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DBS Appoints Shilpa Gulrajani as Head of Sustainable Finance for Institutional Banking

DBS Appoints Shilpa Gulrajani as Head of Sustainable Finance for Institutional Banking

Singapore-based financial services group DBS Bank announced the appointment of Shilpa Gulrajani as its new Head of Sustainability for its Institutional Banking Group. According to a DBS spokesperson, in her new role, Gulrajani will have responsibility for “leading DBS’ sustainable finance business franchise and engagement in the region, driving ESG business origination, advisory and financing solutions to enable corporates and…

ESG Today: Week in Review

ESG Today: Week in Review

This week in ESG news: EU cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 8% in a year; Morgan Stanley softens climate targets; CFOs see greenwashing risk from ESG reporting due to data problems, EY survey finds; new climate reporting standard for public sector released; 500 companies commit to report on nature, biodiversity; EU regulator prioritizes compliance with new sustainability reporting…

Degraded Shareholder Rights Threaten Stewardship, EC Warned

Behind-closed doors AGMs and multiple-class share structures endanger small and minority shareholders’ ability to engage with investee companies. European investors’ stewardship activities risk being hampered by rising barriers to their ability to exercise their shareholder rights, the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) has warned. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula Van Der Leyen earlier this week, the investor-led…

Degraded Shareholder Rights Threaten Stewardship, EC Warned

Behind-closed doors AGMs and multiple-class share structures endanger small and minority shareholders’ ability to engage with investee companies. European investors’ stewardship activities risk being hampered by rising barriers to their ability to exercise their shareholder rights, the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) has warned. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula Van Der Leyen earlier this week, the investor-led…

IPSASB Releases Proposed Climate-Related Reporting Standard for Public Sector

IPSASB Releases Proposed Climate-Related Reporting Standard for Public Sector

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) announced the release of SRS ED 1, a new draft climate-related disclosure standard for governments and other private sector entities, which would be the first sustainability reporting standard for the public sector. The new standard is being developed with the support of The World Bank, which called on IPSASB in 2022 to lead…

EU Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions by More than 8% in 2023

EU Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions by More than 8% in 2023

Net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the EU fell by 8.3% in 2023, according to a new report released by the European Commission, marking one of the largest declines in decades, with the exception of a 9.8% COVID-19-driven drop in 2020 (which was followed by a 4.8% increase the following year), and a significant acceleration from the 3% reduction in…

Take Five: Is Your Cup Half-full or Half-empty?

A selection of the major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  COP16 negotiations have proved a grinding experience in Cali. Colombian blend – In December 2022, the determination of China, holder of the COP15 Presidency, was a critical factor in the signing of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Almost two years later in Cali, it’s now the turn…

Next Round of NDCs Must be Investible

Gina Hanrahan, Senior Specialist, Climate Policy at UN Principles for Responsible Investment, outlines how governments’ climate commitments can send credible investment signals to global markets. Countries are gathering for the next round of UN climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku in November. As they prepare to rachet up their climate ambition, will the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs)…

Holistic Approach Can Close the Biodiversity Funding Gap

Financing the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework requires collective action, according to Samantha Deacon, Global Lead in Biodiversity and Ecosystems at Ramboll.   Launched under the banner of ‘making peace with nature’ – COP16 is now drawing to its conclusion, with the international biodiversity community of policymakers, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, businesses and financial institutions awaiting landmark agreements and consensus…

Blended Finance Vital to Achieve NDCs

Policy cohesion and consistency will bolster private investor confidence and scale investment across emerging markets.   Closer alignment of blended finance vehicles with climate-related policies will help to meet targets outlined in countries’ soon-to-be-updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), according to new analysis.  Blended finance network Convergence’s latest ‘State of Blended Finance: Climate Edition’ report has revealed a strong increase in climate-focused…