Banking on Nature, with Dana Clouston

Send us Fan MailIn this exciting episode we talk to Dana Clouston, Head of Sustainable Finance at Barclays Business Bank, as she takes us on a journey from her roots in New Zealand agriculture to her current position at the forefront of sustainable finance innovation.Dana shares how Barclays is working toward becoming a net-zero bank by 2050 through three key strategies: supporting clients on their transition journey, providing financing for green initiatives, and scaling climate tech solutions. We cover small businesses—which make up 99% of UK businesses and contribute about half of the country's business emissions— and how they often struggle to prioritise sustainability amidst their day-to-day operational demands. We also talk about the Willow Review, co-chaired by Barclays, which offers a practical five-point plan for SMEs: switch to sustainable materials, reduce travel, minimise waste, adopt renewable energy, and partner with sustainable suppliers. And then finally we talk about nature and farming, and how regenerative farming represents a growing movement with profound implications for both business resilience and environmental recovery, one that's worth the investment. Listen in!  Follow GoodGeist for more episodes on sustainability, communications and how creativity can help make the world a better place.