Name
James Close
Job Title
Head of Climate Change
Company
NatWest
Speaker Bio
James has spent his career working at the interface of the public and private sectors with a focus on mobilising finance. He is committed to working on some of the most challenging global issues focusing on sustainable development and climate change. He is the Head of Climate Change at NatWest Group supporting the implementation of the bank’s purpose-led strategy.
James and his team were intimately involved in the preparation of NatWest Group’s initial Climate Transition Plan. He is a member of the GFANZ Steering Group and the TPT Delivery Group and also chairs the TPT working group on developing transition plan guidance for banks. He participates in the Transition Finance Market Review Expert Group and chairs UK Finance’s Sustainability Committee. Prior to this role, he was the Head of the Circular Economy Programme for London.
Before returning to the UK, James spent 5 years in Washington, D.C. as the Director for Climate Change at the World Bank. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a partner in the Corporate Finance Practice of the accounting firm, EY and also worked for HM Treasury. James has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
James and his team were intimately involved in the preparation of NatWest Group’s initial Climate Transition Plan. He is a member of the GFANZ Steering Group and the TPT Delivery Group and also chairs the TPT working group on developing transition plan guidance for banks. He participates in the Transition Finance Market Review Expert Group and chairs UK Finance’s Sustainability Committee. Prior to this role, he was the Head of the Circular Economy Programme for London.
Before returning to the UK, James spent 5 years in Washington, D.C. as the Director for Climate Change at the World Bank. Prior to joining the World Bank, he was a partner in the Corporate Finance Practice of the accounting firm, EY and also worked for HM Treasury. James has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.