Finance

Unlocking capital for a
net zero future

Trusted data sharing for sustainable finance

Core to IB1's mission is unlocking access to the capital needed for our net zero future. Trust in data is essential to this: our Trust Framework approach drives the adoption of open standards and creates assurable data flows between organisations across energy, finance, and the wider economy.

Cross-sector Perseus live SERI Impact investing Open Banking integration

Sustainable finance spans both the financial economy and the real economy. IB1 helps organisations collaborate, harmonise and implement open standards, applying data governance that catalyses intra-sector, cross-sector, and cross-border data sharing. The data infrastructure for sustainable finance must be as robust as our financial infrastructure.

Why finance

Data is the missing layer in sustainable finance

IB1 Finance

There is an ocean of available capital seeking to support the transition to net zero. But the lack of scalable, trusted data flows is leading to misallocation of resources, missed opportunities, and catastrophic risks on global balance sheets. IB1’s Trust Framework approach creates the data infrastructure that connects energy, emissions, and financial data under common governance.

Assurable data for lenders

Banks and financial institutions need trusted, comparable emissions data to inform lending decisions and meet disclosure requirements. IB1’s approach automates this at scale, removing the need for manual reporting and consultants.

Cross-sector data flows

Sustainable finance requires data from energy, transport, built world, and other sectors to flow into financial products and services. IB1’s federated Trust Framework enables this without centralising the data.

Open Banking integration

IB1 is exploring integration with Open Banking so that Financial Service Providers participating in both schemes can rely on Open Banking for organisational identity and know-your-business checks, reducing duplication.

Regulatory alignment

IB1 engages with the FCA, DESNZ, Cabinet Office, and other bodies to ensure schemes are aligned with current and anticipated regulation, including the UK Data (Use and Access) Act and Smart Data frameworks.

Programmes

Six programmes across finance

IB1 has run finance-sector programmes since its founding, spanning automated emissions reporting, impact investing, insurance, and regulatory frameworks. Each programme follows the Icebreaking methodology and feeds into Trust Services.

Live
Perseus

The UK’s first national cross-sector Smart Data Scheme. Automates GHG reporting for SMEs, unlocking a potential £5-10bn addressable market in embedded sustainable finance. Led by 70+ commercial members including 12 banks and lenders. Read more

Active
FoSDA

Exploring data gaps and holes in sustainable finance data infrastructure with the Future of Sustainable Data Alliance. Mapping the landscape of what data exists, what is missing, and where interoperability failures create systemic risk. Read more

Research
Impact Investing

Data infrastructure for net zero investing. Building the data flows and governance mechanisms that enable impact investors to verify, measure, and report on the environmental outcomes of their investments. Read more

Research
SERI

Defining Climate-Ready Financial Products with the insurance sector. Exploring how trusted data sharing can de-risk insurance products and support climate adaptation at scale. Read more

Complete
Cygnus

Explored the potential for Green recovery from Covid-19. Laid out four criteria for choosing green recovery policies, connecting environmental data to economic decision-making. Read more

Complete
CFRF

Climate Financial Risk Forum. Explored potential regulatory frameworks for climate-related financial risk with regulators and investors. Read more

Flagship programme

Perseus: embedded sustainable finance at market scale

Perseus

Perseus enables automated emissions reporting for every SME in the UK. With the SME’s permission, their energy data flows automatically into their accounting platform and to their lender. No spreadsheets, no data entry, no consultants. Perseus is evolving from ‘financing green’ to embedded sustainable finance, creating a potential addressable market of £5-10 billion.

£5-10B
Potential addressable market in embedded sustainable finance
70+
Commercial members including Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays, Triodos
12
Banks and lenders participating in the Scheme
1M+
Estimated potential reach of UK SMEs via existing members
Learn more about Perseus
Get involved

Ready to shape the future of sustainable finance?

Whether you are a bank, lender, fintech, carbon accounting platform, energy data provider, or industry body, IB1 has a programme and membership level that fits.

All IB1 outputs are CC-BY licensed. IB1 is non-partisan, non-profit, and sector-neutral.