Growing concerns over the lack of ambition in the targets set by sustainability-linked bond (SLB) issuers and the absence of use-of-proceeds structures led to a decline in issuance by 53% in 2024 compared to 2023. The International Capital Market Association states SLBs aim to further develop the key role that debt markets can play in funding and encouraging companies that…
Introducing BSI PAS 7342 – the new sustainable fund standard
Written by Julia Dreblow, founder, SRI Services and Fund EcoMarket I’m going to guess that you may not have heard of the British Standards Institution’s (BSI) PAS 7342, the new British standard specification for retail sustainable investment funds. This newly published, publicly available document is a project I became involved in around six years ago while stressing about the direction…
Fidelity International head of stewardship announces departure
Fidelity International’s head of stewardship in Europe, Emilie Goodall, has announced she will leave the role to pursue new opportunities. In a post on LinkedIn announcing her departure, Goodall said she was thankful to have had “a front-row seat” to the rapid transitions the industry is navigating. “Sustainability terminology debates aside, the underlying day-to-day practice of stewardship is transforming, and…
L&G Launches $235 Million Emerging Markets Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development Strategy
UK financial services group Legal and General (L&G) announced the launch of its new Nature and Social Outcomes strategy, with a commitment of $235 million (£183 million) aimed at supporting conservation and sustainable development projects in emerging markets (EMs). The new strategy, the firm said, will deploy capital through projects that will provide strong commercial returns, along with positive environmental…
Meta Signs Ten-Year Forestry Management Carbon Removal Deal
Forest investment and management firm EFM announced today a new long-term agreement with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owner Meta for the delivery of 676,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits through 2035, generated through the transition of U.S. forestland to “climate-smart management.” Launched in 2004, Portland, Oregon-based EFM is a real estate asset manager focused on investing in natural climate solutions…
Nordea Adds “Sustainable” to Fund Names Ahead of ESMA Regulation
Northern Europe-based asset manager Nordea Asset Management (NAM) announced that it has added or kept the term “sustainable” in the names of 17 funds in its Nordea 1 SICAV range ahead of the implementation of new fund naming guidelines by EU markets regulator the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). The announcement follows the release in May 2024 by ESMA…