Investing and finance in climate emergency

  • 5 March 2020
  • Webcast
  Investing and finance in climate emergency

Investing and finance in climate emergency

The consequences of our impact upon the planet are already being felt today. A major cause of the problem is our insatiable consumption habit, which is responsible for four fifths of Scotland’s carbon emissions.

When you consider the energy required to grow, make, process, transport and provide materials, we can no longer drain natural and limited resources to make products that are used for a short time before being thrown away. Disposability is often the most convenient option, but when products are designed to be used once, or replaced after a short time, then it’s the planet, and ultimately all of us, who lose out. In addition, this constant hunger for new materials to find and extract raw materials triggers a range of environmental issues, from deforestation and loss of species and habitat to water scarcity and plastic pollution. Under media and public scrutiny, it’s time for us to turn away from a linear system towards a circular economy where everything has value and nothing is wasted.

Zero Waste Scotland’s Chief Finance Officer, Lynn Murray discusses the opportunities for businesses presented by the circular economy and what that means for investors and financiers, from new business models to closer relationships with customers.

Lynn Murray, Chief Finance Officer, Zero Waste Scotland -

Lynn joined Zero Waste Scotland five years ago when the company was formed to establish the corporate support function. She is on the Executive Leadership Team and is a Chartered Accountant with 25 years’ experience in the private, public, charitable and not-for-profit sectors. Lynn is a member of the ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) Sustainability Panel and on the forum for Directors of Finance of public bodies.