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.
How dirty is the UK financial system?
Here’s how the super-rich are buying UK democracy, how tax havens are thwarting transparency initiatives., and how the UK’s money laundering risks have evolved.
Have fun exploring this new illicit financial flows dashboard.
A ban on crypto donations is a good first step for tackling dirty money. And here are five more priorities for Burnham to show that he’s serious about tackling dirty money.
What is the state of play in negotiations for a UN tax convention? Adopting some of its proposals could increase country’s tax revenues by $500bn a year.
And while we’re on the topic of tax, how much would a windfall tax on banks bring in?
Tackling the climate and nature emergency
Here’s a useful report on how the global energy transition is going, and the 2026 scorecard on private equity and climate risks.
Central banks need to be focusing more on nature. New report out on how the ECB is fuelling biodiversity loss – and how they can do something about it. And this explains why the Bank of England should take nature loss seriously.
How the fossil fuel lobby took control of Trump’s G20, and how Barclays advised clients how to profit from El Niño.
And an inspiring story from Uruguay. How they decarbonised their grid, while maintaining public ownership.
Structural problems and solutions
Will AI create the next financial crash? Or will Trump cause it? And could it arrive this year?
Here’s the latest on the gender pensions gap.
How much does the financialisation of social care and nurseries cost us?
There is real momentum for a Fair Banking Act to grow purpose-driven finance and tackle financial exclusion.
How the Bank of England could stop costing the Treasury so much money.
How to unleash the UK’s state investment institutions.
and also….
How the G20 could help solve the Global South debt crisis.
Africa is not ‘developing’, it is recovering. And it has a hidden solar power boom.
Here’s the 2026 Global State of Democracy report.
The IMF is pushing austerity (again).
Rest In Power, Oscar Ugarteche, what an inspiring life!