Waking up to science – how COVID-19 has highlighted the urgent need for action on climate change
Nigel Topping who was appointed by the UK Government as the High Level Climate Action Champion for United Nations climate talks, COP26 joins Fiona Reynolds, chief executive of the PRI, in conversation with Amanda White, editor of Top1000funds.com This episode focuses on climate change and how, amongst and despite, the short-term focus of this COVID-19 crisis, we can mobilise government, business and investors into action around this important issue of climate change.
• Nigel Topping, champion, COP26
• Fiona Reynolds, chief executive, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
About Nigel Topping
Nigel Topping has been appointed by the UK Government as the High Level Climate Action Champion for United Nations climate talks, COP26. Most recently he was chief executive of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he was executive director of the Carbon Disclosure Project and has also been a board member of The London Pension Fund Authority.. He has 18 years of experience in the private sector, including as a senior vice president of supply chain for a global automotive component manufacturer. He holds a BA in Mathematics from Cambridge University and an MSc in Holistic Science from Schumacher College.
About Fiona Reynolds
Fiona Reynolds is responsible for global operations. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the pension sector, working in particular with the Australian Government, and has played a key role in advocating pension policy change on behalf of working Australians. She has a particular interest in retirement outcomes for women. Prior to joining PRI, she spent seven years as chief executive at the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, an association for Australian asset owners. Reynolds has been a director of AUSfund, Industry Funds Credit Control, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Women in Super. In September 2012, she was named one of Australia’s top 100 women of influence by the Australian Financial Review, for her work in public policy. Reynolds also serves on the International Integrated Reporting Council, the council for Tomorrow’s Company, the Global Advisory Council on Stranded Assets at Oxford University, and the Business for Peace steering committee.
For PRI’s whitepapers and resources for asset owners visit www.unpri.org
About Amanda White
Amanda White is responsible for the content across all Conexus Financial’s institutional media and events. In addition to being the editor of Top1000funds.com, she is responsible for directing the global bi-annual Fiduciary Investors Symposium which challenges global investors on investment best practice and aims to place the responsibilities of investors in wider societal, and political contexts. She holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters of Art in Journalism and has been an investment journalist for more than 25 years. She is currently a fellow in the Finance Leaders Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. The two-year program seeks to develop the next generation of responsible, community-spirited leaders in the global finance industry.
Sustainability in a time of crisis is a Top1000funds.com podcast collaboration with PRI, with support from Robeco
Sustainability issues have never been more important than they are right now. How can investors work together to use this unprecedented opportunity to put the promise of purpose-driven leadership and stakeholder capitalism into practice? This collaborative work with the PRI, with the support of Robeco, will showcase leadership in sustainability during a time of crisis.
