Investor input sought as countries start to demand greater tax transparency from corporates. UK-based campaign group the Fair Tax Foundation is seeking feedback from investors on the development of responsible tax conduct key performance indicators (KPIs) for companies. It follows increasing interest from asset managers and institutional investors on how to assess responsible tax conduct among portfolio companies, said…
Sustainable bond issuance nears $1trn but avoided CO2 drops
Steady growth in the green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bond (GSSSB) market could see assets surpass the $1trn mark in 2024, however levels of avoided carbon from the products were down in 2023 compared to the previous year. According to the S&P Global Ratings report Sustainability Insights | Research: Sustainable Bond Issuance To Approach $1 Trillion In 2024, GSSSB issuance…
Inflation, the climate crisis and the role of investors
In 2023, our ongoing relationship with higher inflation defined the economic landscape. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK faced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1% in October 2022. Notably, food prices increased by 17.3% in June 2023, while housing and energy rose by 12%. The last time overall inflation rose comparably was in 1992, when…
Medtronic Appoints its First Chief Sustainability Officer
Medical device company Medtronic announced the appointment of Raman Venkatesh as its first Chief Sustainability Officer, with responsibilty for leading the development and execution of the company’s environmental sustainability strategy. Venkatesh joins Medtronic from Danish sustainability technology company Aquaporin, where he served as Executive Vice President, responsible for global market solutions, including commercial activities. He has also been serving for Tau…
Sustainable Battery Materials Provider Ascend Elements Raises $162 Million to Build new US Plant
Closed-loop battery materials solutions provider Ascend Elements announced today that it has raised $162 million in new equity investments, with proceeds aimed at supporting the building of a new 1-million square foot sustainable lithium-ion plant in Kentucky. Founded in 2015, Westborough, Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements provides closed-loop battery materials solutions, ranging from EV battery recycling to commercial-scale production of lithium-ion battery…
Rio Tinto Signs Australia’s Largest-Ever Clean Energy Deal
Global mining and metals company Rio Tinto announced today that it has signed Australia’s largest clean energy deal, agreeing to buy the majority of the electricity from a 1.4 GW wind energy project under development by renewable energy provider Windlab to power its Gladstone operations in Queensland. The deal marks the second mega-scale renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) for…
Schroders Expands Impact Investing Lineup with New SDG-Focused Global Equity Fund
Global investment manager Schroders announced the launch of Schroder International Selection Fund (Schroder ISF) Global Equity Impact, a new listed global equity impact fund aimed at investing in companies with solutions and actions addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to Schroders, the launch of the new fund comes amidst growing demand from clients for public equity-focused impact strategies. Schroders…
Airbus, TotalEnergies Launch New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership
Aerospace giant Airbus and energy company TotalEnergies announced today the launch of a new strategic partnership, aimed at advancing the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and supporting the decarbonization of aviation with the objective of achieving net carbon neutrality for the sector by 2050. Fuel accounts for the vast majority of the aviation sector’s emissions. Generally produced from sustainable…
Grantham Research Institute and LSE join forces for net-zero push
Two major academic institutions have partnered to launch the Just Transition Finance Lab, which aims to push the net-zero transition and nature-positive economy through a people-centred approach. The London School of Economics and Political Science and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment said the collaborative venture will highlight the opportunities from financing climate action, such as better…