China’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) issued the country’s inaugural sovereign green bond, raising RMB 6 billion (USD$824 million) to support projects and initiatives aimed at achieving environmental objectives ranging from climate change mitigation and adaptation to natural resource and biodiversity conservation. The new 3-year and 5-year maturity bonds debuted on the London Stock Exchange, making the offering not only China’s…
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in carbon-intensive sectors covered by the EU’s Emissions Trading System fell by 5% year-over-year in 2024, reaching approximately a 50% reduction since the ETS was established in 2005, according to a new report released by the European Commission. Established in 2005, the ETS puts a price on carbon emissions for key GHG intensive sectors, including electricity…
This week in ESG news: EU Commission asks to fast-track development of new sustainability reporting standards; DWS fined $27 million for greenwashing; Unilever acquires sustainable personal care brand Wild; KPMG finds most senior execs have incentive pay ties to ESG goals; EU Parliament agrees to delay sustainability reporting requirements; ISS launches new sustainability bond ratings; Roche sets science-based emissions reduction…
Support across majority of political spectrum suggests that MEPs are open to reaching compromise on EC’s omnibus proposal. Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have overwhelmingly voted in favour of the European Commission’s (EC) ‘stop-the-clock’ proposal as part its omnibus agenda, which will see application of the bloc’s flagship sustainability directives postponed. The Parliament comprises eight parties, which collectively hold 720…
Denmark-based energy and decarbonization infrastructure investor AIP Management announced a $500 million investment in U.S.-based renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions provider Silicon Ranch. Founded in 2011, Nashville, Tennessee-based Silicon Ranch is one of the largest independent power producers (IPP) in the U.S., with a solar and battery storage system portfolio encompassing 3.6 GW of operating capacity and 3.7…
Business sustainability ratings and solutions provider EcoVadis announced the appointment of former CDP Chief Commercial and Partnerships Officer Dexter Galvin as its new Climate Ambassador. In his new role, Galvin will be responsible for working with the company’s partners and customers to decarbonize supply chains, and representing EcoVadis at leading climate forums. Pierre-Francois Thaler, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at EcoVadis said:…
France-based energy giant TotalEnergies announced a series of renewable energy transactions, including the closing of three acquisitions in Europe, Africa and Canada, and a new 800 MW wind and solar acquisition in Canada. The deals form part TotalEnergies’ efforts to boost clean energy capacity, and ultimately achieve its goal of reaching net zero by 2050, with the company targeting an…
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) startup Terradot announced a new agreement with Microsoft for the purchase of 12,000 tons of carbon removal between 2026 – 2029 from its new ERW projects in Brazil, and helping to fund research into the impact of ERW carbon removal. Founded in 2022, Terradot provides a carbon removal solution based on transforming the natural process of…
The insurer wants to fully decarbonise its supply chain by 2040, says Chief Sustainability Officer Claudine Blamey. This could be a challenging task. In its first climate transition plan, published in 2022, British multinational insurance company Aviva said it wanted to abate its own carbon emissions and those of its suppliers by 2030. Three years on and the insurer’s second…