Altiorem

Sustainable finance advocates! Want to be part of our gift exchange? Of course you do. Giving and receiving gifts is effectively in our blood. Gift exchange appears in the historical record as long as Homo sapiens do (one such gift was polished teeth). In our gift exchange, you'll get something much better than that... or at least we hope you feel that way. In 2025, we will be replacing our Things to learn and Actions to take library filters with one filter covering Sustainable finance practices. Our simplified filters will make it even easier to find what you're looking for in our sustainable finance library (Gift #1). What's even better is that by sharing your feedback on the new categories, you get the chance to win a book! (That's Gift #2, for those still with us). We're giving away 5 copies of both Kind Business by Dr David Cooke and How to build sustainability into your business strategy by Lee Stewart. A big thanks to these guys for sending these books our way! We of course, will get the gift of community feedback and knowledge (Gift #3 - and where the exchange comes in!) If you want to share your feedback but you're taking a break from reading and don't want to be involved in our #Competition, then we'll look forward to being the recipient of #SecretSanta! Gift us your feedback: https://lnkd.in/gjdh7yfH #ESG #sustainablefinancelibrary #sustainablefinancehub #finance #financeprofessionals #ethicalfinance #sustainableinvesting #responsibleinvestment

We admit it! We're not photographers. But we are fun-seekers, food lovers and a good time! In these pictures you'll see the Altiorem team, minus libby dummett, who unfortunately couldn't make it (but we had a few more servings on her behalf). For our Christmas party and EOY celebrations, we went to Harvest Vegetarian Restaurant to do a veggie cooking class - and boy, it did not disappoint! Adam and Michael have been the owners and operators since 1995, and while it no longer operates as a commercial restaurant, they're cooking classes are equally as good (if not better, because we got to be Master Chef's for the day). We wanted to share this experience as an impact-driven option for our network and to extend a few extra ideas to reduce #FoodWaste and #Emissions for a more sustainable Christmas and holiday season. -- 1. Opt for plant-based, vegetarian or vegan dishes (or even cook less meat than you normally would) to save land and water inputs, and reduce emissions. Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land. 2. Reduce food waste by planning ahead, checking what you already have, avoid excessive purchases, storing your food properly and freezing or repurposing leftovers. Australian households waste around 2.5 million tonnes of food each year (equating to about 7.7 million meals per day). In the holiday season, Australians produce up to 50% more waste, compared to other times in the year. In the UK, at Christmas time over 2 million turkeys, 5 million puddings and 74 million mince pies are wasted each year. As you get prepared for your wonderful Christmas feasts, we hope you shop more mindfully, sustainably and joyfully! We also wanted to thank some impact-driven organisations for their efforts and mission towards better food systems and food security. Transformational Investing in Food Systems, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, FAIRR Initiative, The Good Food Institute, FAO, World Food Programme, WorldFish, ReFED, Act4Food, Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Climate Farmers, ProVeg International, Project Drawdown, Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN) Nederland, Sustainable Table, UN Environment Programme, Upcycled Food Association. Altiorem has a great collection of resources exploring this important issue: https://lnkd.in/gresawkc If you have any other organisations in this space tag them below. Sources: https://lnkd.in/eqQqnjas https://lnkd.in/eREgXapn https://lnkd.in/gyuiWkuV https://lnkd.in/eC6u_2Nj

As the green economy continues to expand, finance professionals should start making strategic waves in the #BlueEconomy.   At the beginning of 2024, The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) & Klaas de Vos released a manual to guide financial institutions in implementing target-setting practices within the blue economy. It outlines the principles of sustainable finance, focusing on sectors like #seafood and #aquaculture. The document includes guidance for creating actionable targets, monitoring progress, and integrating environmental and social risks, with case studies and examples for practical application. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gz3uAJJF The focus on traceability, risk management, and climate resilience underscores the finance sector's pivotal role in advancing sustainability within ocean-based economies. There are also growing opportunities for carbon finance in coastal ecosystems which can help mitigate climate change. However, ecosystem cannot thrive until it secures better funding, and grapples through the increasing interest rates. The risks and opportunities of this can be read in this IFC - International Finance Corporation report: https://lnkd.in/gfZ5v2iP #sustainablefinance #changefinance4good #changefinanceforgood #ESGlibrary #Altiorem #sustainablefinanceeducation #sustainablefinanceresources

Climate change is one of the top issues of interest to our Altiorem members, particularly the intersection of climate action and policy regulations. That’s why we wanted to draw your attention to a paper by Global Sustainable Investment Alliance which focuses on systemic change to realign private capital with climate goals. Did you know? By 2030, global climate investment needs to grow sevenfold to $4.13 trillion annually, with private sector contributions in emerging markets rising from 40% to 90%. The PIVOT framework (mentioned in the report) outlines actionable steps like national transition plans, global carbon pricing, and innovative financing. We’d love to hear your thoughts - What policies or frameworks do you think are most critical for achieving these goals? Access the full report and summary https://lnkd.in/g_fXzQg2 #sustainablefinance #ESGinformation #institutionalinvestors #policymakers #climatepolicy #climateaction #climateregulations

What’s in a name? Well, in sustainable finance and sustainable financial product labelling quite a lot! 🏷️ When financial products are labelled as "sustainable" or mention "impact," they set expectations. But what happens when those promises fall short? Mislabelled products, like "green" funds investing in fossil fuels, highlight the urgent need for robust regulations to combat greenwashing. Read the latest article on Altiorem written by Greg Liddell, the Director of Responsible Investments at Betashares. The article covers: ✅ Lessons from the EU, UK, and US on financial product labelling ✅ Key challenges in defining “sustainability” and avoiding misleading classifications ✅ Australia’s plans for a new labelling regime by 2027 Clear definitions and accountability are vital for investor trust and effective sustainability outcomes. Read the full article https://lnkd.in/gMmQATEE #SustainableFinance #Greenwashing #Regulation #ImpactInvesting #ProductLabelling

📢 Friend of The Pod Weekly Announcement 🎺 Today's guest is a very wonderful privilege to be bringing to you - Lesley Hughes. Lesley is one of Australia's most distinguished and recognised experts on climate change. Beginning her career as an ecologist where she studied the role ants played in dispersing seeds across landscapes, she turned her attention to studying the climate and its impacts on biodiversity in the early 90s. She was a lead author of the 4th and 5th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports - including being part of the IPCC group who were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. She was appointed a Climate Commissioner under the Gillard Government, helped found the Climate Council where she remains a Director and Councillor. A Professor Emerita in Biology and Pro-Chancellor at Macquarie University. Lesley has published over 200 scientific papers, she's a Ted speaker and is now a member of the Federal Climate Change Authority. Just to give you a flavour of her remarkable career and life. Lesley is someone who has made an incredible contribution to humanity's understanding of climate change, in particular how it has, is and will affect human and non human species and ecosystems. This was a true honour for me. I found this conversation incredible - from the early years of her career conducting research and pushing for public awareness of this problem, to the hopeful years of the 2000s when substantive action seemed possible and likely, to the toxicity and insanity of the early 2010s as someone who had a front row seat on the emergence and escalation in Australia's climate wars, to how she works to stay healthy and hopeful in the face of such despair and grief. It struck me how so much of what has been vital to Lesley has been unity with her own tribe, the sense of belonging and vulnerability that comes with working together, that hope is more than a feeling but about building groups that can take collective action together. Lesley's stories are characterised by courage and perseverance, something many of us are required to exhibit on a daily basis doing this type of work. Get it where you get pods. Subscribe, rate & share 🙏🏼 Ep.39

It’s World Sustainable Transport Day. What does that mean? Sustainable transport refers to mobility systems that minimise environmental impact, promote social inclusivity, and support economic resilience. It prioritises reducing carbon emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible transport options for all, while fostering community connectivity and collaboration across sectors. More literally, sustainable transport could include active transport (walking & cycling), public transport, electric transport, green transport and more abstractly includes accessible and affordable transport. Aligning investment portfolios with sustainable transport can lead to: • stable, long-term returns due to growing demand and supportive policies. • reduced exposure to risks associated with fossil fuel dependency and regulatory changes. • enhanced public health, reduce emissions, and promote social equity. The transportation sector is the third largest contributor to global GHG emissions, and the only sector where emissions are still increasing even in developed countries, making it vital in our climate crisis battle. Resources mentioned in brief: (1) https://lnkd.in/gGX8vHcT (2) https://lnkd.in/gS92tMyw (3) https://lnkd.in/g9YJ6Anf (4) https://lnkd.in/gUjj-UAs Thanks to the organisations and authors of these reports: International Energy Agency (IEA) 🚀 Ilkka H. José Miguel Bermúdez Menéndez Toril Bosoni Alexander Bressers François Briens Elizabeth Connelly, Ph.D. Joel Couse Laurence Cret Mathilde Fajardy Ciaran Healy Jeremy Moorhouse Youngsun Om International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) ShareAction Christian Wilson SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute Climate & Clean Air Coalition Eleni Michalopoulou Christopher Malley (He/Him/His) Johan Kuylenstierna

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25 - Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (Dec 25). The 2024 campaign - Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women - will draw attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women to revitalise commitments, call for accountability and action from decision-makers. This very much necessitates active contributions by the finance sector. A roadmap for private investors: Investing to address gender-based violence by Criterion Institute and Tiedemann Advisors https://lnkd.in/gmCSuJvb Other library resources https://lnkd.in/gW3eYptu Also see Criterion Institute's process for creating a methodology to predict gender-based violence risk in relationship to financial material risks https://lnkd.in/gN6GutDm #16Days #16DaysofActivism #OrangeTheWorld #Equality #WomensRights #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #EndGBV

We were so blessed to have Alexandra Brown as a founder and crucial part in our existence and growth. We’re equally as blessed to have her as part of our Board so we can continue to pick her immaculate brain. We’re so proud of you, Alexandra. This is so well deserved ✨ If you haven’t heard of Alexandra or the work she does - check it out right now. Give yourself an early Christmas present of ESG knowledge.

The release of LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2024 reveals that the financial services sector is falling behind in the development of green skills. According to LinkedIn, 10.8% of financial services employees have green skills. Only the retail and accommodation sectors have lower penetration of green skills. Just 6.2% of financial services job postings in 2024 required green skills. The low level of green financial services skills comes at a time when the International Sustainability Standards Board’s climate-related financial disclosure obligations are being adopted globally. With Australia’s own climate-related financial disclosure obligations commencing on 1 January 2025 APRA revealed that only 6% of respondents to their second climate risk self-assessment survey had conducted climate risk training for all staff. A personal example of the low level of climate literacy in the financial services industry is from a conversation I had earlier this year on Scope 1,2,3 emissions. The honest question surprised me. “What is Scope?” From our perspective at UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures we see two areas of need. Firstly, we believe that climate literacy for all financial system employees is a foundation for delivering net zero targets. If we can’t have conversations with colleagues on the broadest sustainable finance concepts, then what hope do we have that the financial services sector can be a genuine climate action leader. We are very pleased to share that we have developed two new online short courses for Australian finance professionals looking to upskill in responsible investment and climate risk. We would be happy to engage not only about these courses, but about the opportunity to build bespoke sustainable finance courses for employees. Secondly, we are pleased to share that on 11th February 2025 Alison Atherton and I will be presenting a paper on sustainable finance competency at the 27th MELBOURNE MONEY & FINANCE CONFERENCE 2025 hosted by the University of Melbourne. Our paper will present a concept around how climate competency could be integrated into APRA’s prudential supervision frameworks. As we knuckle down to write the paper we would be very interested to engage. https://lnkd.in/gV-fVPJS