Our monthly round-up of news, ideas and initiatives related to transforming the UK financial system for people and planet, compiled by the Lab’s CEO, Jesse Griffiths.
Power and the financial system
Here’s why the government’s regulatory ‘race to the bottom’ should concern us all, why deregulation can be bad for the economy, could unleash a wave of dirty money and corporate bad behaviour, and how consumer interests are outgunned by vested interests in this debate.
How much wealth is too much? Millionaires say the influence of the wealthy is eroding democracy. Meanwhile, HMRC is vastly underestimating tax evasion by the wealthy.
What does the rise of ‘non-banks’ over the past five years mean for financial stability?
Why are taxpayers giving the Bank of England £130bn?
Responsible, green investment
The cost of renewables is expected to fall by record-breaking amounts in 2025, while investment in the energy transition was over $2 trillion in 2024. The UK’s green economy is growing at three times the pace of the economy as a whole. All reasons why long term investors have warned asset managers to up their game on climate, but US asset managers are scaling back support for climate resolutions at shareholder meetings. And banks are downgrading sustainability roles.
Almost three quarters of people want their pension to be responsibly invested. How is your pension fund doing on climate? The gender pensions gap is growing.
Here’s why central banks should care more about nature.
And also…
Over 4 million children are living in poverty in the UK.