Lombard Odier and the University of Oxford have signed a multi-year partnership to foster sustainable finance and investment research, with a particular focus on climate change, circular economy and nature.
The agreement was officially reached between Professor Louise Richardson, vice-chancellor of the university, and Hubert Keller, co-senior partner of the banking group.
The collaboration was announced last year, and is the first endowed professorship in sustainable finance at any major global research university. It involves collaboration between the banking group and the university on a range of sustainable finance projects.
Lombard Odier’s research on climate and nature-related transition risks and opportunities and physical risks has utilised in-depth reviews by panels of Oxford climate and social scientists.
The partnership also provides funding for several Oxford-led research projects, including its report State and Trends of Spatial Finance 2021 and the forthcoming report Grasping the Green Nettle: Country Comparative Advantage and the Green Premium.
Meanwhile, Lombard Odier and the Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment are organising a series of events, to take place during November’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, on the transition to a net zero and nature positive economy.
Mr Keller said: "The environmental transition is the finance industry’s most pressing challenge. Lombard Odier’s ability to lead this conversation and provide frameworks and solutions for reallocating private capital into an environment-friendly economy, is supported by this unique partnership with the University of Oxford and its Sustainable Finance Programme. It provides a robust academic basis to our work, which is focused on understanding the nature of the transition, the alignment of companies and investments, and the value impact linked to these challenges.”
Professor Richardson added: “Oxford’s students and staff are united in our commitment to finding solutions to the grave environmental challenges facing our planet. We are delighted to work with Lombard Odier to ensure the success of our sustainable finance programme.”
