Nature is ‘something to invest in’ as well as save, expert to tell summit

“Nature is not only something to save, it is something to invest in,” a sustainable finance expert is expected to tell a summit in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Andrew Mitchell, founder of Equilibrium Futures and an adviser to the UN, will tell the Ethical Global Finance Summit that too much “doom” in the narrative around climate change is counterproductive, as it causes people to “switch off”.

Instead, he will say in his keynote speech, the narrative around climate change needs to change from “less doom to more boom”, in order to unlock nature’s potential as “one of the greatest investment frontiers of the 21st century”.

The summit will be attended by deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and former first minister Humza Yousaf, as well as leading figures from some of the world’s biggest financial, tech and energy organisations.

It is part of the wider Edinburgh Finance Festival, which started earlier this week and runs until September 26, with the organisers saying it is bringing an estimated £1 million boost for the city’s economy.

During his speech Mr Mitchell is expected to say: “I’ve come to realise that doom, by itself, doesn’t mobilise governments, and it doesn’t mobilise markets – at least not enough.

“In fact, governments strapped for cash and businesses pressured for growth tend to switch off from a message of crisis without solutions. Doom fatigues people. It paralyses action.

“In today’s world, we don’t just need awareness, we need momentum. That’s why we need to shift the story, from less doom to more boom.

“This means recognising that nature is not just a victim, but a vast, underexplored arena of opportunity. Nature is not only something to save, it is something to invest in.”

He will add: “When we stop seeing nature only through the lens of cost and start seeing it through the lens of value creation, we unlock a new pathway: one that resonates with policymakers, with investors, and with the public.”

The summit will also be addressed by Hans Stegeman, chief economist at Triodos Bank, one of Europe’s leading sustainable banks.

He is expected to stress the need to transition from “extractive models” like fossil fuels to renewables.

“If capital remains tied to fossil fuels and extractive models, we tip into collapse,” he is expected to say.

“But if we direct it toward regenerative farming, circular industry, new ownership models, we accelerate the positive transitions society needs.”

The festival is organised by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), which focuses on sustainability, tackling climate change and promoting social justice.

GEFI managing director Omar Shaikh said the event will highlight how finance can be a “force for good” at a time of “global tensions and climate pressures”.

“There are many reasons to be optimistic, such as the surge in electric vehicles on the UK’s roads and the growth of offshore wind projects, which prove that major sectors can embrace sustainability at the same time as triggering economic growth,” he said.

“By the end of the summit, and the wider Edinburgh Finance Festival, we are aiming to demonstrate that sustainable finance is no longer just a concept but a driver of real-world change.”