James Close Email & Phone Number

London, England, Gb

Edinburgh, Scotland, Gb

We recognise that climate change is a critical global issue which has significant implications for our customers, employees, suppliers, partners and ourselves. NatWest Group has many years’ experience in supporting our customers’ transition to a low carbon economy but the scale and pace of activity required is now rapidly accelerating. Our ambition is to be a leading bank in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland helping to address the climate challenge. Playing a leading role in climate change is central to the implementation of our purpose-led strategy. Principle sponsor of CoP26

London, London, Gb

Our aspirations are to make London the world’s leading low carbon circular economy city.Working with a committed team of outstanding professionals, my role is to create the right conditions for a circular economy to flourish in London by developing the circular economy strategy and vision and accelerating London’s transition to a low carbon circular economy.

After returning to the UK from the World Bank and prior to taking on my next full-time role, I am undertook a combination of consultancy and voluntary roles whilst overseeing the eco-renovation of my house. Roles include:• Advisor to the Global Centre for Adaptation with responsibility for preparing the strategy. • Chair of the Advisory Board of the Blockchain and Climate Institute.• Preparation of a business plan to expand the foremost sport and social change agency by developing a proposition for creating and implementing purpose-led strategies for organisations. In this capacity, I have also worked with Lewis Pugh, the ocean’s advocate on reducing waste, via circular principles, for healthier oceans. • Trustee of the Trust for Sustainable Living which amongst other things, runs the Living Rain Forest attraction in Berkshire and an international essay competition on sustainability. • Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Advisory Committee for the ICAEW.• Leading seminars including, for example, at CoP24 and, for the ICAEW, leading a webinar on carbon pricing to optimise resource management.

Washington, Dc, Us

I am the director of the Climate Change Group in the World Bank. My team is responsible for climate policy, knowledge and partnerships, the Global Facility for Disaster Recovery and Resilience and the World Bank Group’s involvement in several climate funds including the forests and landscapes funds, the Climate Investment Funds, the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund and the Montreal Protocol. We focus on external engagement, working with many stakeholders, to promote the importance of addressing climate change and increasing the awareness of the implications for developing countries. I have led teams working on many major events including the Climate Change CoPs and the Innovate4Climate conference. Working across the organization, we are also responsible for the mainstreaming of climate change across the World Bank Group. We are responsible for the development and monitoring of the Climate Change Action Plan which defines the World Bank Group's commitment to addressing climate change.

The Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) is a World Bank hosted, multi-donor trust fund that works with post conflict states and the poorest countries in the world to help them build institutional capacity to attract private investment into infrastructure.It provides technical assistance to governments in developing countries in support of the enabling environment conducive to private investment, including the necessary policies, laws, regulations, institutions, and government capacity. It also supports governments to develop specific infrastructure projects with private sector participation.I took over the management of the PPIAF at a time when its role and effectiveness was being challenged by donors. We rebuilt the team and, together, created a new strategy and rebranded the trust fund, improved the dissemination of knowledge and implemented a social media strategy consistent with donors’ expectations. The strategy and realignment of the team enabled an increased rate of disbursement and approvals and an increase in impact as measured by a sophisticated but practical M&E system.

I was trusttee and non-executive director of this high profile charity whose mission is to deepen understanding between the public, private and charity sectors. I also chaired the Finance committee.WIG provide a range of opportunities to bring business, government and the not-for-profit sector closer together, to learn from each other and co-create solutions. They help their members understand how other organisations think, develop their leaders together, help them input to policy, broaden their networks and learn from each other.WIG is a charity, independent and neutral. Established in 1984, our charitable purpose is to build understanding and co-operation between the sectors for the greater public good – a nation better governed, business better informed and society better served.

London, Gb

My career at Ernst & Young focused on energy and government. I was recruited to build up the UK Government and Public Sector (GPS) and I was an important part of the success of the GPS business by positioning the firm on some of the biggest agenda items including the Government Finance Profession and the energy agenda.I was responsible for EMEIA GPS Corporate Finance growth and worked with in the EU peripheral to position EY's practices for growth in those markets. I also led EY's energy policy work in the UK with DECC and have worked with colleagues build EY's capability in advising governments with a focus on the low carbon economy. I worked for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as the client service partner responsible for the independent assurance of the NDA work program (which also included co-sourced internal audit and financial due diligence of the work program and budget as a joint appointment to the UK Government and the NDA). I also advised on the reorganization of the Office of Nuclear Regulation and was asked to join the Chief Nuclear Regulator's, Dr. Weightman, advisory group on issues associated with the reorganization specifically and nuclear regulation generally.I worked with several corporates to develop their energy strategies to ensure security of supply, reduce price volatility and reduce their emissions. I was also responsible for EY's advice to the public and private sectors on electric vehicles, their financing and roll out.I regularly produced reports which are published including a report for the Mayor of London on London as the Low Carbon Capital and for the Secretary of State for Business on the Opportunities for the UK in the Low Carbon Economy. I frequently appeared in the print, television and radio media and I was often sought out for my opinion.

Worldwide, Oo

As a director in the consulting practice, I provided strategic and corporate finance advice to government and private sector clients. Working across service lines, I provided advice to the government on the refinancing of Royal Mail and the creation of the Nuclear Decomissioning Authority as well as advice to the Forensic Science Service on the move to a government owned company. I frequently spoke at conferences in the UK and overseas on infrastructure and the governance is state owned enterprises.

London, Gb

I was the first external secondee to head up a Treasury team building credibility with Civil Servants, Ministers and Special Advisers. I developed a team from 8 high performing civil servants to 14 plus support and enabled a successful merger with PFI unit which included a further 8 people. As part of my role, I developed the policy for the creation of the Shareholder Executive and helped recruit Richard Gillingwater as Chief Executive liaising regularly with Sir Andrew Turnbull, the Cabinet Secretary. I was responsible for the Treasury's contribution to the completion of the London Underground PPP, NATS refinancing, QinetiQ sale to Carlyle and British Waterways PPPs. I also led the team’s work with departments to develop governance for BNFL, Royal Mail, Partnerships UK and the Royal Mint. I was heavily involved in developing PPP and PFI policy with a specific responsibility for financing.

I led the strategic review of the nuclear industry in a joint appointment by BNFL and DTI. I was responsible for thought leadership, business development and delivery of projects to separate water company asset ownership from operations. I worked across the Firm providing leadership to initiatives in the infrastructure sector resulting in several projects bring together consulting, corporate finance, accounting and audit expertise. I also developed an investment appraisal methodology for utilities and applied it in UK and international assignments.

Throughout my career, I focused on strategy, corporate finance and major change programmes. Tyical assignments included:- Programme director for the restructuring of the Power Sector of Andhra Pradesh- Successful sale and delivery of financial advice to United Utilities, National Power and ESB (the Irish Electricity Supply Board)- Utility sector thought leadership and business development- Strategy and restructuring projects for London Electricity, Scottish Power, Midland Electricity and Iranian, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Slovak and Greek power sectors