Pippa Gawley

We are delighted to share that we have supported Greensphere Capital LLP with a Capital Call Facility for its Gaia Sciences Innovation Fund. The fund invests into venture to early-growth stage businesses that are science-led, leveraging cutting-edge climate and biodiversity science from 12 world-leading bioscience and environmental science institutes across the UK to select or spin-out innovative climate tech companies. Divya Seshamani, Managing Partner, Greensphere Capital: “The team at HSBC Innovation Banking understand innovation and are very aligned with the Gaia Sciences fund’s aims of mitigating the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It’s been a pleasure to work with them to get this facility up and running.” Great work from everyone involved, including Aleksandra Cison, CFA, Iga Nowak and Finn Mould from our Strategic Fund Solutions team.

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Yesterday, the winners of the third round of the UK’s Advanced Fuel Fund (AFF) competition were announced. Seventeen SAF projects have been awarded grants to support pre-FEED, FEED, or select EPC activities. It’s interesting to observe the evolving technology mix among AFF winners over the three funding rounds: • Window 1 (2022): 4 Fischer-Tropsch (FT) projects (70% of funding), 1 ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) project (30%) • Window 2 (2023): 6 FT projects (63%), 1 ETJ (17%), 1 methanol-to-jet (MTJ) (11%), 1 pyrolysis + hydrotreatment project (8%) • Window 3 (2025): 10 FT projects (53%), 3 ETJ (29%), 4 MTJ (18%) The share of ethanol-to-jet and methanol-to-jet technologies grew noticeably in the latest round, likely indicating a shift in focus among SAF developers in the UK. What are your thoughts on this? #SAF #Decarbonization #Methanol #Ethanol #AviationFuel #MTJ #ETJ #FischerTropsch #UK #AFF

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People often say reuse and circularity is easy to do on a building site... 👷 This post, by one of our senior consultants at Useful Simple Trust sets out some great lessons on the realities trying to make this work. When Kimberley Ertl went on site at The Museum of London whilst on secondment with Sir Robert McAlpine she saw great opportunities for salvage and reuse, bringing positive impact (from reducing waste, helping a charity organisation and / or removing the need for new virgin material). With the help of Keltbray they developed a salvage strategy - and actioned it (because just writing a strategy does not mean it will be automatically enacted unfortunately as all us consultants know!) So, how to do it and embed it. It involved redefinition of waste, building potential into the tender, demonstrating positive value and greater impact, and getting the champions established and listened to on site. Read the full piece to hear Kimberley's experience. 🏗️ https://lnkd.in/e23ZiPqk

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The role of data in addressing Climate change I was delighted to speak on the Data for Good Stage at Big Data London today. My focus? Why it’s vital that we highlight successful "Green" Innovation from Scotland. Scotland can now generate the equivalent of more than 100% of its daily electricity consumption from renewable sources, proof that ambitious climate goals can be delivered. What makes this especially relevant at Big Data London is the way that digital and green innovation converge. From smart grids and predictive analytics to offshore wind optimisation and digital twins, Scotland has become a testbed where data accelerates the path to Net Zero. Through initiatives such as Net Zero Nation we have proved that collaborative action works as the enabler. This ecosystem in Scotland isn’t just about achieving Net Zero it’s about creating jobs, attracting investment, and generating solutions with global relevance. When it comes to Climate Tech Scotland is exporting knowledge as well as clean energy. By sharing this story, I hope to have shown how data and innovation can deliver real-world climate action and why Scotland’s journey deserves a global stage. #BigDataLondon #NationalInnovationWeek ScotlandIS Scottish Business Network Net Zero Nation RX Global #bdl2025

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How can AI drive decarbonisation? AI can be a great multiplier of the global decarbonization efforts. From balancing renewables on the grid to predicting/optimising building energy use, optimising transport logistics, improving industrial efficiency, and supporting sustainable farming.... Solutions are many and AI has the ability to multiply emission reductions across nearly every sector. At the same time, we can’t ignore the footprint of AI itself. Globally, it already accounts for around 1.5% of electricity use. Training one large model can emit as much emisisons as 300 flights between New York and San Francisco. Check here the impact of Chatgbt: https://lnkd.in/dF8cJnQs Want to read more about AI environmental impacts? Check this: https://lnkd.in/dXn9SXNu So the question isn’t whether AI can support decarbonisation... because it can! The question is whether its own growth will align with climate goals. AI’s exponential rise makes this moment critical. We need to be honest about its trade-offs, while recognising that with the right policies and ethical design, AI can accelerate the transition to Net Zero. If used wisely.... Here is a nice read from the UK about AI use for decarbonization. 📢 Follow Majd Fayyad for more insights about sustainability and decabronisation #MajdTalks

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Today’s DESNZ announcement is welcome, but policy certainty is needed for investment. The UK ETS should be incentivising the right economic and environmental outcomes as we transition to a circular economy. To do this, the timeframes must align with the EU and we must implement the recycling legislation that will remove fossil plastics that can be recycled, out of the waste stream. Simpler Recycling, pEPR and a mandatory 50% recycled content threshold will deliver decarbonisation in the most efficient and effective way. We thank DESNZ for their extensive industry engagement on these issues and look forward to continuing working with them to provide further clarity on cost allocation, timelines and emissions measurement. #EmissionsTradingScheme #ETS #PolicyUpdate

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Yesterday, our CEO, Caroline Bragg, joined Ian Collins on TalkTV during the Conservative Party Conference to discuss recent comments around net zero, including Kemi Badenoch’s suggestion to repeal the Climate Change Act. Recent shocks such as the crisis in Ukraine saw energy bills rise by 74% and are a stark reminder of the volatility of our energy system. As Caroline highlighted the big question is protecting people from this volatility in the future and providing a stable environment for the long-term investment required during the transition to net zero. The Act has given businesses the stability to plan, invest and innovate in decarbonisation. 🏭 From energy security to global competitiveness, it is crucial that we maintain course for net zero without undermining progress.

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In July, the Capgemini Defra Client Account partnered with Pollenize CIC to deliver a BioBlitz Day in a London green space combining ecological data collection with the wellbeing benefits of time spent in nature. Using the iNaturalist Classic app, volunteers from Capgemini and Defra recorded hundreds of insect and plant sightings, contributing to global biodiversity data and supporting pollinator health. The event builds on our long-standing collaboration with Pollenize, which began with the Tech4Positive Futures initiative and led to innovations like the NestSweeper app and QR-coded wildflower seed packets. “It was fantastic to see colleagues come together through a shared commitment to social value whilst using technology in a meaningful way.” Rosanna Boxall, Defra Client Sustainability Community Lead This is a brilliant example of purpose-driven teamwork and strategic alignment with the Defra Client Account’s Sustainable Delivery Charter. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4g7B6tV #CapgeminiUK #Defra #DefraClientAccount #BioBlitz #TechForGood #Sustainability #Pollinators #Rewilding #DigitalInnovation #Floradex

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