Bevis Watts: ‘We have to be able to call out greenwash’

Bevis Watts is CEO of Triodos Bank UK, a leading force in sustainable banking based in Bristol.

The bank has an ethos of active positive investment, using ‘the power of finance’ to support projects that generate social and environmental change for the better.

In 2022, they were able to put their name to the provision of social housing for 22,000 people, supply of green energy to 865,000 homes and production of 29.5m organic meals.

Bevis will be speaking at the Blue Earth Summit, an event for ‘purpose-led business’ hosted in Bristol over October 11-13.

He told Bristol24/7 more about his views on the role of finance to facilitate positive change for people and planet, and the inspiration he found on the hunt for wild beavers.

Bevis in action – photo: Triodos Bank UK

What’s the topic of your talk at this year’s Blue Earth Summit? What do you hope the audience will take away from it?

The panel I’m joining is discussing how finance can accelerate the UK’s green transition – it’s a hugely important topic with lots to discuss.

Banks could be doing much more to support the shifts we need to see on major issues such as climate change and inequality. We want to see investment rapidly moved away from harmful areas such as fossil fuels and deforestation and instead channelled into positive solutions – like renewable energy generation, well-insulated and affordable homes and green transport infrastructure.

The one message I hope the audience will take away is that the financial sector has a key role and responsibility in creating a more sustainable future. Whether you’re an individual or a business, choosing a sustainable bank provider re-routes money away from harmful sectors and sends a powerful message to the wider finance industry that enough is enough.

Which speaker are you most looking forward to hearing from?

I’m personally excited to hear from David Olusoga, as learning from our past will help us consider a just transition.

I’m also looking forward to reconnecting in person with the many sustainable finance leaders and advocates who are attending this year’s Summit – including Tony Burdon from Make My Money Matter, Dr. Rhian-Mari Thomas from the Green Finance Institute and Lisa Stanley Mann from Good With Money.

What’s the single most important thing businesses can do to step up on sustainability?

Transparency has always been a key value for Triodos, and it’s something that I’d like to see more of from businesses. Only by being really clear on what we’re doing and where we have to improve can we work out the best way forward. We need to ensure that we can call out greenwash and reward those making genuine improvements to be more sustainable.

Bevis found inspiration on the banks of the River Avon – photo: Bevis Watts

How important are events like Blue Earth Summit in driving forward positive action on nature and climate?

It’s easy to become siloed in this digital age, but human connection and the sense of being part of a broader movement for change are key to accelerating positive action on nature and climate. So it’s key for us to have events like this to come together.

Triodos is proud to be part of various communities and initiatives that are working to change finance for the better and we derive enormous energy and inspiration from that community.

Name one of your favourite outdoor spaces and tell us how it inspires you.

As many in the Bristol area will know, I was very fortunate to spend some time documenting a family of wild beavers living on the River Avon back in 2021. The experience inspired me to write a book: “River Journey: Searching for Wild Beavers and Finding Freedom,” published last year.

A month’s holiday from my day job at Triodos turned into a summer-long adventure, searching for signs of beavers along parts of the riverbank only accessible from the water. These dawn pilgrimages served to deepen my connection with nature and kayaking on the River Avon continues to be a source of inspiration for me.

More information and tickets for the Summit at www.blueearthsummit.com/

Read next:

• Blue Earth Summit: ‘A platform for the future where no one gets left behind’
• ‘Breakthrough’ business and climate summit held in Bristol
• Triodos Bank named charities’ bank of the year

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