"Mourning over a genuine leader in conservation and carbon management: Tributes flood in for Mikkel Larsen"
Mikkel Larsen, a Danish national and a key figure in the world of finance and conservation, passed away on January 23, 2022, at the age of 50, following a stroke. Known for his intense passion and commitment to making the world a better, fairer, and kinder place, Larsen left an indelible mark on the financial industry, particularly in the realm of nature-based finance.
Before his role at Climate Impact X (CIX), Larsen was head of tax and accounting policy at DBS, where he made history as the bank's first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in addition to his other duties. His tenure at DBS also included leading a working group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), helping corporates better understand their impact on nature.
Larsen's career in finance was not limited to DBS. He previously held positions as Asia Pacific chief financial officer of UBS and worked for Citigroup in London and professional services firm KPMG in London and Denmark.
At CIX, Larsen focused on improving the carbon market and advocated for mechanisms to ensure that projects benefit Indigenous peoples and local communities, and deliver real impact on the ground. His efforts played a significant role in establishing Singapore as a regional carbon markets hub.
Larsen was not just a carbon financier; he considered himself an animal rights activist first. He was religiously committed to leading an environmentally-conscious lifestyle and was mindful of limiting his ecological footprint. This commitment extended to his work, as he pushed for sustainable practices within the financial sector.
In the months leading up to his death, Larsen published several thought-provoking articles. Two weeks before his passing, he wrote an article discussing the debate over whether the Global North should pay for forest conservation and the comparison between conservation and reforestation. In another article last December, he deliberated over the growing requirements for carbon projects to prove their validity, the additional cost for project owners, and how this would affect the buyers of carbon credits.
Larsen's leadership qualities were highly regarded by his peers. Known to be a reluctant CEO, his former colleagues praised him as compassionate, generous, and "intensely human". Steve Howard, vice chairman of sustainability for Singapore state investment firm Temasek, described Larsen as a person who lived with "incredible intensity of feeling and passion". Fabian Huwyler, managing partner at Swiss green finance firm Posaidon Capital, praised Larsen as a "banker who pushes the nature agenda" and a "pioneer" in the nature finance market.
One of Larsen's most significant achievements was DBS becoming the first listed company in Singapore to integrate sustainability into financial reporting. Genevieve Ding, Asia Pacific head of carbon credits and nature-based solutions at e-commerce firm Amazon, called Larsen a "genuine leader" in the conservation and carbon space.
Larsen's legacy continues to inspire those in the field of finance and conservation. His dedication to making a positive impact on the environment and his commitment to social responsibility serve as a reminder of the potential for change within the industry.
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