Solutions for a Sustainable Future.

Our economists and finance experts are making a significant contribution to both economic and scientific literature while also shaping practical solutions that are transforming business practices and driving positive environmental outcomes.

Applying the natural capital approach recognises the inherent value of nature and integrates environmental values into economic and political decision-making, while also enabling the integration of environmental considerations into business and markets.

Our success in this area is attributed to the strength of our environmental economics group. Their impactful research has garnered significant traction within policy circles, a testament to the group's expertise and the value they bring to the global conversation.

None of this would be possible without our clear commitment to a truly collaborative, integrated approach. In fact, the Business School is part of a faculty that has been structured to break down traditional departmental barriers, bringing together different disciplines to facilitate research across discipline boundaries, where natural scientists, economists and policymakers can work together to better understand environmental impacts and explore the opportunities for a sustainable future.  

Our support for and commitment to sustainability and environmental economics has played a key role in bringing these fields into the mainstream. As we continue to gather momentum, we’re poised to lead the revolution, consolidating our knowledge and expertise at the cutting edge of AI, in collaboration with climate change scientists and leaders at the University of Exeter.

The decision support tools we’ve created are already empowering decision-makers worldwide to navigate complex environmental decisions in a more confident and intuitive way, leading to more informed choices. These are the decisions that will move us towards the UK’s goal of achieving net zero by 2050 while balancing the economic impacts.

Professor Ben Groom, Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics, is applying his experience and insight to strengthening public policy on biodiversity and investigating how the financial sector and consumer decisions can internalise the costs of biodiversity loss and the benefits of restoration.

Part of a £1.6 million partnership that also includes Exeter’s Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP) and the Department of Economics, Professor Ben Groom’s research focuses on the economic and financial aspects of biodiversity. This includes the value of offsets for carbon and biodiversity, how measure and value biodiversity and nature-based risks for economic decisions and how to ensure that future generations’ well-being is accounted for fairly in present day decision-making. This work is vital to raising the visibility of biodiversity in decision-making and fostering a sustainable future that prioritises long-term well-being.

We’re also exploring the role of sustainability in evaluating risk return profiles in the financial investment markets. Our research is evidencing how sustainability is enhancing customer loyalty, reducing risk and influencing performance.

Leading this initiative is Professor Chendi Zhang, the Business School’s Associate Dean for Research and Impact, Professor of Finance, and Director of Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre. His research into policy implications is using a unique approach, integrating traditional financial and economic tools with environmental and social considerations to understand sustainability.

As a result, his work spans a diverse range of areas from internal carbon pricing strategies to the potential link between a company’s sustainability practices and employee productivity and performance, all with an eye on the implications for investors and long-term profitability.

Our commitment to delivering real-world impact and significant policy changes is evidenced by our work in developing offset markets. These innovative markets are an excellent example of incentivising companies to change their behaviour in a way that is better for the environment but also promotes profit maximisation and has the potential to significantly accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future.