• info@esgwise.org

Donald Trump and ESG

Trump’s Second Term and Its Unexpected Impact on ESG When Donald Trump secured his second term in office, few anticipated that his stance on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) would set the stage for a shift in how businesses approach sustainability. Throughout his first term, Trump made it clear that he was no friend of the green agenda, believing that…

BlackRock Appoints Louise Kooy-Henckel as EMEA Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions

BlackRock Appoints Louise Kooy-Henckel as EMEA Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions

Investment giant BlackRock announced today the appointment of Louise Kooy-Henckel as EMEA Head of Sustainable and Transition Solutions. Based in London and reporting to Global Head of STS Helen Lees-Jones, responsible for leading the firm’s efforts in sustainable and transition investing in the EMEA region. In an internal memo announcing the appointment, Lees-Jones and Stephen Cohen, Chief Product Officer at…

EU Commission delays SFDR revision until Q4 2025 in ‘simplification’ drive

The European Commission has announced a delay in the implementation of revisions to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) until Q4 2025, as well as more details on its Omnibus package. In its 2025 Work Programme, the Commission confirmed it would delay the revision of SFDR until Q4 2025 under its ‘simplification’ agenda. Meanwhile, the Commission reiterated plans for the…

Take Five: SEC Raises the Bar for Resolutions

A selection of the major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  Investors felt the impact of new priorities at the US regulator, despite its empty chair. Regulator in reverse  – Paul Atkins’ confirmation hearing by the Senate Banking Committee has not yet been scheduled, but the absence of a new chair is not stopping the US Securities and…

Economics Outweigh Politics in the Energy Transition

Rising demand offers a range of low-carbon investment choices, according to Rahul Bhushan, Managing Director at ARK Invest Europe. Global emissions have reached a new record high. While that sounds alarming, it’s worth taking stock of the energy transition with a clear-eyed view. Beneath the headline numbers, the forces shaping the energy landscape are shifting dramatically. Clean energy, especially solar,…

Asset Owners Target “Material Divergence” on Climate Stewardship

Institutional investors look to address increasing misalignment with asset managers and remedy issues identified in 2023 stewardship review. A newly released climate stewardship statement supported by 26 large asset owners has presented five principles-based expectations of asset managers, seeking to clarify investor demands. The statement looks to catalyse constructive conversations between asset owners and asset managers and embed efficiencies into…

Green Equities Under Trump

Harry Thomas, Co-portfolio Manager of TT International’s environmental solutions strategy, argues that opportunities abound in the US and beyond. Many investors appear to agree that the environmental equity trade is dead with Donald Trump in the White House, but what if they’re wrong? In this piece we offer four reasons why we believe they are. Dismantling the IRA unlikely to…

Take the Natural Path to Long-term Value

Michele Calcaterra, ECPI Director at Confluence and Senior Lecturer at SDA Bocconi, says managing biodiversity risks is a critical component of a resilient investment strategy. Over half of global GDP – more than US$44 trillion in economic value – relies on nature and its services. Biodiversity loss is not just a concern for environmentalists; it is a critical factor in the…

Hydrostor Raises $200 Million to Store Energy Using Compressed Air Technology

Hydrostor Raises $200 Million to Store Energy Using Compressed Air Technology

Long-duration energy storage solution provider Hydrostor announced that it has secured $200 million in financing, with proceeds supporting the development of its projects to supplement intermittent renewable energy through its Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) technology. The new investment includes a $150 million convertible note financing commitment from investors including Canada Growth Fund CGF, and returning investors Goldman Sachs…

How to Make Australia’s Taxonomy a Success

Industry engagement has been key to getting the classification framework this far, says Nicole Yazbek-Martin, who led the work at ASFI.  When the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) started work on the country’s green taxonomy, back in July 2023, it was very much an industry-led project.  While Anthony Albanese, who took over as Prime Minister in 2022, had much greener…