So, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has officially paused its plans for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) targets. While no one wants overly burdensome regulations, this move risks undermining DEI’s importance, reducing it to a trend that can be ignored. Worse, it perpetuates the myth that DEI is an overhead rather than an opportunity. A particular bugbear of mine is…

The investment industry has reacted with disappointment after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indefinitely postponed plans to extend its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) regime to model portfolio services (MPS). In February 2025, the FCA announced it would no longer publish a policy statement in Q2 2025 that would put MPS under the scope of SDR, saying it was aware that…

The investment industry has reacted with disappointment after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) indefinitely postponed plans to extend its Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) regime to model portfolio services (MPS). In February 2025, the FCA announced it would no longer publish a policy statement in Q2 2025 that would put MPS under the scope of SDR, saying it was aware that…

Luxury brand group Kering announced the launch of its new Water Positive Strategy, aimed reducing water-related risks in the company’s value chain and supporting the company’s commitment to have a net water-positive impact by 2050, and measured net positive water impacts in its key hotspots by 2035. Headquartered in Paris, Kering’s brands include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and…

Global food and beverage company Nestlé and ingredients supplier ofi (olam food ingredients) announced the launch of a new joint cocoa agroforestry partnership, targeting regenerative farming practices to reduce carbon emissions and combat deforestation. Singapore-based ofi is one of the world’s largest suppliers of food ingredients, and has collaborated with Nestle over the past fifteen years to produce sustainable cocoa….

Recycling-focused AI and robotics company Glacier announced that it has raised $16 million in a Series A funding round, with proceeds aimed at to accelerate deployment robots which enable more materials to be recycled, avoiding waste, and helping reduce emissions. Co-founded in 2019 by Rebecca Hu and Areeb Malik, San Francisco-based Glacier provides solutions aimed at improving sorting and recycling…

UAE-backed climate investment platform ALTÉRRA and Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) announced a co-investment of $100 million into Indian clean energy company Evren, aimed at accelerating the development of the company’s 11 GW renewable energy pipeline. The new investment comes as India continues to scale up its investments in clean energy, with the country aiming to reach 500 GW of installed…

The IFRS Foundation announced the launch of a new strategic partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Group’s private sector arm IDB Invest, aimed at promoting the adoption and implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards across Latin America and the Caribbean. The IFRS Foundation launched its International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in November 2021 at the COP26…

Global sustainable investment funds experienced record outflows in the first quarter of 2025, with withdrawals of approximately $8.6 billion, reversing a relatively strong quarter of over $18 billion of net inflows in Q4 2024, according to a new report released by ESG ratings, data, and research provider Morningstar Sustainalytics. For the quarterly report, Morningstar Sustainalytics analyzed activity in the global…

Many people who invested in renewable energy investment trusts over the past few years might well run for the hills if anybody suggested putting more money into the sector. The average investment trust in the Association of Investment Companies’ Renewable Energy Infrastructure sector has delivered a 5% loss over the past five years, compared to a 67% gain for the…