Jake Moeller, senior investment consultant at Square Mile, is looking forward to announcements at COP28 to “reaffirm and re-establish” the messages and ambitions around decarbonisation and a just transition. In this Green Dream video interview for our Countdown to COP28, he said he hopes companies and governments will become more proactive and not be distracted by the … Read more
Nine months after Sharm-El-Sheikh, tangible progress is unclear. COP26, held in Glasgow in November 2021, embedded the need to include emerging markets in the transition to net zero. This was manifest in the announcement of a “deal” between South Africa and four “donor” countries to work together on a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to … Read more
If for nothing else, then COP28 will earn its place in history for the finalisation of the first ‘global stocktake’ of the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the assessment of collective progress towards the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Indeed, the UN Climate Change executive secretary, Simon Stiell, has stated unequivocally that … Read more
Businesses, financial institutions and standard setters have agreed to build up high-integrity demand in voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), with objectives set to support the market’s growth in the lead up to COP28. At a recent round table, convened by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ), the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) and the … Read more
September has been a rocky month for climate action, with COP28 host the UAE being heavily criticised over human rights. On 21 September the country was added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist of countries with declining civic freedoms, with activists, journalists and civil society groups severely repressed and at further risk ahead of the COP28 … Read more
Professional body the Personal Finance Society (PFS) has established a new panel of advisers, policy professionals and sustainable finance experts. This is to improve advice standards and consumer outcomes around climate change and other sustainability challenges. The PFS sustainable financial advice panel will help members to incorporate sustainability into the advice they provide to consumers. … Read more
A record number of ESG shareholder resolutions were voted on at Russell 3000 companies last year, with 82 passing. And although implementing these takes time, some changes are already in motion. Apple Last year a resolution at Apple, led by the Service Employees International Union, passed with 53.55% votes. It called for a civil rights … Read more
While many companies are starting to assess their exposure to water risks and crafting strategies for addressing them, they often lack a complete picture of where and how their actions can have the biggest impact. The numbers, though familiar, are no less jarring. If researchers’ predictions hold true, by 2030, the world will have significantly … Read more
Quality communication, relevance to the company and a strong shareholder consensus are the most important factors for successful engagement with companies, First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Institute has found. In a report published yesterday, Constructive corporate engagements: From a corporate perspective, which is based on a survey conducted by PwC, the Institute addressed the need for … Read more
Mapfre’s Inclusion Responsable Fund invests in companies committed to labour inclusion of people with disabilities. For National Inclusion Week, chief economist at Mapfre Inversión, Alberto Matellán, talks to ESG Clarity EU about engaging with companies on disability and how the fund’s ethos came about. Can you explain the methodology behind picking out companies that are … Read more