About the APPG…

All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) make a rich and valuable contribution to our parliamentary democracy.  They enable backbench MPs and peers from across the political spectrum to collaborate around a common interest. 

The APPG on Sustainable Finance is a key driver for change and a forum for education that brings together Parliamentarians, organisations and individuals from the private and public sector who share the objective of creating a thriving financial system in the UK which is both sustainable and just. As a world leading financial sector, UK banks play a huge role in financing global business. This success is threatened by evolving threats posed by climate change and nature loss. 15% of the world’s emissions are financed in London and UK banks have been responsible for channelling more than £1bn into companies associated with deforestation since the COP26 summit in 2021. Ensuring a sustainable financial system is essential to both the long-term financial sustainability of the sector, and to the health of our shared environment and societal wellbeing.

The field of sustainable finance policy and regulation is still in its relative nascency. Nonetheless, the challenges facing the planet, and the financial sector as a contributor to these challenges are not a future problem. They are upon us, impacting people and nature in the here and now. A platform for cross-party, multi-stakeholder discussions is necessary to inform these vital efforts to regulate and engage with the financial sector on these issues, and to position the UK at the forefront of the fight to align financial markets with broader planetary and societal needs.

We engage with all stakeholders who have an interest in the fast-evolving fields of sustainable finance, ESG and Impact Investing, and we try to listen to as many voices as possible. As a result, the APPG is in the position to take the lead in driving long-term sustainability both within our financial markets, and in the financial commitments the UK government makes.

Find out more about our governance

Officers

The Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Co-Chair

Members

  • Debbie Abrahams MP

  • Baroness Altmann

  • Callum Anderson MP

  • Tonia Antonazzi MP

  • Lord Bailey

  • Harriet Baldwin MP

  • Siân Berry MP

  • Baroness Blake

Noah Law MP
Chair

Barry Gardiner MP
Co-Chair

  • Steve Race MP

  • Adrian Ramsay MP

  • Mike Reader MP

  • Alex Sobel MP

  • Earl Stopford MP

  • Alistair Strathern MP

  • Baroness Vere

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Co-Chair

  • Andrew Bowie MP

  • Luke Charters MP

  • Lord Davies

  • Ruth Jones MP

  • Jayne Kirkham MP

  • Baroness Northover

  • Lord Oates

  • Sarah Olney MP

Donors

All Party Parliamentary Groups receive no taxpayer funding. There are costs, however, in running a professional and effective group which is done through the secretariat, The Athena Foundation. Funds are required for research, administration, event management, running websites and more. All funds received (no matter how great or small the amount) are declared within the accounts of the Athena Foundation and reported to the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Please note that all monies go directly to funding the salaries and reasonable expenses of our key people; nothing goes, or will ever go, to any officer or parliamentarian. We always seek to minimise costs to make sure your money is spent wisely in order to get justice and compensation for victims and to work towards levelling the playing the field between businesses and financial institutions.

FAQs

  • The APPG brings together senior and influential figures and organisations in sustainable finance, policy, business and civil society in order to understand the key challenges in creating a sustainable and just financial system.

    We believe it is possible to align financial markets with the interests of people and planet. Some measures require action from the government and new legislation. We urge all parties to call on the government to take these necessary steps.

  • The APPG engages equally with all stakeholders to achieve our core objectives. Crucially, we engage closely with NGOs, academics and campaign groups working on a wide spectrum of issues that intersect with sustainable finance, as they hold a wealth of knowledge and experience on how finance and corporations impact our society and planet.

    We work closely with the Government and other Parliamentarians by organising meetings and debates to build support for our reforms. We also engage actively with the financial sector and the regulators so that we can use our position of influence to promote positive and constructive change for the planet and the industry alike.

  • The group receives no taxpayer funding for its work, which means we must rely on external funding to meet the costs required to run a professional and effective group. Funds are required for research, administration, event management, running a website and more.

    We receive project specific funding for individual workstreams. This funding does not influence the work of the group and participants have no influence on the terms of reference of the project or the outcomes of any work, which are at the sole discretion of the APPG in line with our key objectives.

  • All APPGs face the challenge of raising funding without the perception of conflict. It is important to receive funding in order to pay staff and produce research. The APPG is very clear with all contributors that the funding confers no special access, privileges or influence.

  • If you think that the output of the Group can be improved, or if there is an aspect of sustainable finance that is being overlooked by the Group then we welcome representations from all individuals and organisations. If you would like to discuss this further, please email info@theathenafoundation.org.uk.