The global auto sector – which includes original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of passenger, light, and heavy-duty vehicles as well as auto suppliers – contributes to global emissions, but is also being impacted by a regulatory focus on the climate transition as well as the physical risks it poses, more scrutiny of health and safety, and … Read more
A consortium of European asset managers including Man Group, Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management and PGGM Investments have filed a resolution to TotalEnergies asking the French oil major to address its emissions through reductions targets in line with the Paris Agreement. Alongside shareholder activist group Follow This File, the 17 asset managers, representing €1.1trn in … Read more
New Zealand’s financial watchdog has issued a formal warning to Vanguard for failing to disclose details in time regarding infringement notices filed against it in Australia for alleged greenwashing. On 11 November, Vanguard was hit with three infringement notices by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) for alleged greenwashing. ASIC was concerned that Vanguard … Read more
Most (95%) FTSE 100 companies have not published net-zero plans that would be deemed credible or detailed enough under the UK government’s transition plan guidance, according to research by EY. Even companies within the 5% with full plans have more work to do before their published intention can be considered fully Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT)-aligned, … Read more
Human rights are deteriorating across several middle-income countries that make up large parts of government debt portfolios, creating conflicts for ESG investors, according to the latest Verisk Maplecroft sovereign ESG ratings. Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa are among the key sovereigns for ESG bond investors to watch, where institutions have weakened and violations have … Read more
With more engagement with ESG from retail investors, the investment platform space is buoyant with apps and innovation designed at increasing accessibility to ESG investments. One such fintech platform in the UK is Darksquare Capital, which allows investors access to alternative asset classes such as woodlands, wind farms, carbon capture and sustainable real estate. ESG … Read more
The ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB), representing ASEAN finance sectoral bodies, has released the second version of its sustainable finance taxonomy. The ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance Version 2 expands on the first version published in November 2021 with a complete framework comprising detailed methodologies for assessing economic activities. It also includes technical screening criteria for … Read more
As the chief digital officer for a Fortune 300 company, I saw first-hand during the late 2010s the surging demand for climate data being driven successfully by investors. This trend quickly became an access to capital concern for boards and C-suites across the globe. In conversations I would have with these investors, two things became … Read more
Political twists and turns around ESG investing are creating uncertainty for ESG-orientated financial advisers in the US, Coco Zhang, vice-president, ESG research at ING says. Here, Zhang tells ESG Clarity US about playing catch up with EU regulation, decarbonization opportunities and how advisers can navigate political uncertainty. Where does US stand when it comes to … Read more
Why is it so important for us to direct capital towards a sustainable water future? Water is a basic human need. Whether we’re talking about drinking water or sanitation, we know access to water is something that’s going to be crucial to the longevity of the human race. We also know the stresses on the … Read more