ESG Transformation: Conversation Series

Sustainability is now firmly at the top of the agenda, but the term has an enormously wide scope. To give some structure to the sustainable lending market, mirroring the approach of the bond market, two categories of sustainable loan are developing sustainability-linked loans and green loans.

In episode 6 chaired by Emily Barry, Gary Hommel and Nick Turner will look at their use in the real estate finance market. 

In episode five, infrastructure partner Nicholas Carney is joined by partners Silke Goldberg and Timothy Stutt from our global ESG leadership team, to discuss why ESG is a core element of city planning and to bring you examples of how different cities from across the world are embracing ESG to build back better.

In this episode Partner Nicholas Carney is joined by Lewis McDonald (Global Head of Energy) and Matthew White (Head of Planning, London), to discuss the pressing need to make our energy consumption more efficient and cut emissions as our cities continue to grow.

As demand for energy continues to grow and emissions continue to rise, the need for cleaner sources of energy is paramount. In this podcast, Tim Pawul, Oil & Gas Council hosts a discussion with Nigel Jenvey, GaffneyCline and Lewis McDonald, Herbert Smith Freehills to explore ESG and decarbonisation in the context of oil & gas around the world, elaborating on the 5-step model for decarbonisation.

Covid-19 has highlighted the need for businesses and investors to develop a robust approach to ESG and corporate purpose. In this episode, Rebecca Perlman, Herbert Smith Freehills is joined by Philip Collins, Columnist at The Times and former chief speech writer to Tony Blair; and Will Martindale, Director of Policy & Research at the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. Our speakers draw upon their wide-ranging experiences to discuss the short-term ESG risks and opportunities and how to prepare for the months ahead as we move into the recovery phase.

As the shift to integrate sustainability into investing continues to develop, an array of new rules and requirements are released as regulators attempt to catch up to investor demand. 

In this episode, Ashley Hamilton-Claxton, Royal London Asset Management, shares her:

• views on how pension schemes and asset managers are responding to recent legal and regulatory changes relating to pensions and ESG
• insights on how attitudes to ESG risks are being affected by Covid-19
• tips on how trustees should go about preparing their new investment implementation statements
• expectations for how this area is likely to develop in the coming years, and
• thoughts on what the DWP's proposed new requirements regarding climate-related risks would mean for trustees and asset managers.

What do the Government's audit and corporate governance reform proposals mean for companies?

In this podcast, we discuss the UK Government's long awaited consultation paper on audit and governance reform with the Financial Reporting Council's Kate O'Neill, Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Affairs, and Miranda Craig, Director of Strategy and Change. The consultation paper proposes some fundamental reforms in a number of areas in relation to audit, corporate governance and corporate reporting. In this podcast we consider some of the key issues for corporates including in relation to director liability and accountability, risk management and internal control process and procedures and audit and assurance.  Visit the FRC website to hear more about the consultation and share your views.

Speakers: Gareth Sykes, Of Counsel, Kate O'Neill, Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Affairs and Miranda Craig, Director of Strategy and Change at the Financial Reporting Council

In this podcast, we discuss the Financial Reporting Council's Review of Corporate Governance Reporting with Maureen Beresford, Head of Corporate Governance at the FRC. The Review is the first to consider reporting in accordance with the 2018 edition of the UK Corporate Governance Code and considers issues including, compliance with the Code; purpose, culture and values; succession planning; diversity and stakeholder engagement. We discuss each of these themes in this podcast and look ahead to the 2021 AGM season.

Speakers: Gareth Sykes, Of Counsel and Maureen Beresford, Head of Corporate Governance at the Financial Reporting Council