Interview guest - Bevis Watts (CEO of Triodos Bank UK, a leader in ethical and sustainable banking)

Co-host - Ed Dick (CEO of Great Yellow, a company that sources long-term capital for nature restoration projects)

We’re often joined by guests on Planet Possible who identify and look to take action to solve the challenges that we face in our water and environment. But we don’t often talk about how the work gets paid for.

We know that water customers' bills can provide funding for environmental improvements or flood schemes, and governments can pay directly for infrastructure improvements.

At a level beyond this, though... who benefits when we improve our natural environment and therefore who is willing to fund those improvements and why? Plus, a bigger question... how do we get better at truly valuing nature in a way that global financial structures can understand, work with and amplify?

Could green finance be the answer? Can it play a massive part by funding the planet-positive projects, innovations and processes that can start to address the world's urgent environmental challenges?

Helping to answer these questions are two expert guests. Our main interview is with Bevis Watts, the CEO of Triodos Bank UK and to help us navigate this topic our co-host is Ed Dick, the CEO of Great Yellow.

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Find out more about the projects that Bevis mentions in the episode...

• Wyre NFM project: press release and video overview of the finance model
• Oxygen Conservation: web article
• Read how Triodos has pioneered commercial investment in nature-based solutions. This is Nature Impact - find out more here.

Find out more about the North York Moors Local Investment in Natural Capital project that Ed talks about here...

https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/local-investment-in-natural-capital/

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Welcome to our January MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.

In this episode we're joined by Julie Foley, Director of Flood Risk Strategy & National Adaptation at the Environment Agency and we explore...

1. The recently updated flood and coastal erosion risk information for England that means one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by the middle of the century.
2. 2024 was the 4th warmest year on record in the UK – so why do we talk about weather but find climate such a tricky topic?
3. How to achieve greater inclusivity of multicultural communities in flood projects.

Check your long term flood risk... https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk

Our 2024 Season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

As we record this episode at the start of January, wherever you are in the world your news is likely to be filled with images of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, or temperatures well below freezing alongside flooding across much of the UK.

And whilst climate and it’s impact on weather might be making the headlines, we know that nature and the biodiversity crises are inexorably linked to this challenge.

So in todays episode we explore just how linked climate and nature are – and potentially could be in UK legislation. Ahead of the Climate and Nature Bill heading to Westminster we're joined by Dr Roz Savage MBE, the MP who is bringing the bill forward.

Our Co-host is the former Chair of the UK Governments Climate Change Committee and the longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment for the British Government, The Right Honorable The Lord Deben.

Thanks to Atkins Realis for supporting Planet Possible.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland