No compromise between Performance and Purpose

The searing heat in the capital could not have provided a more appropriate, albeit unwelcome, backdrop to the 2026 edition of London Climate Action Week (LCAW). With temperatures rising to new records, getting around the city became an acute physical challenge. The atmosphere on the tube became almost unbearable and many delegates I spoke to were avoiding it altogether, taking cabs to get around town where they could, primarily to stay cool. This week has truly been a week like no other.  

While hundreds of events went ahead as planned, some outdoor gatherings were hastily rescheduled to indoor venues - ironically to maximise the availability of air conditioning - but some events were cancelled altogether. Nonetheless, this has been LCAW’s biggest event to date. More than 75,000 attendees are reported to have flocked to London. The buzz was tangible. Panels felt more international which was a deliberate attempt by organisers to make the event more global. People also seemed more impatient for action than I have seen so far.  

But what also stood out for me was another urgency: the need for a continued reframing of the climate narrative and opportunity for us to go even further in articulating why climate action matters. Yes, it’s important to protect our precious planet but as corporate affairs advisers, it is our role to show the benefit of climate action on our progress as a society - from jobs to other human and economic advantage - as well as on our planet.   

This week, we heard an example of this in practice from a panel hosted by Formula E, the elite purpose-driven motorsport that leverages the global shift toward electric mobility. Backed by Liberty Global*, the business model trades short-term profitability for long-term growth by prioritising free-to-air broadcasts over massive media rights, and urban street races to engage a younger, eco-conscious audience.  

For major automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar, the series functions as a high-exposure testbed for investment in electrification. At a packed series of panel sessions in Westminster, Formula E CEO, Jeff Dodds told the panel audience: “There is no compromise between performance and purpose”.   

His comments come with a new era of motorsport on the horizon, as we get set for the arrival of the all-new GEN4 series of cars for the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season. The GEN4 represents the pinnacle of sustainable motorsport design, reinforcing Formula E's commitment to the environment. The car features 100% recyclable or reusable construction and is built with a minimum 20% recycled content - double the GEN3 Evo. Formula E’s investment in high-performance technology is already making its ways from the racetrack to the everyday road for the rest of us. 

At SEC Newgate, we curated several events for clients, convening those who drive change - from bankers to asset managers to social enterprises, entrepreneurs, corporates and campaigners who see the need to drive climate and social impact but also spot the huge business opportunity. So, what were our team reflections on this incredible week? 

SEC Newgate’s Alice Cho led our charge curating a number of client roundtables. One brought together senior asset owners, insurers and market participants for Natixis Investment Managers, Building Bridges and Nature Alpha. But what, I asked Alice was on the agenda?  She told me: “The focus was how to move from ambition to deployment in financing the real economy transition, with a clear focus on unlocking scalable, investable opportunities. Discussion centred on the practical barriers to capital allocation – from fiduciary constraints to the need for clearer frameworks and more “investment‑grade” solutions.” 

The conversation then continued informally at a rooftop drinks reception overlooking the City, accompanied by a very special live performance from an Orchestra for the Earth string quartet. SEC Newgate’s Marta Seitz reflected on an interesting conversation with an industry consultant highlighting the momentum in conversations in London post-Trump: “Trump’s ‘anti-ESG initiatives’ move have in fact caused a bit of a positive swell in activity in Europe, as much of the sustainable business focused events have switched to the UK and Europe. The policy conversations are now even more active here than they were before.”   

Last but most definitely not least, SEC Newgate’s event planning guru, Joanna Kent spent the week in an ‘adaptation’ mode of her own: “This week we’ve battled with searing hot weather and storms through to travel disruption. No matter how organised you are, this week was a reminder that successful event delivery is as much about responsiveness as it is about planning - pivoting logistics, managing unpredictable conditions and adapting quickly was paramount.”  

This has been the busiest London Climate Action Week that many of us can remember. The conversations and the record temperatures underline the need for urgent action and the opportunity for corporate affairs advisers to play a key part in driving change. 

*Liberty Global is a SEC Newgate client.