UK-based financial services company NatWest Group announced the launch of a new sustainable finance target, aiming to provide £200 billion in climate and transition finance between July 2025 and the end of 2030. The new goal marks a significant increase from NatWest’s prior target, to provide £100 billion in climate and sustainable funding and financing between July 2021 and the…
This week in ESG news: SBTi launches its net zero target standard for banks and investors; JPMorgan, Microsoft develop new financing model to scale carbon removal projects; Deutsche Bank reports its strongest sustainable finance results in 4 years; Morgan Stanley survey finds businesses increasingly see profitability, growth opportunities from sustainability initiatives; Lloyds launches carbon and nature markets practice; EU plans…
Institutional asset owners are reclaiming the stewardship narrative, translating fiduciary obligations into strategic power. Around the world, these investors are shaping policy, defending long-term governance tools, and using capital to secure sustainable value, not just chasing ESG headlines. Stewardship in Action: Two Months of Institutional Leadership UK: Pension Schemes Assert Market Voice In late July, a coalition of UK…
Deutsche Bank recorded its strongest sustainable finance quarter in four years in Q2 2025, according to the bank’s quarterly results released on Thursday, which included more than €28 billion (USD$33 billion) in sustainable finance and investment volumes, the highest in any quarter since 2021. In a post commenting on the results, Deutsche Bank’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Jörg Eigendorf, said: “Sustainability…
July 25, 2025 | Sustainable Investor In a significant move to address the UK’s looming retirement savings shortfall, the government has relaunched the Pensions Commission, two decades after the original body laid the groundwork for auto-enrolment. This new iteration is tasked with confronting the deeper challenge of pension adequacy, amid data showing that younger generations risk receiving 8% less in…
Tokyo-based banking and financial services company Mizuho Financial Group announced today an agreement to acquire renewable energy and energy transition sector-focused financial advisory firm Augusta & Co. Founded in 2002 by senior bankers from leading investment banks, Augusta serves the European energy transition sector as a specialist financial advisory and investment house, completing over 130 transactions and raising approximately €30…
Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, the manufacturer of household brands including Andrex and Kleenex, has become the first major consumer products company in the UK to sign long-term offtaker agreements for green hydrogen, to decarbonize production of products including toilet and facial tissues. The company is partnering with Carlton Power and HYRO – the latter being a joint venture between Octopus…
July 25, 2025 | Sustainable Investor Two of the most influential voices in global shareholder governance, Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), have launched federal lawsuits against the state of Texas, accusing lawmakers of violating their constitutional rights through new legislation that limits ESG-related proxy advice. Glass Lewis called the law “blatantly unconstitutional,” arguing that it compels speech and…