Thanks to its approach as a forward-thinking finance centre, Jersey already has a huge amount of experience in supporting the sustainable finance needs of international governments, businesses, families and investors.
However, it is clear that investors are increasingly seeking investments with purpose, driven in part by a growing recognition of the impact of climate change and by the rise of a new generation of millennial principals who are demanding higher standards of ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) in their portfolios.
Working in partnership with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Jersey Fund for a Wilder World scheme is designed to give financial services firms in Jersey the opportunity to pool a portion of their fees earned from sustainable finance workflows.
The capital built up will then contribute towards Durrell’s Rewild our World strategy, which undertakes projects aimed at reviving, restoring and rewilding diverse habitats around the world, from Jersey and the UK to Mauritius and India.
Durrell will also assume responsibility for monitoring, evaluating and providing a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the investment. Commenting at the launch of the scheme, Dr Lesley Dickie, chief executive of Durrell, said: ‘Through the Rewild our World initiative, we have set our sights on delivering significant change to the fortunes of threatened wildlife through a positive and bold vision for conservation. By bringing together our own knowledge and experience of global conservation with the international expertise of Jersey’s financial services industry, this fund can play an important role in realising our long-term goals.’
Also speaking at the launch, Elliot Refson, head of funds at Jersey Finance, added: ‘The launch of this innovative scheme sends a clear message that Jersey is committed to the ESG agenda and to supporting global investment aimed at driving positive change, at a time when there is renewed vigour and accelerated progress in all areas of sustainable finance.
‘I’m particularly pleased to be working with Durrell, which has such strong roots in Jersey as well as a wealth of expertise and a reputation that extends right around the world. I’m delighted too that this initiative has already had such strong support from firms here in Jersey. This fund provides a fantastic opportunity for firms in Jersey to make a combined, clear and positive difference to natural environments around the world.’
Contributing to the fund is voluntary, and is initially open to fund service providers, including administrators, law firms and accountancy firms, with the intention to ultimately open the fund up to a wider cross section of Jersey’s finance industry.
Visit the Jersey Fund for a Wilder World page at
jerseyfinance.je/jersey-fund-for-a-wilder-world/ for more information, including podcasts, videos and how to get involved.
