In a world increasingly defined by climate crises and social inequality, our economic frameworks need profound reimagining. A fascinating video from 2017 explores how poetry and creative vision might offer us pathways to a more sustainable and humane economy—an insight that feels even more relevant today in 2025. The video can be seen here and starts with a song created by one of the authors.
The Forgotten Wisdom of Poetic Economics
The concept of “poetic economics” may sound unusual to those accustomed to viewing economics as a purely mathematical discipline. Yet this explores how creative, aesthetic, and ethical knowledge can transform our economic systems to offer fresh perspectives on our most pressing challenges.
The 2018 a collaboration between Peter Bradley and Sebastian Berger emerged from over a decade of shared exploration. This discussion demonstrates how economics can be re-rooted in humanities, particularly poetry, creating frameworks that recognize both “the nature of reality” and “the reality of nature”—elements often overlooked in conventional economic thinking.
A Timely Rediscovery
What makes this video particularly significant in 2025 is how it anticipated the growing recognition that social sentiment for sustainable economics is not merely supplementary but fundamental to meaningful and supportive change. The video on poetic economics corroborates the recent findings that social sentiment for a sustainable economy is crucial.
What’s often overlooked in contemporary discussions about economic sustainability, including in recent commentary from political figures like Tony Blair (BBC); is that rationality itself is deeply context-specific. What appears rational in one social or environmental context may be entirely irrational in another. This understanding of situated rationality, extensively explored in Vatn’s paper (2005) and further developed in relation to sustainable economies by Bradley et al. (2021), suggests that our economic models must acknowledge diverse forms of rationality shaped by specific cultural, social, and ecological circumstances. The poetic economics approach presented in the video inherently recognizes this plurality of rational perspectives, offering a more inclusive foundation for sustainable economic transformation than approaches assuming a single universal rationality.
The video examines how socio-ecological economist K. William Kapp’s work drew inspiration from Ernst Wiechert’s art philosophy, novels, and poetry—demonstrating how humanistic sensibilities can inform economic theory and practice.
Poetic economics makes economics more humane, edifying, and sensitive to both natural and social environments. By transcending the limitations of economics as a “dismal science,” this approach invites us to consider not just what is profitable, but what is possible when we bring our full creative potential to bear on our economic challenges.
At a recent Sustainable Finance Water Scarcity Roundtable, hosted jointly by Fintech West, Waterwise and Shakespeare Martineau, Professor of Sustainable Economy, Dr. Peter Bradley shared crucial insights on how water scarcity impacts business models across the UK. The event brought together key stakeholders from the water industry, business sector, fintech, and water efficiency specialists to explore drivers that might encourage businesses to prioritize water efficiency.
Business Perspectives on Water Efficiency Richard Tidswell on behalf of John Gilbert, MOSL
Richard Tidswell explained how MOSL was established in 2017 to create a competitive water retail market for businesses. He shared that only 10% of business water use is non-potable, while 1% of businesses consume half of the market’s total water demand. With 75% of England classified as water-stressed, some business connections are already being refused. Richard highlighted MOSL’s water efficiency dashboard as a valuable data resource and referenced a recent collaborative report exploring incentives for business water reduction.
The discussion raised questions about why mandatory ESOS energy reporting doesn’t include water consumption metrics. Participants emphasized the need for a national narrative around water efficiency similar to Net Zero initiatives, noting that simplifying information would help businesses move from awareness to action. There were calls to share success stories more widely and develop a National Rainwater Strategy to normalize rainwater harvesting practices.
Nothing Happens Without Water, Nicci Russell, Waterwise
Nicci Russell from Waterwise opened the event with some sobering statistics, noting that there’s a 1 in 4 chance of water supply cuts in the next 30 years, with potential economic impacts of £25-40 billion. Daily water use has doubled compared to 60 years ago, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue. The Environment Act 2021 now mandates a 9% reduction in business water use by 2038, underscoring the regulatory push toward greater efficiency
”…The cost of not taking action would be 5 times the cost of taking action now…”
Bhikhu Samat from Shakespeare Martineau followed with insights on policy and regulatory issues, pointing out the pressures on water companies to meet growing population demands while protecting the environment. He highlighted the aging infrastructure—with no new reservoirs built in over 30 years—and called for greater industry and individual responsibility.
Peter Bradley delivered key insights on business models and water efficiency. He highlighted a significant gap in our understanding of business water consumption patterns. Unlike energy usage and circular economy practices, where substantial research exists, water efficiency in the business community remains understudied and poorly documented. He emphasized that better data collection methods will be essential for meaningful progress, noting that current price mechanisms provide only minor incentives for businesses to improve their water efficiency practices.
Peter offered several practical considerations for businesses approaching water efficiency. He suggested companies evaluate whether their customer base values sustainability, as this connection could provide business value beyond simple cost savings. He recommended examining both direct water usage and the often-overlooked indirect water consumption embedded in production processes—categorizing water as blue (surface and groundwater), green (rainwater), and grey (recycled). This comprehensive approach allows businesses to understand their total water footprint more accurately.
”…AI, is likely to change industrial and commercial water use and there is a need to plan our regional strategies carefully…”
The changing environmental and economic context was another key point in Peters analysis. As water prices increase, consumer behaviours shift accordingly. He noted the tension between flood and drought management, suggesting improved rainwater harvesting could address both issues simultaneously. Peter also highlighted how technological shifts, particularly the increasing use of AI, will likely transform industrial and commercial water demands, necessitating careful regional planning and innovative approaches.
Benjamin Gardner from the University of Surrey addressed innovation and behavior change, emphasizing that education alone is insufficient to drive change. He presented the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) for behavioral diagnosis and shared research using shower sensors to influence water consumption habits.
Discussion facilitated by Claire Spendley, Waterwise
The roundtable discussions revealed that financial considerations, business continuity risks, and ESG credentials are primary motivators for water efficiency. Participants called for water use to be included in mandatory reporting (similar to ESOS energy reporting) and emphasized the need for a national narrative comparable to Net Zero initiatives.
The event concluded with a call for better data access and a consistent narrative to turn awareness into action—a sentiment that aligns perfectly with our ongoing research at SERG. As we continue our work on sustainable resource management, we remain committed to developing the evidence base and practical tools that businesses need to address the growing challenge of water scarcity in the UK.
Is there a way of creating a competitive advantage through water efficiency – increasing revenue opportunities, or offering water credits?
The transition towards sustainability necessitates significant financial resources. While investor behaviour for green investment products has received some attention, the consumer adoption of such products remains poorly understood. This study investigates the behavioural reasoning of adopting sustainable current accounts on a household level through a quantitative study with a national representative sample of 1,501 consumers in the Germany. The most prioritized factors for adoption of these accounts were sustainable self-efficacy and values. Trust in the bank provider, and financial literacy were found to be less potent factors. Further, the study identified five distinct clusters, to derive deeper insights on the diverse market segments to establish more targeted industry and policy responses due to yet limited uptake. The results highlight the need for measures by product providers and policymakers to increase self-efficacy and raise awareness of the impact of private finances on sustainability to accelerate the adoption of sustainable banking products.
About the Author:
Sophie Klein is a PhD Candidate in Sustainable Business and Finance with a diverse background spanning research institutes, the corporate sector, and international organizations. Her primary research interest revolves around financing the sustainable transition of incumbent business models. This encompasses the mapping of corporate financial structures in transforming business models, financing the phase-out of ‘unsustainable’ business models, and investigating the role of financial intermediaries and the effectiveness of financial instruments in sustainability transitions. Her commitment extends to teaching activities, such as the master course “Strategy, Economics, and Societal Impact” and “Social Impact Consulting Challenge” module.
Furthermore, Sophie actively engages in facilitating collaborations between Utrecht University and external stakeholders, fostering shared research projects with broad impact. Within the Pathways to Sustainability community, she leads and orchestrates the interdisciplinary program “Scaling up nature-positive investments and biodiversity finance“. Additionally, Sophie serves as a board member of the UN Global Compact Young Sustainable Finance initiative.
Date: 29th February Time: 3pm-4pm Location: Bristol Business School
Professor Victoria Wells from the University of York will be Joining SURG on the 29th of February to present her findings on: Transitioning beyond single-use plastic drinks cups: an emergent social marketing case study in Scotland
Victoria Wells holds the position of Professor of Sustainable Management at the School for Business and Society, University of York. Before joining York, she was on the faculty at Sheffield University Management School, Durham University Business School, and Cardiff University Business School. She obtained her PhD from Keele University. Prior to her academic career, she spent several years working in industry as an advertising account executive.
Professor Wells is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Certified Management & Business Educator, and a Chartered Marketer. At the School for Business and Society, she has previously served as Head of Group (People, Operations and Marketing) and Deputy Dean (Operations).
About the study:
This study aims to investigate whether consumers and small businesses can transition from disposable to reusable coffee cups, using a community social marketing intervention, led by a Social Purpose AQ: An emergent case study approach using multiple sources of data developed an in-depth, multifaceted, real-world context evaluation of the intervention. The methodology draws on citizen science “messy” data collection involving multiple, fragmented sources. Moving from single-use cups to reusables requires collective commitment by retailers, consumers and policymakers, despite the many incentives and penalties applied to incentivise behaviour change.
Difficult post-COVID economics, austerity and infrastructure gaps are undermining both reusable acceptance and interim solutions to our dependence upon disposables. Although the non-traditional methodology rendered gaps and omissions in the data, the citizen science was democratising and inclusive for the community. Our practical contribution evaluates a whole community intervention setting to encourage reusable cups, integrating multiple stakeholders, in a non-controllable, non-experimental environment in contrast to previous research.
This paper demonstrates how small community grants can foster impactful collaborative partnerships between an SPO and researchers, facilitate knowledge-exchange beyond the initial remit and provide a catalyst for possible future impact and outcomes. To assess the impact at both the outcome and the process level of the intervention, we use Pawson and Tilley’s realist evaluation theory – the Context Mechanism Outcome framework. The methodological contribution demonstrates the process of citizen science “messy” data collection, likely to feature more frequently in future social science research addressing climate change and sustainability challenges.
UWE Bristol and Fintech West invite organizations and wider stakeholders to discuss finance in the transition towards Net Zero.
Our workshop invites participation from all backgrounds – business, academia, government, and communities alike. Together we’ll discuss sustainable finance’s role in our regional transition to NetZero. Attend just to listen or contribute your thoughts. We extend an open invitation for anyone interested in the future, all you need to do to attend is register.
Why Attend
The South West leads change and is renowned for ethical, environmental, and social impact initiatives. Our workshop utilizes that momentum to address Sustainable Finance and its implications. Attending makes you an active participant in shaping the region’s progressive journey and gives you a voice in our fiscal future. Gain first-hand knowledge of ongoing initiatives, explore collaborative efforts already in motion, and understand what else must be done.
Save Your Seat for Change
A sense of urgency in delivery is lacking to achieve the UK’s binding NetZero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 (Climate Change Committee, 2023). Transitioning to NetZero demands substantial investment, but also promises extensive job and skills opportunities. Active participation from all sectors is crucial to driving the action and change needed to meet this critical goal.
Why Your Presence Matters
No matter your background, you hold a critical role in enabling a sustainable future and green economy. Your insight and participation can directly increase access to the research, funding, and support needed for positive social and environmental impact. By attending, you have a prime opportunity to help shape and accelerate the sustainable finance initiatives so urgently needed. Your involvement matters.
Agenda
9.00 – Registration and networking
9.25 – Welcome from Peter Bradley (UWE)
9.30 – Stuart Harrison FinTech West
9.40 – WECA – Plan for innovation
10.00 – Alex Ivory BCC – Mission Net Zero Project
10.20 – Kai Johns Rathbones – Water scarcity and Net Zero; The role of investors
10.50 – UWE Bristol – Sustainable finance and investment
If you, or anyone from your organisation would like to attend please complete the registration form. For more information or if you would like to get involved with planning or presenting at this event please contact Peter Bradley
Directions for those that have registered.
Full directions to the venue can be found in the confirmation email that will be sent a few days before the event. Google maps directions from UWE East entrance can be can be found here for those that need it.
Chris is a Senior Advisor to the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers and is affiliated to the University of Southampton as adjunct faculty. He was the founder and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Finance at The London Institute of Banking & Finance and a faculty member lecturing on derivatives, risk management and sustainability. He spent ten years as a visiting lecturer at the Judge Business School, Cambridge University and has tutored at Oxford University.
He has over 20 years experience in investment banking, with a focus on the risk management and structuring of derivative-based transactions. He has significant exposure to a wide range of asset classes: Foreign Exchange, Interest Rates, Energy Commodities, Emerging Markets, Credit Derivatives and ‘XVA’.
His principal research interests relate to development and sustainable finance and the interaction of public and private sector financial markets, in particular the mobilisation of private capital in support of the SDGs.
Title: Financing the Sustainable Development Goals: Private sector perspectives on ’bankability’
Abstract: Mobilisation of the private sector in support of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relies on creating bankable projects in which the risk can be shared or transferred to private sector banks and investors through suitable financial instruments in an executable format. This paper brings a new perspective to the opportunities and constraints to mobilisation through interviews conducted with 22 senior, front-line investment bankers from 18 banks with a total asset base of $25.6 trillion. Using a thematic analysis, the interviews demonstrate that (i) market structure and practices of MDBs are not always aligned with the private sector, and (ii) the technicalities of risk, reporting and taxonomies create mismatches between the goals of MDBs and private sector banks. These effects constrain the potential flow of bankable projects that can be financed, but also suggest avenues for future research to increase capital mobilisation.
For an invite to this seminar please Email Peter Bradley – peter.bradley@uwe.ac.uk
One of the greatest challenges of our time is the climate crisis. This is reflected in the UK governments aim to become a net zero economy by 2050 (BEIS, 2021), and to halt the decline of species by 2030 (UK Government’s Environment Improvement Plan 2023). Given the importance of green jobs to such a transition, there is much interest in this area from the academic, policy and business communities. This is clearly articulated in the UK’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which places “green jobs at the heart of our economic revival”, and the government’s positive response to the Skidmore Review, which calls for “robust regional green job statistics – ideally at local authority level”.
Internationally, empirical testing of green growth theories has been hampered due to the lack of consensus as to what constitutes a green job. This has also made the comparison of cross-country studies challenging. While in the UK, empirical studies on green jobs have further been limited due to the lack of availability of robust, large-scale data.
Workshop aims
The aim of the workshop is to bring business leaders, policy makers and academics together to push forward the green jobs research agenda, particularly in relation to the UK. In order to do so, delegates will be provided with an update on the Office of National Statistics work on defining green jobs, as well as an overview of the work undertaken by the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Sustainable Economies Research Group (SERG), which documented the current state of knowledge in international empirical studies into green jobs. The workshop will be interactive with delegates invited to identify the most pressing areas of interest for the different communities. Through facilitated discussions, the aim is to stimulate research ideas and identify areas of common interest between attendees. The output of the discussions will be a report identifying and prioritising the most important research areas/questions to the different communities.
Who is behind the workshop?
The workshop is a collaboration between the University of the West of England’s Sustainable Economies Research Group, the Office for National Statistics (ONS),the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Who should attend
We anticipate the workshop to be attended by a roughly equal mix of business leaders, policy makers (including government analysts in policy areas), and researchers (in academia, government, or the third/private sectors). Specifically, this workshop should be of interest to:
Policy makers and business leaders with specific questions not currently (or obviously) addressed by existing research
Policy makers and business leaders wishing to explore the potential for research collaborations in their areas of research interest
Researchers and policy makers who have an interest in the definition of green jobs
Researchers who have (or would like to develop) an interest in analysis of green jobs
Researchers looking to identify and explore new green job research areas
By registering you are agreeing that any data collected (either through the registration process, or during the event itself) can be used to support a study to document areas for green jobs research and its relative importance. Any information collected will be made anonymous for reporting purposes.
The UK has a legal responsibility to be net zero by 2050. Most local authorities are aiming to do this by 2030. This has created a catalyst of change, a new found interest in sustainable finance from investors, asset managers, regulators and academics alike. The speed in which this change needs to happen is in line with the industrial revolution – In other words, the biggest economic opportunity since the railways.
We will bring together financial experts, economists, local authorities and practitioners. Inspiring collaboration, conversation & debate on recent trends. We will work to explore & bridge existing data gaps on ESG and climate finance.
Day 1: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing
The first day of this symposium has a range of key speakers with a focus onESG investing.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing has grown rapidly over recent years. The amount of professionally managed portfolios that have integrated ESG into their asset allocation has been growing consistently . The rise of ESG reflects the view that Environmental, Social, and Governance factors can affect investment returns. “If some companies and industries fail to adjust to this new world, they will fail to exist” (Carney, 2019).
Societal awareness and attention towards ESG factors such as climate change related risks, responsible business conduct and inclusivity in the workplace suggest that ESG factors not only will influence investors decisions and financial performance in the future but also financial stability.
Despite the impressive growth of ESG, challenges still remain such as a lack consensus on what financially-material information influence expectations of returns and risks, how best to measure climate risk for risk management purposes, inconsistencies within ESG ratings that can lead to misleading results for investors, and the lack of standardization on ESG disclosures amongst others.
Focus Group
The aim of this focus group is to bring business, policy makers and academics together to review thier perspectives of the current state of the art on ESG issues when investing worldwide and in the UK. Delegates will provide overview of current gaps within ESG investing and highlight potential challenges.
Through facilitated discussions in the focus-group session in the afternoon, the aim is to stimulate research ideas, identify areas of common interest between attendees with particular focus on the future challenges for the further development of ESG. The output of the discussions will be a paper identifying and prioritising the most important findings.
Day 2: Climate finance: barriers, challenges and financial mechanisms
The second day of the symposium will be focused on climate change finance hosting a range of speakers.
Bristol is one of the 25 European successful bids for funding (£1.3 million) that has joined the Mission’s Pilot Cities program. The project will create a Net Zero Investment Co-Innovation Lab to test potential financial mechanisms and solutions to address climate change.
As part of this project, various mechanisms and approaches to bring about and increase climate finance will be trialled. For this reason, it is important to understand what is going on in Bristol and elsewhere in the world in relation to the range of ideas and approaches to increase climate finance. Particularly in relation to attaining investment from private sources given current budget and financial constraints of UK local governments.
Focus Group
The aim of this session is to bring business, policy makers and academics together to review the range of mechanisms and approaches that could be deployed in Bristol. The session will ask how can we bring about investment in decarbonisation and what the barriers and opportunities are. Delegates will discuss climate finance and highlight potential challenges.
The facilitated discussions aim to stimulate research ideas, identify areas of common interest between attendees with particular focus on the future challenges for the further development of climate finance at the city level. The output of the discussions will be formed into a paper identifying and prioritising the most important findings.
By registering you are agreeing that any data collected (either through the registration process, or during the event itself) can be used to support our study. Any information collected will be made anonymous for reporting purposes.
Schedule
Day 1: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing
10:00 – 10:20
Registration
10:20 – 10:40
Introduction By Dr Richard Hall (DIT)
10:40 – 11:20
Dr Peter Bradley, Dr Maksud Onal, Dr Emmanuel Adu-Ameyaw (UWE) Sustainable investment & finance summary of research areas and gaps in the literature
11:20 – 11:30
Refreshment Break
11:30 – 12:10
David Willock (Lloyds)- TBC
12:10 – 12:50
Professor Ismail Adelopo – Governance and sustainable finance
