Sustainability in finance and insurance
Catalysts in the global sustainability shift
The financial services industry stands at a pivotal juncture in the sustainability landscape, increasingly recognised as both a critical driver and a key beneficiary of the global transition towards sustainable development. Global sustainable fund assets reached nearly $2.8 trillion at the end of 2023, highlighting a growing commitment to integrating long-term sustainability into financial practices.
Key ESG issues affecting the financial services industry include climate risk management, investment in sustainable projects, data privacy, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, ethical governance, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
How organisations handle these issues influences risk profiles, stakeholder trust, and long-term financial performance.
Finance & insurance case studies
Finance & insurance insights
Meet our specialist consultants for finance and insurance sustainability
James Paull
Client Strategies Partner
James has spent over 15 years working across financial services, consulting and sustainability in London and Sydney. James joined Simply Sustainable when it acquired Carbon Responsible, where he was leading the consulting practice. James began his career at the Financial Conduct Authority, specialising in asset management, following a BSc in Geography from the University of Nottingham.
As Client Strategies Partner, James works primarily across the private equity and sports sectors to bring his real-world experience to businesses. James has managed key relationships his whole career and leverages this skillset to guide organisations through their sustainability challenges with confidence.
James’s background in regulation has placed him well to assist organisations with understanding the drivers of regulatory pressures and evolution. James brings an open, honest and empathetic approach to assisting organisations and values creating long-term partnerships.
Will Bourns
Solutions Manager – Impacts and Dependencies
Will is the Solutions Manager for the Impacts and Dependencies team at Simply Sustainable. He leads the team supporting clients in developing understanding of the risk and quantifying impact on the society and environment. This ranges from initial carbon footprints to deep dives into specific commodities and dependencies on communities and ecosystems.
Will has experience across a range of sectors from financial institutions to food manufacturers and retailers. His expertise includes carbon footprinting, social value and quantifying the impact of land conversion and deforestation and utilising this data to inform business decisions relating to procurement of goods and future investments.
Will studied Zoology and Natural Sciences at the University of Liverpool and since graduating Will expanded his knowledge through memberships at PIEMA and EI.
Laura Russell
Technical Specialist
Laura is a Technical Specialist with expertise in sustainability strategy, transition planning, carbon footprinting, and sustainability reporting. She works closely with organisations to develop science-informed carbon reduction targets and tailored transition roadmaps, using robust data to embed sustainability into business operations and long-term strategic decision-making.
Laura previously worked at a leading consultancy, advising clients across the private and public sectors. Her experience includes decarbonisation planning, carbon footprinting, avoided emissions analysis, and supply chain decarbonisation. She is passionate about using high-quality data and practical insights to help organisations make informed decisions and deliver meaningful emissions reductions.
Laura holds a BSc in History from University College London (UCL), as well as certificates in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute and Business and Climate Change from the University of Cambridge.