Climate Confident How Your Pension Could Be the Biggest Climate Lever You’re Ignoring
When people think about tackling the climate crisis, they often talk about energy, food, or transport. But what about money? In this week’s episode of Climate Confident, I sat down with Scott Ryan, founder and CEO of Investature, to unpack one of the biggest blind spots in corporate climate strategies, the financial supply chain.
Scott argues that pensions, retirement savings, and even our everyday bank accounts may be the largest single drivers of greenhouse gas emissions for many organisations, often dwarfing their direct operations and traditional Scope 3 supply chains. He explained how most retirement funds are still heavily invested in fossil fuels and high-pollution industries, even though those assets will almost certainly become stranded as the world pushes for net zero.
The numbers are staggering. Globally, pensions account for over $100 trillion. Redirecting just 1% of that towards climate solutions would close a third of the climate finance gap, enough to massively accelerate the transition in energy, mobility, agriculture, and adaptation. Yet most companies and individuals remain unaware of the scale of this leverage.
We explored why financial supply chains have been overlooked in frameworks like TCFD and GRI, and why leading employers are now beginning to integrate sustainable retirement options into their benefits. Scott also shared practical steps individuals can take, such as shifting to green banks, exploring climate-positive ETFs, or pushing employers to offer sustainable pension plans.
This is not just about risk management; it’s about turning finance into a genuine engine for climate solutions. If you’ve ever wondered how your savings could work for or against the planet, this episode will give you a fresh lens on climate action.
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Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper