Stay up to date with the latest insights and perspectives from the Finance Unlocked team, and our community of experts
The climate-change solutions and initiatives of the past 20 years have focused almost exclusively on increasing the supply of renewable energy to replace fossil-fuel-based energy, the largest contributor to man-made GHG emissions. Reducing carbon emissions this way is simply not working: renewables capacity and storage is simply not sufficient and the replacement strategy is moving far too slowly as carbon intensity has continued rising.
30th August 2023 • Jonathan Maxwell
When I looked into where Australia was with its Sustainable Finance Taxonomy in mid-2022 as part of the research I was doing at the time for my taxonomy Pathway on Sustainability Unlocked, work was underway but it was fair to say it was at an early stage.
28th April 2023 • Keith Mullin
As New Zealand inherits the climate legacy of larger and more powerful nations, we must turn our attention to leading by example.
23rd March 2023 • Kevin Trenberth
The uproar around the breach of the so-called creditor hierarchy has been fascinating to watch since the announcement of the write-down of Credit Suisse Group’s (CSG’s) AT1 securities. As have discussions around potential class action litigation. It’s not new for investors to cry over spilled milk. In this instance, however, they had plenty of warnings. This topic is close to my heart, principally, as I was involved in the early development of the market in those securities and recall the conceptual discussions with regulators and policymakers, bank issuers, industry bodies, and investors. I am also keen to ensure past mistakes don’t repeat themselves.
23rd March 2023 • Prasad Gollakota
The basic facts surrounding the collapse last week of Silicon Valley Bank seem clear. During 2021, the bank’s deposits increased by $89bn and the majority of this money was invested not in customer loans but in fixed-rate bonds, mainly mortgage-backed securities.
17th March 2023 • Paul Newson
The basic facts surrounding the collapse last week of Silicon Valley Bank seem clear. During 2021, the bank’s deposits increased by $89bn and the majority of this money was invested not in customer loans but in fixed-rate bonds, mainly mortgage-backed securities.
17th March 2023 • Paul Newson
The basic facts surrounding the collapse last week of Silicon Valley Bank seem clear. During 2021, the bank’s deposits increased by $89bn and the majority of this money was invested not in customer loans but in fixed-rate bonds, mainly mortgage-backed securities.
16th March 2023 • Keith Mullin
In essence, ESG taxonomies are frameworks that classify what is sustainable and what isn’t and they set the bar in terms of minimum requirements. As demands for mandatory corporate ESG disclosure grow, so, too, do demands for detail classification methodologies. Do formal taxonomies need to be central to defining what sustainability is? Not necessarily.
22nd February 2023 • Keith Mullin
Kevin Trenberth responds to the World Climate Declaration, allegedly signed by “over 1,100 scientists and professionals”, claiming that “there is,” in fact, “no climate emergency.”
14th September 2022 • Kevin Trenberth
When politicians talk about reaching “net zero” emissions, they’re often counting on trees or technology that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air. What they don’t mention is just how much these proposals or geoengineering would cost to allow the world to continue burning fossil fuels.
7th September 2022 • Kevin Trenberth
Activist challenges argue the toss about legalistic nuances – immaterial in real world
29th July 2022 • Keith Mullin
The core premise of sustainability disclosure regulation.
18th July 2022 • Prasad Gollakota
People never change. Over optimism, wishful thinking, the ability to suspend reality, and herd mentality are human traits that are part of what makes us who we are and won’t just disappear. As a result, the next market bubble is never far away.
21st March 2021 • Peter Eisenhardt
Central Banks could issue Digital Currencies with a time limit. Let’s call them Time Limited Central Bank Digital Currencies (“TL-CBDCs”). Just like those banknotes falling from the helicopter, TL-CBDCs would be backed by the national central bank, and accepted as payment everywhere.
4th January 2021 • Robert Ellison
At its essence, a research analyst’s job is to cut through the volatility, rather than be swept along with the tide, and critically examine the underlying fundamentals of a given enterprise, economy or asset class.
4th January 2021 • January Carmalt
Let me start with a warning. Investment banks are supremely neuro-diverse environments, which makes final-stage interviews highly subjective.
18th November 2020 • Robert Ellison
To develop into a solid investor or sell-side bankers requires heavy commitment early in one’s career.
18th November 2020 • Tim Hall
Technology has and will continue to revolutionise our world and daily lives.
13th May 2020 • Prasad Gollakota
One of my all-time favourite movies is The Sum of All Fears.
13th May 2020 • Robert Ellison
The Finance Unlocked team's response to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2nd April 2020 • Ciaran Rooney