Jersey Finance has teamed up with Andrew Mitchell (pictured), founder of consultancy Equilibrium Futures, to support the jurisdiction’s drive to position itself as a centre of excellence for sustainable finance.
Andrew and his team will work with the sector for the rest of this year to provide insights into the evolving sustainable finance landscape, help set out a long-term vision for Jersey and sustainable finance, and develop an initial two-year strategy.
An international thought leader on natural capital and environmental risk, Andrew advises governments, companies and the financial sector on sustainable finance and opportunities linked to climate change and the environment.
In 2019, he established Equilibrium Futures in Jersey, as an independent consultancy seeking sustainable finance solutions globally.
Andrew is also the founder of Global Canopy, a UK thinktank specialising in environmental risks and supply chains, and co-founder of the Natural Capital Finance Alliance, which engages banks, investors and insurers in natural capital.
Joe Moynihan, CEO of Jersey Finance, commented: “Jersey already has a huge amount of experience in supporting the sustainable finance needs of international governments, businesses, families and investors.
"However, it’s clear that asset owners are increasingly seeking investments with purpose, driven in part by a growing recognition of the impact of climate change and the rise of a new generation of millennial principals demanding higher standards of ESG in their portfolios. This will only be accelerated as the world grapples with the fallout of Covid-19.”
Andrew Mitchell added: "The world in which finance has to operate is changing rapidly, with new regulations coming into play, such as the European Taxonomy and Non-Financial Reporting Directive, from which Jersey will not be immune.
"Impacts on planet and people are changing too – the World Economic Forum placed the environment in the top five risks facing companies in its 2020 Global Risks report. As a major IFC, Jersey should be in front of the wave on sustainable finance, not behind it, so this is a great opportunity to see that we get there and to set the pace for others to follow."