Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford

🚀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗲@𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲! 🌍 We are thrilled to announce the release of the first episode in our #NatureFinance@Oxford Seminar Series! 🎙️ Whether you attended the seminar or missed it, this podcast is your chance to dive into insightful discussions on the intersection of nature and finance. In this episode, Josh Ryan-Collins (UCL) explores the macroeconomic and financial risks posed by ecosystem degradation, focusing on two critical ecosystems: the Brazilian Amazon and Indonesia’s tropical peatlands. Using supply chain data, he identifies 39 companies driving deforestation and analyses a decade of financial flows — spanning loans, equity, and debt issuances — tracing them back to major commercial and investment banks. 🔗 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲: https://lnkd.in/e4j7J7gN 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸! 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲: https://lnkd.in/ewQGBEzd #NatureFinance@Oxford is a collaborative seminar series, hosted by the Global Finance and Economy Group at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford, Resilient Planet Finance Lab @UniofOxford, and the Oxford Nature Positive Hub at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford. Seminar convenors: Dr Nicola Ranger and Sophus zu Ermgassen School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford | Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment - University of Oxford | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) | Lydia Marsden | Jesse F Abrams

I was thrilled this week to be invited to visit Norges Bank Investment Management to share our work on climate and nature risks and honoured to speak at the launch of their 2024 Climate and Nature Disclosures alongside Christopher Wright, Alexis Wegerich, PhD, Anne Maria (Mia) Eikeset, PhD MBA, Julie Willerslev Kjær and Martin Skancke. I applaud NBIMs leading work on measuring and engaging on climate and nature risks and recommend taking a look at their recent disclosure report: https://lnkd.in/gqhZH8Zh. NBIMs is the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, famously owning around 1.5% of listed companies in the world. Headlines include: - 8% estimated exposure to Key Biodiversity Areas - 12,000 dollars in impacts per million dollars in revenue, 3% below equity benchmark index - 32% average biodiversity expectation score - NBIMs expectations cover key aspects of policy, strategy, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and disclosure, including whether companies are transparent about how they depend on and impact biodiversity and ecosystems See the video here https://lnkd.in/gKHHp7Gk for the presentation of the disclosures and NBIMs work on nature and climate risks, and discussion from myself and Martin Skancke. Amongst other evidence, I talk about findings (for the first time) from new research with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the growth and competitiveness benefits of investing in protecting and restoring natural capital in emerging economies and the links to investment returns. It was a huge pleasure to spend a few days with the excellent team at NBIM, Norges Bank and Ministry of Finance. Very much looking forward to continuing the discussions and deepening collaborations over the coming years. Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford Resilient Planet Finance Lab @UniofOxford Integrating Finance and Biodiversity European Space Agency - ESA LEON Programme

The world can take a leaf from Singapore’s book when it comes to climate action – in addition to having laws against irresponsible dumping, regular cleaning and disposing of waste are essential to keeping the environment clean.   Speaking at the SGFIN Sustainability Summit 2025, Oxford University Professor Myles Allen called for climate policy focus to shift from behavioural change to carbon dioxide disposal via carbon capture solutions, and outlined a roadmap for how such an approach could halt global warming within 30 years.   The event was organised by the NUS Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) and hosted about 200 representatives from the global sustainable finance community to discuss commitments, challenges, and innovations in the transition to sustainable economy. #NUSGlobal #NUSImpact #NUSResearch   Read more at https://lnkd.in/grg9XC2c. 

We're all set for edie 25 day 2, and ready for another day of engaging discussions and hearing from inspiring sustainability leaders. Here are some of our key takeaways from yesterday: 🔬 As we push for resilient change, we need to make sure we stay aligned with what matters most: the science – Solitaire Townsend 🗣️ Fighting climate change has wrongly been framed as anti-consumer, we need to reframe how we communicate it – Professor Myles Allen 🍫 Us being good on our own is not enough, we need to fight to change the system and industry more broadly – Douglas Lamont 🤝 Don't stick to your siloes - talk to anybody, including those outside of the climate space – Tori Tsui 🤔 No doesn't mean no, it simply means not that way. If a stakeholder is saying no, you just haven't pitched it right – Joanna Gilroy (MBA) 🧠 Climate change is a symptom of the problem, the problem is us. The question is how do we change ourselves – Brogan MacDonald 💼 There needs to be a re-education on what a green job could be - going beyond conservationists and renewable energy developers. This can touch every job – Leah R. P.S. Don't forget to visit the Springwise and The Earthshot Prize teams at Earthshot Hour 12:30-1:30 pm and connect with some inspiring innovators! #edie25 #event #sustainability

Professor Myles Allen kicked off #edie 25 with a compelling case for geological net zero. Time for governments to get familiar with like-for-like compensation.

❗ Expressions of Interest now open ❗ Expressions of Interest to join the Working Group on The Future of ZERO Buildings at Oxford are now open! The ZERO Institute is excited to announce the launch of the Working Group on “The Future of ZERO buildings” at Oxford, a strategic initiative supported by the University Estates Services. We invite academics and members from the Oxford community to join this initiative. Together, we can pave the way towards a sustainable, net-zero future for Oxford and beyond. For more information about this initiative, click here ➡️: https://lnkd.in/eN5C3fKc To express your interest in joining the working group, please complete this form ➡️ : https://lnkd.in/e2tU9VYk Deadline to receive expression of interest: 22 April 2025 If you have any questions, you can also contact us on: zero@eng.ox.ac.uk University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford Jesús Lizana, Amr Suliman

Thank you ICE Yorkshire and Humber for a fascinating visit. The Humber is crucial for the UK's clean energy future. Important work is happening to adapt the estuary to a changing climate. It was inspiring to hear about work in the region to build the skills needed for the workforce.

I've recently published a commentary in this month's Foundation for Science and Technology journal which sets out some of the challenges facing infrastructure delivery in the UK at the moment: https://lnkd.in/dfPD6DcD As the National Infrastructure Commission explained in its review of costs last year, there are persistent issues with clients, planning, procurement and supply chains. There needs to be more confidence in the infrastructure project pipeline, and a greater focus on maintenance and asset management. Above all, we need to be better at communicating the benefits of national infrastructure and the tremendous engineering achievements that are going on right now.

🚨 New Article Alert! 🚨 The energy transition debate has been dominated by supply-side solutions—phasing out fossil fuels, scaling up renewables, and debating nuclear power. But are we overlooking a key part of the equation? In my latest piece, "Beyond Supply: The Case for Decarbonising Energy Demand", published in PLOS Climate, I argue that focusing only on energy supply is not enough. We need to address how much energy we use, how efficiently we use it, and when and where we use it. 🔑 Key takeaways from the article: ✅ Energy efficiency has delivered more emissions reductions historically than renewables. ✅ Demand-side flexibility (e.g., smart grids, dynamic pricing) can reduce fossil fuel reliance. ✅ Electrification must be paired with efficiency to avoid straining the energy system. ✅ Behavioural and structural changes—such as better urban planning and circular economy principles—must be part of the solution. 🌍 The cleanest energy is the energy we don’t need to produce. A demand-first approach can accelerate decarbonisation, lower costs, and enhance energy security. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ev-8cQ4u What are your thoughts on shifting the focus beyond supply? Let’s discuss! 👇

Can you help ECI researcher Caitlin Hafferty? She is studying what attracts or discourages investors in nature markets and how to balance profits with environmental and social benefits. Her goal is to shape UK policies like the Nature Markets Framework and Green Finance Strategy to support fair, transparent, and effective markets.