Industry experts underscore the need for change to ease practical challenges, as signatories approach 300 and AUM crosses the £50 trillion mark. The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has moved to reduce reporting burdens and streamline processes for signatories through a revamp of its Stewardship Code. Following the culmination of phase one of the review, the council unveiled five focus…

Amundi, NBIM and Union Investment are among the few to have taken heed of a UN call to cease weapon transfers to the country.  Only a fifth of investors and companies have responded to an engagement by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre on their response to a UN demand to stop exporting arms to Israel.  This, the BHRRC…

Despite progress, signatories will need to demonstrate flexibility on their individual journeys to zero carbon emissions. The Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM) has published its latest target-setting progress report, noting a positive trend toward net zero alignment, but a wide gap remains between leaders and laggards.   The report said that, as of 31 January, 42% of total AUM managed by…

Karen Ellis, Chief Economist at WWF-UK, talks about the convergence of climate and nature and the emergence of industry sector transition pathways. At COP26 in Glasgow, the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced plans for the UK to become the world’s first net zero-aligned financial centre. Sunak applauded “historic” climate commitments from private companies, representing US$130 trillion in financial…

With the potential of Trump 2.0 looming, many fear an arch-conservative climate-denying manifesto could become official policy. Green investors are increasingly worried about what a second Donald Trump presidency might mean for US energy and climate policy. Central to their fears is a manifesto called ‘Project 2025’. The 900+-page document, produced by right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, sets out…

A selection of the major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  Proposals to bolster sustainable finance in Europe include recommendations for a new region-wide stewardship code.   Europe’s new code – As Ursula von der Leyen mulled over the composition of her top team for the next five years, the European Commission’s incoming finance chief was already getting…

Mary Leung, Senior Advisor of Research and Advocacy for Asia-Pacific at the CFA Institute, makes the case for increased investment in climate adaptation.   How did your summer go? Was it hotter than usual? One’s answer is most likely in the affirmative, whether you were in Asia, Europe or the US, and regardless of whether the question was asked this…