Knowledge and Insight

Increased market volatility in August saw the majority of major indices ending the month in negative territory despite a minor rally in equities, and a report published this month showed that more science-based emissions targets were set in 2022 than in the previous seven years combined.

In our market commentary for this month – the world’s hottest in “hundreds, if not thousands of years” – there’s some good news in the shape of the EU finally agreeing to pass a nature restoration law, delays to licences for industrial-scale deep-sea mineral extraction, and the president of the upcoming COP28 in the UAE looking to finalise a fund for climate-related loss and damage, agreed at COP27 last year.

Greenbank has signed up to the UK Financial Institutions for Nature Group (G-FIN), led by the Green Finance Institute, alongside 19 other founding members. The group has been created to support investment in nature recovery.

A snapshot of Greenbank’s recent fundraising and volunteering activities.

While June was a slightly better month for some of the major world equity markets, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network reported a third consecutive year of ‘static’ progress for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. New ESG rating regulations were announced for the EU, and The International Energy Agency predicts a slowing demand for oil.

This year, Greenbank is celebrating a 15 year partnership with The Funding Network that has so far helped raise over £1.2 million for 141 non-profit organisations.

In June the UK House of Lords voted in support of an important amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill that would require UK financial institutions to carry out thorough checks on those they fund to prevent the financing of illegal deforestation.

In this annual Engagement review, we provide a snapshot of our activities in 2022 and outline our focus areas as we continue our work in 2023.

While the UK's headline inflation rate fell in May, core inflation rose. There were significant milestones for renewables and the Science Based Targets Network launched a new initiative to help companies build biodiversity and nature into their business strategies.

We are delighted that Greenbank investment manager Rosie Sparrowhawk has been named as one of this year’s Citywire Wealth Manager 30 Under 30, celebrating “the best young talent in today’s industry.”

We are delighted that Sophie Lawrence, stewardship and engagement lead at Rathbone Greenbank Investments has been named as one of the 2023 PAM NextGen Leaders.

April provided some relief for investors following last month’s banking crisis volatility. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations announced a surprise decision to cut oil production by 3.7%, and G7 leaders in Japan made new commitments to renewable energy.