financial idea: a labour-sponsored fund set up by the people, for the people. 

Well, this is exactly what Fondaction has done. In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose Podcast, we speak to Geneviève Morin, CEO of Fondaction about how their purpose drives their investment strategy. We discuss an investment methodology that supports local economies, protects the planet and engages with civil society. We also cover the failures in the existing financial system – and how we can change it to align positive financial returns with positive social and environmental outcomes. 

n addition to its net zero by 2050 target, the UK Government has also set an ambitious target to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035.  In order to reach this target, many different sectors will have to come together – from governments, to corporates, to civil society and, of course, investors. 

In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose podcast, our hosts Laasya Shekaran and Charlotte O’Leary speak to Raza Ali of AlphaReal about how investors are both needed for and can benefit from the energy transition.  We dive into the role that private markets play in helping investors meet their financial objectives while also delivering impactful outcomes.  

Laasya Shekaran welcomes Lindsay Hooper of the University of Cambridge, to the Podcast to discuss why sustainable finance hasn’t delivered the progress needed.

Sustainable Finance has been around for a while, but we still haven’t seen enough progress to tackle the immense systemic issues we face. If we do not address these problems directly, we risk witnessing environmental and social destruction, ultimately leading to total economic collapse.

In this episode of the Pensions for Purpose podcast, our hosts Laasya Shekaran and Richard Giles speak to Lindsay Hooper, CEO of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), about why we haven’t made enough progress and how systems thinking can help tackle today’s most pressing challenges. We discuss the need for ESG and sustainable finance to be more accessible and inclusive, as well as the different actions that market participants can take to drive forward systems change. 

Laasya Shekaran and David Brown welcome Judith Mackenzie of Downing, to the Podcast to discuss investing in the UK.

Initiatives like the Mansion House Compact II and an increased focus on place-based investing all point to one clear government objective – channelling more pension capital into investments supporting UK growth. But what does that actually look like in practice? How can pension schemes invest in the UK in a way that delivers positive, impactful and sustainable outcomes for the UK economy?

In this episode, our hosts Laasya Shekaran and David Brown are joined by Judith Mackenzie, Partner and Head of Fund Managers at Downing to really dig into what the investible universe looks like in the UK and the pros and cons of investing in the UK against the backdrop of the current geopolitical climate. They discuss the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the potential for mandating and the focus on different regions within the UK in this timely and topical discussion!