Leopard Consulting
Guiding professional services organisations to understand, navigate and comply with the net zero challenge.
The Net Zero challenge for professional services
Today, economic, political and security risk can only be fully understood when set within the context of climate risk and the long-term shift to a low-carbon economy. This shift, requiring huge reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, will affect many aspects of how we live and work and is referred to as the net zero challenge. The task is made harder as it competes for attention with the other topical challenges of income inequality, Russian revisionism, rising China-US rivalry and the polarisation of politics. Though many of these overlap, the U.K. Government has enshrined in law the goal of reaching net zero by 2050, requiring action from all organisations.
Conceptually, net zero is relatively simple to understand: measure your carbon footprint, apply carbon reduction strategies to reduce it by 80% over time, and finally offset any remaining emissions that cannot be eliminated.
In practice, where does one start? We believe that the long-term nature of the challenge is best met through a sequence of education, analysis, and guidance. Our aim is to enable a firm to reach an appreciation of those climate-related issues that are material to their operations and which will need to be addressed. By adopting and integrating a net zero policy, a firm can ensure that it remains both competitive and compliant, appealing to clients who are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious.
Our Services
Always considerate of the evolving nature of climate risk, Leopard Consulting exists to advise professional services organisations on the practical implications of integrating a net zero policy.
Reflecting the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), our services can be tailored to requirements and rest on the three pillars highlighted below.
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Education
Educational sessions that aim to inform about climate risk and the net zero challenge, delivered either as a keynote speech, interactive workshop, or informal briefing.
Topics can range from the general - for example an introduction to net zero regulation or an overview of the physical and transition risks associated with climate change - to the more granular, such as drafting a net zero policy for Board approval or exploring the rise in human rights-based climate litigation against firms.
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Analysis
An educational piece about net zero often reveals where further analysis may be required for a firm.
This might take the form of an initial risk and opportunity assessment on the impacts of physical and transition climate risk on an organisation’s operations or an initial carbon footprint report using methodology in line with the GHG Protocol and BEIS conversion figures, factoring in emissions across energy usage, grey fleet, homeworking, commuting, business travel, hotel use, waste management and goods and services.
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Guidance
Analysis may result in the need for more long-term strategic guidance and ongoing support. For example, the drafting of a net zero policy and strategy underpinned with a practical ‘roadmap’ detailing actions and timelines.
Ongoing support might take the form of monitoring and reporting on climate risk in the news, as well as regulatory developments, or advising on climate risk disclosure in line with the TCFD; for example the drafting and development of climate-based scenario narratives in line with the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) findings.
‘For things to stay the same, everything must change.’
Giuseppe di Lampedusa, The Leopard
Uniquely understanding both sides of the challenge.
Leopard founder, Mike’s introduction to risk management was through military service as an officer and paratrooper in the Brigade of Gurkhas. Tours in South-East Asia and a UN mission to Abkhazia fostered an appreciation of the security risk dilemma facing policy makers. Post-military studies at LSE led to a career spanning two decades in investment management, where senior client-facing roles developed a thorough awareness of market and economic risk and how to manage it efficiently.
After completing an MA in Global Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Mike founded Leopard Consulting to raise awareness of climate risk and the net zero concept, convinced that a broad understanding of the issue is still lacking. Mike’s experience in the field of investment management has given him a thorough appreciation of how professional services firms operate and the internal pressures they face; combined with a speaking style that seeks to engage his listeners, this experience enables him to make the topic of how to manage climate risk and the net zero challenge both relevant and compelling for decision-makers.
BSc Economics & Politics, LSE | MA Global Diplomacy, SOAS | FCSI | Green & Sustainable Finance (CBI) | Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001) | IEMA Carbon Management | Net Zero Strategy (CCP) | Carbon Footprinting (MSQ & BIMA)
‘As the UK’s six million small businesses make up 99% of the UK’s enterprises, employ 60% of the U.K. workforce and generate £2.2 trillion of revenue to the economy, it is crucial these enterprises take action and reduce their carbon footprint.’
UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
