Kathleen Gallagher: Reflections from a week at COP26

A view of sceptical optimism

clock • 4 min read

A week at COP26, a week of more events, speeches, debates and discussions than Kathleen Gallagher can count. There was everything from high-profile politicians and experts speaking about big geopolitical issues around the globe, to nitty gritty technical debates for the investment industry...

There were also protesters of varying numbers throughout the week, culminating in over 100,000 of them taking to the streets to demand change on Saturday. And so after all that, what do I think about the asset management industry and its role in the fight against climate change? Simply put, I think there are reasons to be optimistic, but also I think we need to have a healthy level of scepticism and challenge so that the industry can really deliver. The sheer level of presence of the asset management industry at COP26 and in Glasgow in general is reason enough to be hopeful. The op...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Wealth managers turn to private markets to offset geopolitical risks

Wealth managers turn to private markets to offset geopolitical risks

60% allocation in 2025

Patrick Brusnahan
clock 26 January 2026 • 1 min read
Chris Justham: All I know about love and the next 12 months

Chris Justham: All I know about love and the next 12 months

'There's power in admitting that you don't know'

Chris Justham
clock 22 January 2026 • 2 min read
Rathbones looks for growth after year of internal focus during Investec merger

Rathbones looks for growth after year of internal focus during Investec merger

Growth in funds under management and administration to £115.6bn

Eve Maddock-Jones
clock 15 January 2026 • 3 min read