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Marc Palahí appointment further strengthens Lombard Odier’s sustainability expertise
Following the recent launch of holistiQ1 Investment Partners, a strategic partnership between Lombard Odier Investment Managers (LOIM) and leading systems change firm Systemiq, we are pleased to announce that Dr Marc Palahí will be joining LOIM as Chief Nature Officer.
A world-renowned expert in his field, with over forty scientific works published in prestigious scientific journals, Dr Palahí is a specialist in forests, the circular bioeconomy and climate change. After more than 16 years at the European Forest Institute (EFI) (with the last 8 years as CEO), where he led numerous high-impact scientific projects, Dr Palahí’s objective at holistiQ will be to further develop sustainable investment strategies, with a focus on bringing to scale nature-based solutions to the climate challenge.
Dr Palahí states: “the secret for the decades to come is to recognise that the real asset and the real driver of our economy is nature.” At Lombard Odier, we share this conviction. With at least 50% of global GDP dependent on nature2, we are convinced that today’s linear ‘take-make-waste’ economic model must be replaced with a circular, regenerative model, one that works in harmony with nature, rather than seeing nature merely as a resource to be exploited.
Integrated within the wider support network of Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Dr Palahí will place nature at the heart of holistiQ’s sustainability research. In addition, his experience and skills in this field will enable him to create innovative new investment tools and solutions to support the shift away from carbon-intensive economic activities and towards nature-based models.
Read also: Putting an end to deforestation – starting local, going global
This work will take place alongside Dr Palahí’s continuing role as Chair of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, established by His Majesty King Charles III of England (formerly the Prince of Wales). As a founding member of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, we believe that the growth of a circular bioeconomy will play a key role in building an environmentally and socially sustainable economy, as we look to nature for sustainable alternatives to many of the finite resources used in industry today.
In addition to his deep understanding of the science of climate change, Dr Palahí brings a 360-degree approach to the environmental transition. Indigenous communities are often overlooked, yet, as expert custodians of some of the world’s most biodiverse regions and largest carbon sinks, they have a key role to play in tackling the climate challenge. Across several decades, Dr Palahí has gained an insight into the cultures and economic needs of a number of indigenous and local communities in remote regions. As we build an economy that is Circular, Lean, Inclusive and Clean (CLIC®) it must be remembered that environmental sustainability and social sustainability go hand in hand.
Read also: Indigenous communities – on the frontline in the fight to protect tropical forests
The launch of holistiQ and the appointment of Dr Palahí reflect our ongoing commitment to deepening our understanding of the environmental transition and to strengthening our sustainable investment offering. With a team of over 100 people drawn from Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Systemiq, holistiQ will focus exclusively on bringing forward sustainable investment opportunities and on innovating new vehicles for sustainable finance to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and socially-just global economy.
And at the heart of this story is nature – our most precious resource.
1 holistiQ is a trading name of the Lombard Odier Investment Managers group (“LOIM”) and is not a legal partnership or other separate legal entity
2 Half of World’s GDP Moderately or Highly Dependent on Nature, Says New Report > Press releases | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
Important information
This document is issued by Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd or an entity of the Group (hereinafter “Lombard Odier”). It is not intended for distribution, publication, or use in any jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, or use would be unlawful, nor is it aimed at any person or entity to whom it would be unlawful to address such a document. This document was not prepared by the Financial Research Department of Lombard Odier.
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