In response to customer demand for sustainable, impactful pension options, PensionBee has launched its Climate Plan, designed to allow customers to align their pensions with the 1.5°C goals of the Paris Agreement. The plan goes further than the EU’s 7% year-on-year minimum carbon intensity reduction for Paris-aligned Benchmarks, aiming to reduce by at least 10%. It intends to do this…

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has confirmed 2024 to be the warmest year on record globally, and the first calendar year that the average global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above its pre-industrial level. Scientists at C3S have been monitoring key climate indicators, and documenting unprecedented daily, monthly and annual temperature records over 2024. Human-induced climate change “remains the primary driver of extreme…

BlackRock has announced the firm is leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative. In a letter to its clients obtained from Bloomberg, the firm stated their NZAM membership “caused confusion regarding BlackRock’s practices and subjected us to legal inquiries from various public officials”. The NZAM initiative is an investor group committed to achieving net-zero portfolios by 2050 or sooner…

Commission’s decision to exclude first corporate lobbying shareholder resolution in more than a decade has raised concerns for investors. A second Donald Trump presidency and his pick to lead the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) poses risks to shareholder rights and investor attempts to scrutinise corporate lobbying. Industry experts expect Trump’s re-election and the appointment of nominee Paul Atkins…

Shareholder resolution warns of value erosion, calls for increased transparency of strategy alignment with climate goals.   Oil and gas major Shell’s big bet on liquefied natural gas (LNG) contradicts its pledge to achieve net zero by 2050, a group of UK-based asset owners has argued.   Shell has plans to grow its LNG business by 20-30% by the end of the…

Tom Otley, Director at Oury Clark, highlights the benefits of ESG due diligence when preparing to sell a business. When planning to sell a business, it’s natural to focus on the most immediate priorities. These might include ensuring that financial records are accurate and up to date, consolidating key contracts with suppliers and customers, and securing a realistic valuation that reflects…

After COP29’s turning point, Mark Kenber, Executive Director of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), sees more work ahead to ensure the integrity of carbon credits.  While the overall outcomes of COP29, particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, fell short of developing nations’ urgent needs, the conference did deliver a crucial signal: the recognition of…