Katie Critchlow

Today’s DESNZ announcement is welcome, but policy certainty is needed for investment. The UK ETS should be incentivising the right economic and environmental outcomes as we transition to a circular economy. To do this, the timeframes must align with the EU and we must implement the recycling legislation that will remove fossil plastics that can be recycled, out of the waste stream. Simpler Recycling, pEPR and a mandatory 50% recycled content threshold will deliver decarbonisation in the most efficient and effective way. We thank DESNZ for their extensive industry engagement on these issues and look forward to continuing working with them to provide further clarity on cost allocation, timelines and emissions measurement. #EmissionsTradingScheme #ETS #PolicyUpdate

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𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 Every now and then, you come across a document that balances rigour with relevance but this one nails it. 🫡 The Environmental Key Performance Indicators (EKPIs): Reporting Guidelines for UK Business, developed by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), remains a cornerstone for environmental reporting. Though developed for the UK, its value extends far beyond. It offers a pragmatic, structured approach for businesses to understand, measure, and report environmental performance in a way that’s both meaningful and manageable. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹: ✅ It identifies 22 environmental KPIs and guides companies to focus on the 5 most material ones for their sector. ✅It clearly differentiates direct and indirect impacts—and encourages firms to look beyond their operational boundaries (supply chains, product life cycles). ✅It links KPIs directly to business outcomes like cost savings, reputation, regulatory compliance, and investor confidence. ✅It outlines principles of good reporting: transparency, credibility, comparability—no greenwashing here. ✅And perhaps most importantly, it recognises that one-size-fits-all doesn't work. Instead, it offers sector-based relevance without being prescriptive. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸? ▪️ Companies beginning their reporting journey and looking for a no-nonsense guide. ▪️ESG consultants and sustainability practitioners refining KPI strategies. ▪️SMEs needing a cost-effective framework that satisfies increasing due diligence from larger buyers. ▪️And yes, policymakers and regulators seeking to harmonize environmental disclosure without overwhelming the market. This is more than just a guide but it’s a free strategic toolkit. Worth bookmarking. Worth applying. Even if you're outside the UK. #planetaryhealth #planetaryboundaries #sustainability #ClimateAction #carbonfootprint #NetZero #ClimateEmergency #SDG #ESG #GHG #netzero #EnvironmentalKPIs #CorporateReporting #SustainabilityStrategy #SustainableBusiness #ReportingFramework #climateimpact

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I recently sat down with Genevieve Redgrave at Environmental Finance to discuss the expansion of the UK’s emissions trading scheme and how this is a strong compliance signal that can unlock finance for carbon removal technologies. With widespread removals being recognised by science as necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, growing demand and building a high-integrity market is key. Here is where carbon markets play a key role, supporting nature-based methods for immediate action whilst accelerating emerging CDR technology innovation - complementary solutions we need to scale to reach global net-zero. Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/eEEBigyS #CDR #UKETS #Decarbonisation #NetZero #ClimateAction #CarbonMarkets thanks to Valentina Ortis for the amazing work

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Circularity in Scotland already spearheading economic growth The circular economy has long been championed as an essential tool to curb unsustainable resource extraction and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. But our new report - released today - also positions the circular economy as a catalyst for long-term, resilient economic development, already contributing over £7billion to Scotland’s economy. Representing 4.7% of total Scottish GVA and a 3.9% share of GDP, circularity provides over 80,000 jobs, demonstrating that businesses which are embracing circular models are now a significant and thriving part of our economic landscape. Investing and supporting the further take up of circular economic practice across the industrial landscape is now a strategic, evidence-backed and impactful way to achieve our economic and environmental objectives in a holistic way, and it’s an opportunity we need to maximise for both our people and the planet. Read the full report: http://bit.ly/46fKyqH

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💡 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?   A new BwB publication, co-authored with CityScience and Innovate UK, offers a fresh approach to empowering local governments with scalable, climate-aligned Blended Regional Funds. The report provides clear, practical guidance on: ✅ Blending public and private finance effectively  ✅ Building investor-ready, place-based funds that are rooted in local needs  ✅ Equipping local authorities and municipalities with the tools to scale climate action “Regional net-zero funds have the potential to mobilise private capital, de-risk investment, and ensure that climate finance flows directly into the projects and communities driving change on the ground,” comments BwB Associate Harry Wain. “By blending public and private finance and structuring funds at the regional level, we can accelerate climate action, job creation, and resilience while empowering local authorities to lead the net zero transition.” 🔗 Read the full insight at this link 👉 https://lnkd.in/eXZ-_XA7  🔍 How could your city or region deploy innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate the climate transition? Share your ideas in the comments, and let’s learn from each other. Harry Wain | Lucy Champ | Simon Drake | Laurence Oakes-Ash | Sophie Kempthorne | Pete Radford | Stuart Leslie | Justin Olosunde FRGS   #NetZeroLiving #BlendedFinance #NetZero #ClimateInvestment #LocalGovernment #GreenInfrastructure

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We are delighted to share that we have supported Greensphere Capital LLP with a Capital Call Facility for its Gaia Sciences Innovation Fund. The fund invests into venture to early-growth stage businesses that are science-led, leveraging cutting-edge climate and biodiversity science from 12 world-leading bioscience and environmental science institutes across the UK to select or spin-out innovative climate tech companies. Divya Seshamani, Managing Partner, Greensphere Capital: “The team at HSBC Innovation Banking understand innovation and are very aligned with the Gaia Sciences fund’s aims of mitigating the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It’s been a pleasure to work with them to get this facility up and running.” Great work from everyone involved, including Aleksandra Cison, CFA, Iga Nowak and Finn Mould from our Strategic Fund Solutions team.

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