President Trump’s “bullying” tactics have prompted US-based firms to water down ESG commitments, while investors maintain support for DEI, fair voting rights, responsible tax.   US-based tech firms’ close ties with the Trump administration are unlikely to discourage continued pushback and engagement from ESG-focused investors in the longer term.  Tech firm oligarchs are currently benefitting from their relationship with US…

Investors urged to speak out to avoid “highly politicised and bitter divide” thwarting ten years of hard-fought progress. Divisions within the European Parliament are becoming increasingly clear over the Commission’s (EC) proposed omnibus, with a decision needing to be made on whether to twist to the left or the right. The omnibus, unveiled at the end of last month, looks…

A selection of the major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  Shifting dynamics in North America could offer an opportunity to keep climate on the global political agenda. Green credentials – Mark Carney’s elevation, last Sunday, to the role of Canadian Prime Minister has been largely characterised as a challenge to his southern neighbour, US President Donald Trump,…

Institutional investors need to grasp its E, S and G risks quickly to use and invest in AI effectively, says Lorenzo Saa, Chief Sustainability Officer of Clarity AI. The potential rewards of AI are enormous, but they do not come risk-free. Just as smoke alarms safeguard our homes, the modern economy needs to install early warning systems and guardrails that…

Despite concerns, Richard Howitt, one of the architects of the EU’s non-financial disclosure rules, sees opportunities as the package moves into co-decision. From whichever angle one views things, attempts by the European Commission (EC) to streamline its sustainable finance disclosure rules look like bad news for investors.  The proposal significantly reduces the scope of companies caught by the Corporate Sustainability…

Taxonomy-aligned capital expenditures (capex) from large listed European companies grew 34% in 2023, reaching €250 billion (US$271 billion) by year end, according to a new report from the Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF). Half of this was directed toward enabling activities, while transitional activities accounted for 11% of the total (double the previous year). According to the report, debt financing…