The UK government announced that it has reached a new partnership deal with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation aimed at channeling major investments in clean energy and infrastructure over the next decade. Under the new partnership, Sumitomo said that it will aim to facilitate £7.5 billion (USD$10.2 billion) of investment into key UK infrastructure and clean energy projects by 2035. Investments will…
EU Lawmakers Reject EUDR’s Country Risk System in New Setback to Deforestation Regulation
Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted on Wednesday to reject a benchmarking system categorizing countries by their level of deforestation risk, marking a potential new setback for the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aimed at ensuring that products imported to or exported from EU markets no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation globally, including concerns that the law could…
Microsoft Signs Deal for 3 Million Tons of CO2 Removal Generated Through New Waste-to-Energy Carbon Capture Project
Microsoft announced a new long-term offtake agreement with energy infrastructure investment manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Denmark-based waste-to-energy (WtE) company Vestforbrænding, for the delivery of nearly 3 million tons of carbon removal generated through a new large-scale carbon capture and storage project at a WtE facility in the greater Copenhagen region. Under the new agreement, starting in 2029, Microsoft…
Clarity AI Acquires Sustainability-Focused Fintech ecolytiq
Sustainability technology company Clarity AI announced today the acquisition of ecolytiq, a provider of in-app climate engagement solutions for financial institutions, in a move described by Clarity AI as aimed at expanding its climate engagement offering for global retail and commercial banking financial institutions, as well as its consumer engagement capabilities. Founded in 2020, Berlin-based ecolytiq provides solutions to banks…
EU to Develop Nature Credits Market to Fund More Sustainable Agriculture Practices
The European Commission announced the launch of its “Roadmap towards Nature Credits,” aimed at helping to develop a new market for nature credits, enabling farmers and foresters to fund activities to protect and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems through the facilitation of private capital flows from companies and investors. Similar in concept to carbon credits, which represent actions to reduce and…
‘Chilling threat’: OBR warns cost of inaction on climate change is climbing
The costs of a hotter and more volatile climate are rising, and pose significant risks to economic and fiscal outcomes in the UK, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). As a result, sustainable investment professionals have issued fresh warnings to the UK government to rapidly accelerate its transition plans or face serious threats to the UK finances. In…
Guest Post – California Climate Disclosure: What We Know After CARB’s First Public Workshop
By: Alyssa Zucker, Senior Industry Principal, Workiva California continues to lead the way on climate action by advancing its critical disclosure laws: The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate Related FInance Risk Act (SB 261). The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently held its first public workshop on the state’s landmark climate disclosure laws . The…
EQ Investors ends sale conversations to remain independent
EQ Investors has decided to remain independent after conversations with several interested parties. Our sister publication Portfolio Adviser exclusively revealed on 3 April it was exploring “strategic partnerships” with larger firms as philanthropist John Spiers, who acquired the firm a decade ago, said passing his shares to a charitable foundation may not be the right path for the sustainable investment manager’s future. However,…
Six new asset managers become ACT signatories
City Hive has announced six new asset management names has signed up to the ACT framework; Fidelity International, Marlborough Group, PGIM, Principal Asset Management, Rebalance Earth and Robeco Asset Management. The groups join the ACT List, a line-up of organisations dedicated to embracing transparency in corporate culture and value. There are now 34 signatories on the list representing £12trn in…