Fund managers are treating climate-related matters with increasing seriousness, but progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is more sluggish, according to a survey conducted by impact investment platform, Snowball. The survey – conducted as part of Snowball’s fourth Impact Report – shows responsibility for climate initiatives is often delegated to specific individuals or teams, with close oversight from senior…
UK Retailers Under Microscope on Fair Pay
Institutional investors are pushing for the real living wage to hit the high street this proxy season. The UK retail sector is under increasing pressure to pay their workforce a real living wage, as investors prepare to challenge the sector’s biggest offenders at AGMs in the coming months. Members of responsible investment NGO ShareAction’s Good Work investor group – including…
Schneider Electric Provides Environmental Data for 50,000 Products to Help Decarbonize Construction Projects
Energy and electrification advisory, services, and software solutions provider Schneider Electric announced a partnership with construction and manufacturing-focused sustainability platform One Click LCA to provide AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) professionals with environmental data on more than 50,000 electrical products, and enabling data-driven sustainable design decisions. Under the new partnership, Schneider Electric will make Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) on the…
China Issues its First Sovereign Green Bonds
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…
EU Cuts Emissions in Key Carbon Intensive Sectors in Half Since 2005
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…
ESG Today: Week in Review
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…
EU Parliament Strongly Backs CSRD, CSDDD Delay
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…
AIP Invests $500 Million in U.S. Clean Energy Producer Silicon Ranch
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…