This week in ESG news: HSBC surpasses record $100 billion sustainable finance activity; vast majority of companies removed from CSRD plan to continue sustainability reporting anyway; EU’s von der Leyen calls multi-decade move away from nuclear power a “strategic mistake”; Rabobank launches €1 billion impact investing platform; LEGO surpasses 50% sustainable materials to make its bricks; NZAOA adds transition targets…

Renewable energy investor Octopus Energy Generation announced the expansion of its carbon removal partnership with nature-based solutions provider Cultivo, with an agreement to deploy an additional $60 million to support grasslands regeneration and carbon removal projects, bringing the partnership to $100 million. Founded in 2019, California-based Cultivo uses technology and algorithms to identify high quality nature-based solution projects around the…

Space tech startup AIRMO announced that it has raised €5 million in a seed funding round, with proceeds for the financing aimed at launching the first satellite mission for its greenhouse gas monitoring system. Founded in 2022 by rocket scientist Daria Stepanova, Berlin and Luxembourg-based AIRMO designs, builds, and operates tools to monitor methane emissions from the air and from…

France-based testing, inspection and certification provider Bureau Veritas announced the acquisition of two sustainability consulting firms, Verte and Sustainable Construction Services, expanding its capabilities in sustainable buildings and infrastructure services in the UK. Founded in 2013 and based in London, Verte provides advisory services to investors, developers and building owners, supporting the environmental sustainability of real estate portfolios and helping…

Renewable energy developer Arevon Energy announced that it has secured $920 million in financing for its large-scale battery facility in California, Nighthawk Energy Storage Project The new project, currently under construction in Poway, California, and expected to become operational this year. According to Arevon, with a capacity of 300 MW, the facility will be capable of powering 385,000 homes for…

France-based investment firm RGREEN INVEST announced that it has raised over €900 million (USD$1 billion) at the final close of Infragreen V, the fifth equity vintage of its green infrastructure fund focused on supporting Europe’s energy transition. Infragreen V will target the European mid-market, financing projects in areas including renewable energy generation, energy storage, and electrification, and with a particular…

Rolls-Royce SMR, a small modular reactor developer majority-owned by Rolls-Royce, and project development company Equilibrion announced that they have signed a new MOU aimed at assessing the technical and economic feasibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). Generally produced from resources such as waste oils and agricultural residues, SAF is seen as one of…

Business sustainability ratings and solutions provider EcoVadis and climate solutions provider Watershed announced today a new strategic partnership aimed at enabling companies to access accurate Scope 3 data to assess emissions across their supply chains. According to the companies, the new collaboration will allow enterprises to tackle the “Scope 3 data gap,” by replacing broad averages with actual supplier emissions…

The UK government announced the completion of its latest “Green Gilt” offering, raising £6.25 billion (USD$8.4 billion) to help finance expenditures for projects to tackle climate change and other environmental challenges, including funding for infrastructure and the creation of green jobs. The UK launched its Green Gilt program in 2021, along with plans to build a ‘green curve,’ a yield…

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group will deliver more than €75 billion (USD$87 billion) of energy transition-focused financing over the next three years, according to an announcement by the European Commission. The new investment plans form part of the EU Commission’s new Clean Energy Investment Strategy, aimed at mobilizing funding to fast-track the clean energy transition, and improving the link…