As part of Andrew’s engagement with Jersey Finance, he and his team will work closely with the industry throughout the remainder of 2020 to provide insights into the rapidly evolving sustainable finance landscape, help set out a clear long-term vision for Jersey as a centre specialising in sustainable finance, and develop an initial two-year strategy that will build on existing and explore new opportunities across the environmental, social and governance (ESG) space.

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, where he was born, as an independent consultancy focusing on seeking sustainable finance solutions globally.

Andrew is also the Founder of Global Canopy, a think tank in Oxford specialising in environmental risks and supply chains, and the co-founder of the Natural Capital Finance Alliance, the leading body engaging banks, investors, and insurers on natural capital. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an emeritus Fellow in Environmental Understanding at Green Templeton College, Oxford.

Joe Moynihan, CEO, Jersey Finance, said:

“Thanks to our approach as a forward-thinking finance centre, 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 who are demanding higher standards of ESG in their portfolios. This will only be accelerated further as the world grapples with the fallout of COVID-19.

“I’m really pleased that we will be working closely with Andrew over the coming months and benefitting from his insights as we look to bring some clarity to our ambitious long-term vision for the industry and develop a bold new strategy that places sustainability at the core of what we do. Doing so will help support our Government’s efforts to build a better, more sustainable future for our Island as we embark on a journey of economic recovery, attract new business to Jersey and positively enhance our reputation on the global stage.”

Andrew Mitchell, Founder of Equilibrium Futures, added:

“I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to help shape a robust and forward-thinking sustainable finance strategy for the Island, in collaboration with Jersey Finance. 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.”

More about Jersey’s capabilities in the sustainable finance space can be found here. In addition, earlier this month, the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) published a consultation paper on proposals to enhance disclosure and governance requirements for sustainable investments, while the Government of Jersey is also pursuing a Carbon Neutral Strategy, and Jersey is also one of only seven pilot cities/territories taking part in the United Nations’ ‘United 4 Smart Sustainable Cities’ initiative.