RBS International 'A Just Transition' Podcast Series

In this episode we have invited Andrew Mitchell, Vice Chair of the task force on nature related financial disclosures (TNFD) and the founder and CEO of Equilibrium Futures to discuss the role of the TNFD, the scale of the challenge to regulate nature and measure impact, and the speed of change required. The TNFD was a collaborative project with the World Wildlife fund, United Nations Development Fund, and others to create a reporting and disclosure framework for nature. It is imperative that everyone understands that nature is not an unlimited resource.To make it more visible we need to measure something, in the same way we do for economic activity in relation to climate change. Metrics need to be agreed and targets set. 69% of global wildlife populations have been lost since 1970, indicating the urgency and need for change. Nature risk is really big, really fast and can affect all sectors.

In this episode we have invited our guest Mark Crathern , head of NatWest Trustee & Depositary Services, to pick three important aspects, from the very broad topic of governance, to discuss.  He has chosen data imperfections, board diversity and disclosure. Governance is important in creating a level of transparency by developing the reporting that identifies and quantifies what is happening from an "E" and an "S" perspective and the impact this is having on the world and the macroeconomic environment.Data imperfections need to be managed to ensure governance requirements are fulfilled. Boards need to consider not just diversity in terms of gender and ethnicity but to embrace a much wider array of knowledge and experience from outside the industry, such as scientists and environmentalists, to challenge the assumptions that are being made. Finally disclosure is a critical area as although there is increased consistency in reporting standards and requirements, verifying that information and measuring impact and exposure is not always easy.

In this episode we have invited our guest David Postlethwaite, associate director, ESG at KPMG Crown dependencies to choose his top three ESG trends for 2024. He has picked greenwashing,  the search for impact amongst investors and biodiversity and nature as key influences in the year ahead. Consumers and wider society are demanding more sustainable products and services and with that growth in demand comes the need to ensure that what's being sold to investors is genuinely credible. Cracking down on greenwashing is essential to maintain trust in the financial system.  Impact investing was a niche strategy but the appetite for these investments is growing as the desire to invest and generate positive social and economic outcomes increases. Finally it feels as if biodiversity and nature have been on the radar for a while now but things are gaining momentum this year and there is more awareness of the need to integrate nature into the assessment of any ESG credentials.

In our latest episode we revisit the topic of science-based targets (SBTs), with our guest Paul Sutcliffe, founder and Chief Operating Officer, at sustainability consultancy Evora. In March 2023, RBS International investigated the impact of the changing economic climate on the adoption of SBTs by alternative funds and the research highlighted 3 key barriers to implementation: time to implement, pressure from regulators and measurement.  We delve deeper into each of them, while looking at how these challenges can be optimised through understanding and effective planning.

In the first episode of the new series we're joined by guest Tonia Plakhotniuk, Vice President, Climate and ESG Capital Markets at Nat West, to discuss ESG regulation for private funds.  We look at the most important pieces of regulation for the sector, the relative differences between the EU, US and UK for regulation and whether private funds can see ESG regulation as an opportunity.  Finally we share practical advice on how to manage this regulatory landscape, as one thing we do know is that ESG regulation and reporting is here to stay.

In this episode we’re joined by Gary Kendall, Head of Climate Strategy Implementation at NatWest as our focus turns to the implementation of ESG strategies, a topic that is centre stage at COP27, and exemplifies the need to track action rather than targets.We discuss why we can’t just set ESG targets internally and focus on achieving them to bring about the system level change that is needed and how independence, an open and transparent approach and bringing your stakeholders along with you, all play key roles in fully integrating ESG as a long term ambition at an organisation.Join us as we chat about what lessons we've learned implementing our own ESG strategy,  whose role is it to drive cultural change and the common areas that businesses fall short when it comes to implementation despite having strong ambitions.Listen nowListen to this episode now on Spotify, Apple, Google or Amazon Music as we discuss all this and more and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss the next episode! If you like our Just Transition podcast series please leave us a review.About RBS InternationalWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, liquidity and risk management, and depositary services (through separate legal entities). We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking. Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.About NatWest GroupNatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we.Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as sustainable energy, commercial property and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.

In this episode we're joined by guest Jessica Lobo, Global Goals and Climate Programme Manager, at UN Global Compact Network UK to discuss how the UK is performing against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).In 2015 the UK Government joined every other country in the world and committed to the SDGs. 17 global goals which are designed to be a global blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. They cover topics from hunger to marine life and challenge nations and businesses to accelerate action before 2030.The UN Global Compact Network UK recently published the Measuring Up 2.0 report analysing UK performance towards the goals.The report looks at how the UK is performing on the SDGs by assessing the targets that sit under those goals and the ones that are relevant to the UK's domestic delivery of this agenda.Is the UK on track to achieve these targets? What can investors and funds do to move this forward?Listen nowListen to this episode now on Spotify, Apple, Google or Amazon Music as we discuss all this and more and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss the next episode! If you like our Just Transition podcast series please leave us a review.About RBS InternationalWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, liquidity and risk management, and depositary services (through separate legal entities). We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.About The UN Global Compact Network UKThe United Nations Global Compact is a global platform for business and non-business entities to proactively network and engage in areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. Local Networks, such as the UK Network, are clusters of UN Global Compact Participants and Signatories who come together to advance the UN Global Compact and its principles within a particular geographic context. Our role is to help organisations engage in the UN Global Compact with respect to implementation of the Ten Principles, and create opportunities for multi-stakeholder engagement and collective action.

In this episode we are joined by Bill Gilbert, Head of Digital Innovation at NatWest Group.We discuss the role of voluntary carbon offsets which allow market participants to offset unavoidable emissions, by purchasing carbon credits delivered through projects that remove or avoid greenhouse gases. Unlike compliance programmes, which are restricted to specific regions, the voluntary space is significantly more flexible and can support entities globally. This reach has meant that carbon offsets have developed into a $1 billion market with Mark Carney, the former Bank of England governor, estimating a rise to $50 billion by 2030.But how do carbon markets work? What is Carbonplace? And can carbon offsetting be trusted? Join us as we discuss all this and more and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss the next episode!About RBS InternationalWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, liquidity and risk management, and depositary services (through separate legal entities). We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.About NatWest GroupNatWest Group is a relationship bank for a digital world. We champion potential; breaking down barriers and building financial confidence so the 19 million people, families and businesses we serve in communities throughout the UK and Ireland can rebuild and thrive. If our customers succeed, so will we. Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as sustainable energy, commercial property and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.

Catch up on this month's latest ESG news with this 5-minute download from Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International.

As pressure mounts on fund managers globally to scrutinise their investment and lending activities, science-based targets (SBTs) are poised to become the leading framework to provide a pathway for companies to decarbonise their business. In this episode, on the back of a research report by RBS International into the barriers and opportunities facing alternative investment funds when setting and incorporating SBTs, we discuss the findings from the report and how funds can accelerate the transition to net zero.Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International, and Tim Philips, we're delighted to be joined by guest Henry Morgan, Sustainable Investment Lead at Foresight Group's Infrastructure and Real Assets Division. Episode NotesTo read RBS International's report 'Can alternative investment funds accelerate the transition to net zero?' please download it at www.rbsinternational.com/sbti

Catch up on this month's latest ESG news with this 5-minute download from Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International.

Target setting is a material step on the path to net-zero but in many ways, the hard work starts when ambitions have been set. In this month's episode, we look at the practicalities of delivering those targets and some of the challenges faced along the way.Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International, and Tim Philips, we're delighted to be joined by guest Caroline Haas, Head of Climate and ESG Capital Markets at NatWest Markets, to explore emerging themes.

The ESG Brief is a new addition to our Just Transition ESG podcast series. The integration of ESG shows no sign of slowing down, so each month we will bring you a brief update on all the latest ESG news in between our regular conversations with industry leaders.

Across the finance industry we are seeing capital providers setting ambitious sustainability targets, often committing to global standards such as the 2015 Paris Agreement. In parallel, we've seen a surge in sustainable lending through designated products and data shows us that sustainable loan volumes increased by an estimated 300% year on year in 2021, and even when we account for the macro economic impact of Covid-19, it's clear that interest in these products continues to grow. Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined by guests Julia Keppe, Senior Counsel and Alice Wight, Associate in the Jersey Banking Team at Walkers as we try to answer the question is all finance sustainable finance?

Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined again by guest Tania Carnegie, Global Lead of Private Equity and Asset Management, at KPMG IMPACT. In this episode we shine the spotlight on the S in ESG and explore why we should be looking at environmental and social factors in parallel and the potential benefits to companies when doing so. About KPMG InternationalKPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.KPMG firms operate in 145 countries and territories with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.For more detail about our structure, please visit home.kpmg/governance.About RBS International Institutional BankingWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, depositary services, and liquidity and risk management. We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.

Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined by guest Leslie Gent, Managing Director and Head of Responsible Investing at Coutts. Coutts recently became the largest UK Private Bank to achieve B Corp status and as Bloomberg predicts global ESG assets are on track to exceed $53 trillion by 2025, representing more than a third of the $140.5 trillion in projected total assets under management, we explore what responsible investing means and if it delivers the desired impacts.

Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined by guest David Marriage, Asset & Wealth Management Data & Analytics Leader, from PwC, as we explore some of the different ESG standards and frameworks in detail and why consistent disclosures are so vital to achieve the environmental and social development targets so many of us are now working towards. RBS International Institutional BankingWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, liquidity and risk management, and depositary services (through separate legal entities). We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.

Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined by guest James Armstrong, Managing Partner at Bluefield Partners, as we chat about how the UK further strengthens it’s position as a leading global financial hub as it ‘builds back better’ to ensure a greener recovery. What impact Brexit and the UK financial services as yet unspecified relationship with European markets have on the aim of a greener recovery? And we look at the energy white paper, ‘powering our net zero future’ - and consider what does this look like in practice, and are funds clear on the part they have to play?RBS International Institutional BankingWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, depositary services, and liquidity and risk management. We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.

Hosted by Bradley Davidson, ESG Lead at RBS International and Tim Phillips, in this episode we are joined by guest Tania Carnegie, Global Lead, Private Equity and Asset Management, KPMG IMPACT.  Private investment has always had a role to play in the progress towards a sustainable economy, the Stern Review back in 2006 stated the level of investment required. Join us as we discuss the recent shift in investor focus and how it has highlighted the opportunities and risks to those that ignore ESG.  About KPMG InternationalKPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 146 countries and territories and in FY20 had close to 227,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.RBS International Institutional BankingWe specialise in helping institutional clients look after their money and manage risk. This includes transactional banking, fund financing, depositary services, and liquidity and risk management. We’re based in Jersey, Guernsey, London, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man so our clients get personal, tailored support from a local expert. And our multi-currency online banking platform, eQ, lets them move and manage money the same way they do their personal banking.Our clients include alternative investment fund managers, asset managers, fund administrators and corporate service providers. With our culture of restless innovation, we work to make banking easy. We’re focused on delivering all the services our clients need, where and when they need them.