Local frictions loom large as potable water demands put tech sector at odds with household and agricultural needs. AI-driven demand for data centres coupled with rising water stress worldwide is prompting investors to ask portfolio companies how they are navigating an increasing flow of operational, regulatory, and reputational risks. A total 632 data centres owned by US tech giants Amazon,…
Swiss materials tech company novoMOF said it has raised CHF 4.4 million (USD $5.4 million) to further advance its sustainable materials for low-cost carbon capture in high-emissions industrial sectors. Founded in 2017 as a spinoff that grew out of the Swiss Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, novoMOF develops Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a new class of highly porous materials with exceptionally…
Fintech startup Crux announced that it has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round to further develop its capital market platform for developers, manufacturers, investors, and lenders working on clean energy projects. Launched in 2023, Crux provides capital markets technology aimed at making funding options for clean energy projects more accessible. The company’s existing platform allows developers and…
By: Ruaridh Welsh, Consultant at EcoAct, a wholly owned subsidiary of Schneider Electric Last month, the SBTi launched the draft of its revised Corporate Net-Zero Standard for public consultation. The update marks an important step forward in aligning corporate net-zero strategies with climate science. With changes to how companies are categorised, strengthened expectations on emissions reduction, and new guidance on…
The European Commission announced the adoption of its 2025-2030 working plan for its Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation, aimed at establishing sustainability requirements for products across the EU, and to improve information to consumers about products’ environmental sustainability. The release of the new plan follows an initial proposal by the Commission in March 2022 to…
Direct air capture technology startup Holocene announced that it has been acquired by energy giant Occidental (Oxy), marking the latest in a series of moves by Oxy to deepen its capabilities in DAC carbon removal. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. DAC technology, listed by the IEA as a key carbon removal option in the transition to a net-zero…
Schroders has developed guidelines for engaging with companies on climate adaptation, resilience and risk, in collaboration with Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute (GLI). The engagement framework outlines areas where Schroders and Cornell’s GLI believe investors can constructively engage with exposed companies, to understand the risks they face and to encourage action to strengthen firms’ resilience to the impacts of physical…
Biotechnology is a rapidly growing area of study with the potential to improve human health, agriculture and the environment, playing a significant role in developing new drugs and vaccines. However, businesses within the sector experienced a post-pandemic slump in valuations, a problem that has been exacerbated more recently when President Trump‘s administration slashed funding for federal health agencies, such as…
Donald Trump’s transactional style has ushered in a new era for geopolitics and markets alike. Discussions over a US-Ukraine mineral deal, which the US president claims would provide security to Ukraine at the cost of access to its deposits, has been a feature of Trump’s rhetoric since beginning his second term. The deal could have a significant impact on global…