Systemic solutions and targeted investment that deliver real-world impact are needed to re-energise the efforts of governments, corporates and investors, says Greenback, the sustainable arm of Rathbones.
With COP30 set to be held next month, Greenbank warns that despite progress being made, the world is still on track for a median 2.7%C of warming.
For investors, the implications of a systemic collapse in nature are profound, the firm said. The Amazon dieback represents a potential shock with direct consequences for asset valuations, capital allocation and stranded asset risks.
Greenback says finance must be strategically deployed towards resilience, including protecting climate-critical ecosystems, supporting sustainable land use, scaling renewable energy and storage and investing in smart, flexible infrastructure.
David Cox, head of Greenbank, says: “Targets put numbers on a page, but it is investment in systems that make a difference. We need to deploy finance where it delivers the greatest leverage – upgrading grids to unlock renewables and scale EV adoption to drive down battery costs and protecting the ecosystems that stabilise our climate. Systemic risks demand systemic solutions, and we cannot afford to waste the next decade.
“COP30 offers a once in a decade opportunity. The Paris Agreement set the destination; now we need to build the systems to get us there.”
Ahead of COP, Greenback will publish research into climate tipping points, which underscores what is at stake and describes the tangible impact on inaction.
The cascading impacts are not only environmental but systemic, the research shows: regional food and energy security, global supply chains, inflation, credit risks and financial stability would all be affected.
Greenbank is calling for urgent policy and market action. The specialist teams say focuses include streamlining permitting processes, accelerating investment in resilient infrastructure, embedding tipping point science into climate risk assessments, and ensuring zero-deforestation commitments are integral to both corporate strategies and national pledges.
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