Fintech PR

Cushon launches the world’s first Net Zero pension

Published

4 years ago

January 19, 2021

Cushon, the fintech workplace savings disrupter, today announces the launch of the world’s first net zero pension.

The launch responds to growing demand from employees who are increasingly concerned about the impact of their pensions on climate change. Recent research from Cushon^[1] showed that 68.6% of employees are concerned that their company pension could be investing in businesses that are contributing to the climate crisis. 87.9% of employees want their employer to take action to address this, for instance moving to a pension provider that’s making a positive impact on climate change (39.8%).

Choosing to use a climate-friendly pension provider is an easy way for businesses to significantly reduce their employees’ contribution to global warming. Cushon’s Net Zero pension will enable employers to help their people contribute to the deceleration of climate change quickly, easily and meaningfully via the choices they make for their company pension. In so doing, they will help to protect our environment and align towards the Paris Climate Agreement and a 1.5 degree world.

Cushon’s pension is the first of its kind in that it is Net Zero now – not later – unlike competitors in the market adopting long-reaching targets to achieve the same status by 2030 or even 2050.

Each year, the average UK pension member unknowingly finances 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions^[2] through the businesses their pension invests in. That’s the equivalent of running either nine family cars each year, using 940 gas propane cylinders, or burning 1,100 coal fires annually, simply as a by-product of saving for retirement. Investors would need to recycle for 19 years, or plant 30 acres of new forest to counteract these effects.^[3]

While there are a number of pension investment funds claiming to be socially responsible, these funds often come with higher charges and are still a long way away from being net zero – a target set by the UK Government to be met by 2050. Cushon’s pension is Net Zero right from the get-go.

A big plus for employers is that a move to a Net Zero pension would also increase employee engagement rates. Cushon’s research shows that 62.4%[4] would engage more with their pension if they knew it was making a positive impact on climate change. To further boost engagement, Cushon is also launching a new app which allows members to see all their pensions, other savings and investments in one place. It’s fully transactional, and employees can change contributions and transfer in other pension and investment pots.

Commenting on the launch, Ben Pollard, Founder & CEO, Cushon, said: “At Cushon, we know that people want their retirement savings to help tackle climate change without sacrificing returns. We wanted to find a very real way of making this work by delivering a pension that is Net Zero now. By choosing a Net Zero pension, employers are helping their employees have a direct and significant impact on climate change. The demand that we have already seen for our Net Zero pension is testament to this and we are now working towards being able to offer the same philosophy through our other product offerings. We’re so excited to be able to bring all of these products together so that our customers can see and manage all their investments together in an intuitive and engaging user interface.

“The idea of Net Zero investing is shamefully poorly developed within the fund management industry. We work with three of the largest fund managers in the world, and only one of them was even able to tell us the CO2 emission levels of their funds. To ensure there is no impact on returns, having reduced the emissions financed by the funds as far as possible via solutions that are currently available ‘off the shelf’ from our fund managers, Cushon is paying to offset any residual emissions out of the company’s own money. We have worked with Vertree to select a range of Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) projects, with 75% of projects being triple, double or single gold rated under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard.”

Supporting the launch, Richard Curtis, Co-Founder of Make My Money Matter, said: “The launch of a pension that is net zero now – not later – shows what is possible from the pensions industry when tackling the climate emergency is taken seriously. This new pension, with robust sustainability credentials, will be the first of its kind and so we are delighted to partner with Cushon as they continue to integrate environmental criteria across the board.

“This is the kind of leadership that the pension industry – and world – needs in the years ahead as we look to transition to a green economy post Covid-19. With COP26 taking place in Glasgow next year, all eyes are set to be on the UK and its environmental credentials, so it is great to have firms like Cushon taking concrete steps to address the climate crisis, which should hopefully incentivise more providers across the industry to follow suit.”

Related Topics:Ben Pollard Cushon latest-news Richard Curtis

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Fintech PR

KuCoin Launches KuCoin Pay, a Merchant Solution Leading the Future of Crypto Payments

Published

4 hours ago

January 2, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant leap forward for digital commerce, KuCoin has unveiled KuCoin Pay, a pioneering merchant solution designed to catalyze business growth by integrating crypto payments into the retail sector. This innovative system bridges the gap between traditional retail and crypto, offering contactless and borderless transactions. Leveraging KuCoin’s robust infrastructure—trusted globally and serving over 37 million+ users – KuCoin Pay is poised to open new opportunities for merchants and users to thrive in the evolving digital economy.

KuCoin Pay is committed to reducing transaction fees and facilitating immediate settlement of crypto payments, simplifying the process for businesses to manage transactions efficiently. The platform supports an extensive range of cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks, significantly broadening the global reach of payments.

The process for merchants is straightforward: integrate KuCoin Pay into their payment systems, allowing customers to complete purchases through KuCoin by scanning a QR code or via the KuCoin app. This integration ensures a frictionless checkout experience, fostering greater consumer confidence and satisfaction.

Additionally, KuCoin Pay is integrated within the KuCoin app, enabling businesses to tap into KuCoin’s extensive user base while simplifying the buying process for everyday items for users. Daily requests such as gift cards and mobile top-ups can be done seamlessly, further promoting widespread crypto adoption.

KuCoin Pay represents a major milestone in driving the mainstream adoption of crypto and marks a pivotal step in KuCoin’s ongoing commitment to enriching the blockchain ecosystem. For more information on KuCoin Pay and how it can transform your business, please visit the KuCoin Pay website.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and an exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 37 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots. KuCoin has garnered accolades such as “Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges” by Forbes and has been recognized among the “Top 50 Global Unicorns” by Hurun in 2024. These recognitions reflect its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

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Fintech PR

KuCoin Advances the “Menstrual Equity Project”, Benefiting 4,000 Women in the Bahamas

Published

7 hours ago

January 2, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

NASSAU, Bahamas, Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On December 31, 2024, the “Menstrual Equity Project” , jointly initiated by KuCoin, Global CSR Foundation, and the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), has made new progress. The second batch of aid supplies has been successfully shipped to the Bahamas, providing urgently needed sanitary products for 4,000 local women and effectively improving their quality of life.

The “Menstrual Equity Project” aims to offer sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions to marginalized women and girls, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the oldest multi-specialty medical organization promoting women’s advancement in the medical field and improving women’s health, AMWA’s mission is in perfect alignment with KuCoin’s commitment to social responsibility.

With the support of the Office of the First Lady of Commonwealth of Bahamas H. E. Ann Marie Davis, this round of donated materials focuses on disposable menstrual pads. This decision reflects the local challenges of water scarcity and high washing costs, while also providing essential emergency supplies for women during natural disasters such as hurricanes and typhoons.

Since KuCoin made a firm commitment to social welfare initiatives during the “KuCoin Green Future Gala” at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in 2023, the company has actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibilities. The “Menstrual Equity Project” has become a key initiative under this commitment.

In March 2024, the project’s first phase was implemented, distributing 1,000 menstrual kits—each containing 10 sanitary pads and 2 menstrual cups—to Suriname, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and domestic violence shelters in New York and California.

The smooth delivery of the second batch of supplies to the Bahamas will benefit 4,000 women.

Jing Zhao Cesarone，President of Global CSR Foundation, commented:”KuCoin has set a remarkable example in addressing period poverty in underserved regions, demonstrating its enthusiasm and dedication to social responsibility.”

Nancy Cheung, KuCoin’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), emphasized:”As a global leader in the digital economy, KuCoin is committed to advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on key areas such as climate change, health, and education, driving more philanthropic initiatives to fruition. We also plan to expand the scope of the ‘Menstrual Equity Project,’ collaborating with more international organizations to improve women’s living conditions and contribute to global sustainable development.”

About KuCoin

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Fintech PR

Inaugural PHBS-IER Conference Highlights Cutting-Edge Economic Research

Published

11 hours ago

January 2, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

inaugural-phbs-ier-conference-highlights-cutting-edge-economic-research

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The inaugural PHBS-IER Conference, jointly organized by Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) and the International Economic Review (IER), held at PHBS from December 22 to 23. Centered on the theme “Financial Frictions for Firms and Households: Implications for Economic Development and Government Policies,” this two-day event brought together an impressive assembly of over 130 senior professors and emerging scholars from prestigious universities worldwide, including Princeton University, The University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, The University of Southern California, Emory University, University College London, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, and Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

One of the most anticipated moments of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Nobel laureate Thomas Sargent. In his presentation titled “Fiscal Consequences of the US War on COVID,” Professor Sargent traced the evolution of US fiscal and monetary policy from the 19th to the 21st century. He noted that such crises like the long-term impact of wars on fiscal and monetary policy, often lead to fiscal deficits, significant price volatility, and enduring institutional changes. Furthermore, he discussed the complex interactions between fiscal, monetary, and tax policies, particularly emphasizing the role of “game theory” in shaping policymaker decisions. He underscored the importance of “budget constraints,” “coordination between monetary and fiscal policies,” and “power distribution” in managing these challenges.

Other notable presentations covered a broad range of topics and fields within economics. These included research on the impact of multinational corporations on technology development and innovation, investigations into the reallocation and pricing of illiquid capital in financial markets, and explorations of the effects of low interest rates on inflation and debt rollover.

The conference received a total of 211 high-quality paper contributions through an open call for submissions. Among these, eight were ultimately selected for inclusion, six of which were featured in a Special Issue of the IER. Leveraging this opportunity, PHBS and IER aim to deepen their collaboration, establishing an annual exchange platform that will ignite research vitality, promote high-level economic research, and contribute valuable insights to the advancement of economics in Asia and across the globe.

https://english.phbs.pku.edu.cn/info/1021/44872.htm

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