Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ)

🌏 Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ) brings together banks, business, policymakers and regulators to define and implement the interventions needed to accelerate the UK economy's transition to net zero. Together, with our members, we represent a pre-competitive coalition, creating the political imperative for action on net zero and paving the way towards UK decarbonisation. Why join Bankers for Net Zero? Hear first hand from a range of our members... Lynne Baber Elisa Moscolin Matt Bullivant Ian Sutherland Tide Sage OakNorth PwC UK

Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ)'s Reaction to new government’s pledges in the King’s speech Yesterday King Charles III announced 39 bills that the new Labour Government seeks to introduce in the next Parliament. A number of these bills could significantly accelerate the transition to net zero and we at B4NZ are pleased that the government appear to be making this a key priority from day one. We are especially pleased with the following announcements: ⚫ Great British Energy Bill: This Bill will see the creation of Great British Energy to invest public money in renewable energy projects and facilitate private sector investment.  ⚫ National Wealth Fund (NWF): Confirmation that a National Wealth Fund will be created to invest in net zero projects including carbon capture, EV battery manufacturing, and low-carbon steelmaking,   ⚫ Digital Information and Smart Data Bill: This bill will be presented to Parliament and includes proposals to set up Smart Data schemes which will allow the sharing of a customer’s data upon request with authorised third-party providers. The creation of this infrastructure will support Project Perseus, our SME GHG reporting framework being developed with Icebreaker One. We also note that the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill seeks to boost housebuilding but does not explicitly reference key points such as EPC reform or energy efficiency measures. The government did commit to a £6.6 billion Warm Homes Fund in their election manifesto, which would support investment in insulation, solar panels, low carbon heating, and batteries. We look forward to seeing the government’s plans in this area in the coming weeks.

Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ) at the PRASEG - All Party Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group Parliamentary Reception 🌍 ☀ Last night, the B4NZ team had the pleasure of joining PRASEG for their parliamentary reception on the day of the State Opening of Parliament. It was a beautiful evening, and the team was delighted to see so many new and returning parliamentarians. It was inspiring to see attendees from across the political spectrum coming together to discuss the political outlook for renewable energy under the new Government and how we can accelerate the transition to clean energy and net zero. Evenings like this leave us excited to continue engaging with partners through the year at party conferences, New York Climate Week, COP29 Azerbaijan and beyond! Laura Bailey Heather Buchanan Hannah Cool Agnes Kay

🌟 Exciting Announcement: The Official Release of the B4NZ Spotlight Series! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce the launch of our B4NZ Spotlight Series, a celebration of the remarkable efforts and innovative projects spearheaded by our dedicated members and their organisations. This series is a testament to the impactful work being done within our ecosystem, highlighting the strides we are making towards a sustainable and net zero future. As B4NZ turns 5, we take immense pride in the collective achievements of our community. Our members are at the forefront of driving change, implementing sustainable practices, and championing initiatives that pave the way for a greener, more resilient world. A heartfelt thank you to our members for their extraordinary contributions. Your commitment and hard work are truly inspiring. 📢 Join Us: Get in touch if you would like to join the collaboration accelerating the UK towards net zero. Stay tuned for the inspiring stories and insights that will be featured in our Spotlight Series. Together, we can dare to be extraordinary. Tide Santander UK British Business Bank HSBC Allica Bank ClearBank Handelsbanken OakNorth Paragon Impact Paragon Banking Group PLC Triodos Bank Ecology Building Society NatWest Group Atom bank Oxbury Bank Plc Perenna Development Bank of Wales Tred Perenna Aldermore Bank Institute of Directors (IoD) Kamma Data KPMG UK Opna Sage PwC UK WWF-UK Tim Lord Will Smith Tessa Vincent Karen Ellis Carmen Cheng Heather Buchanan Hannah Cool Richard Winder Timothy Coates Oliver Thornton Orla Shields Matt Bullivant Conrad Ford

⚡ Stiff headwinds facing Starmer's clean energy plans... In a recent article by Reuters, Angeli Mehta discusses the ambitious clean energy plan proposed by the new labour government, which aims to make Britain a leader in clean energy by 2030. Heather Buchanan, CEO of B4NZ, emphasises the critical role of public and private sector collaboration in achieving these goals. She notes that while the plan presents a strong start, its success hinges on overcoming several challenges such as ensuring adequate funding, maintaining political stability, and securing long-term commitments from all stakeholders. Heather also highlights the importance of creating thousands of quality jobs in the renewable energy sector and the need for a just transition to ensure no community is left behind. Rachel Solomon Williams Laith Kharus Whitwham Chris Stark https://lnkd.in/etQNF9NC

B4NZ at the The Spectator Summer Garden Party 🥂 ☀ Last night, B4NZ's CEO Heather Buchanan and COO Hannah Cool had the pleasure of joining the Spectator Summer Garden Party. Despite the best efforts of the Great British weather, Heather and Hannah were delighted to see so many new and familiar faces and hear the attendees’ priorities for the next parliament. At B4NZ, we hope that political stability returns and that the incoming government will make net zero a top priority from the start. As ever, our members seek policy clarity, commitment, and consistency and we look forward to working with members of the new parliament from all parties to this end. Thank you Spectator! Jamie Anderson Meghan Green Anna McMorrin

🌟 🌎 Exciting News at Bankers for Net Zero! We are thrilled to announce that Hannah Cool has joined Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ) as our new Chief Operating Officer. Hannah brings a wealth of experience in sustainability, having spent the last decade working at KPMG and PwC, where she made significant contributions to advancing environmental initiatives and sustainability strategies. Hannah's expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward our mission to accelerate climate action across Government, finance and industry. Her deep understanding of sustainability practices, experience in technical innovation and her extensive experience in working with diverse stakeholders make her a perfect fit for our organisation. We are excited to have Hannah on board and look forward to the innovative approaches and fresh perspectives she will bring to our team.

🌿 We are thrilled to share that one of our esteemed members, Oxbury Bank Plc has made a groundbreaking step in the realm of sustainable finance. Last week, they published their Natural Capital Report, seamlessly combining their TCFD and TNFD disclosures. This achievement marks them as the only UK headquartered bank to disclose in terms of TNFD to date. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ePuuZfR4 This milestone demonstrates their unwavering commitment to transparency, environmental stewardship, and leadership in sustainable finance. At Bankers for Net Zero, we are incredibly proud to support and collaborate with such forward-thinking institutions. Congratulations Oxbury! Timothy Coates Carolien Samson James Farrar

🌹 The Labour Party has secured a landslide victory in the UK General Election, marking a pivotal moment in British politics. This significant achievement brings renewed focus on sustainable development and climate action with the party pledging to prioritise the establishment of Great British Energy and aims to achieve a decarbonised energy grid by 2030. Heather Buchanan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Bankers for Net Zero (B4NZ), said, "Congratulations to Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. At Bankers for Net Zero we welcome a move to political stability and clarity on the UK's collective journey to a just and resilient net zero future. Britain is well-positioned to be at the forefront of the global economic transition to Net Zero and at Bankers for Net Zero, we have been working hard to unlock the significant private sector ambition for mobilising trillions in green finance. We have a route to unlocking significant financial flows and supporting the real economy, delivering more green jobs and economic growth! With the right political ambition and support this is achievable. The financial services sector, and wider green economy, are hungry for strategic direction and a clear and defined policy environment. Consistency will be critical in capturing the UK’s long-term productivity and to mobilise trillions in private sector net zero investment. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with the new Government as we collaboratively harness the extraordinary green growth opportunities available to the UK."

B4NZ Anticipating the General Election Results! 🌟 Last night, the Bankers for Net Zero team had the pleasure of joining a dynamic mix of business, media, and political representatives at SEC Newgate UK to await the pivotal 2024 election night exit poll. We were thrilled to hear from special guests, Sonia Sodha, Lead Writer for the Observer and Radio 4 Presenter, and Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos Mori. Their expertise provided a comprehensive state-of-play and valuable insights into what to expect as the evening unfolded. What followed was a night of anticipation as we watched the poll counts trickle in... Thank you SEC Newgate! Naomi Kerbel Alistair Kellie Heather Buchanan Hannah Cool Jamie Anderson Aidan Murley Oliver Lattin