UK-based impact-focused venture capital investor Eka Ventures announced today that has raised £80 million (USD$107 million) in commitments at the final close of its second fund (Fund II), targeting investments in early stage companies that provide solutions that make the world more sustainable, healthy and inclusive. Launched in 2018 by Camilla Dolan and Jon Coker, Eka focuses on consumer-led “mega…

Microsoft has indicated to carbon credit suppliers that it is pausing its carbon removal purchases, according to reports by media outlets including Bloomberg and Heatmap, citing people familiar with the matter. The move could have significant implications on the carbon removal market, which has been driven largely by purchase activity by Microsoft in recent years, with the tech giant by…

This week in ESG news: GHG Protocol outlined proposed changes to Scope 3 reporting standard; Switzerland launches new proposed sustainability reporting and due diligence law; carbon removal deals signed by JPMorgan, Microsoft, Boeing; TotalEnergies, Masdar launch $2 billion renewable energy platform; Canada launches council to develop sustainable finance taxonomy, transition plan guidelines; sustainability consultancy SLR acquires climate analytics platform Planetrics…

UK-based international banking group Standard Chartered announced the appointment of Nalini Tarakeshwar as its new Global Head of the Standard Chartered Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy. The Standard Chartered Foundation was launched by the bank in 2019 to address inequality, with a focus on driving impact and prosperity for under-served young people. In her new role, Tarakeshwar will lead Standard Chartered’s…

Canadian climate-focused investor initiative Business Future Pathways (BFP) announced the appointment by an independent committee of the new Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council, assembled to oversee the development and approval of a new Canadian sustainable finance taxonomy, the upcoming categorization system to identify green and transition investments. In addition to directing the development of the Taxonomy, the new council will…

Sustainable investing-focused superannuation and investment fund manager Australian Ethical Investment announced the launch of the Australian Ethical Investment Growth Opportunities Fund,designed to provide wholesale investors with access to a diversified portfolio of private market investments focused on long-term growth and measurable impact. The new fund is being launched with a A$500 million (USD$353 million) seed investment from Australian Ethical, alongside…

Industrial decarbonization-focused private equity investor Ara Partners announced an investment of up to $500 million in waste upscaling solutions provider Sedron Technologies. Founded in 2014 as a spinoff from aerospace engineering and manufacturing company Janicki Industries, Washington-based Sedron provides circular waste management solutions to transform biosolids, agricultural manure, and other liquid wastes into clean reclaimed water, renewable energy, and carbon-negative…

Grid-scale energy storage solutions provider Energy Vault announced an agreement to acquire an 850 MW portfolio of battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects in Japan from a domestic energy storage developer. According to Energy Vault, the transaction marks the company’s formal entry into the Japanese market, with the company citing key unique market features that it will be able to…

Cleantech startup Graphyte announced today a new agreement with JPMorganChase for the purchase of 60,000 tons of durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits over a ten-year period, generated from its U.S.-based projects to permanently sequester compressed biomass. Founded in 2023, Arkansas-based Graphyte provides durable, low-cost carbon removal technology utilizing natural processes such as photosynthesis. The company’s “Carbon Casting” approach dries…

UK-based sustainability-focused consulting firm SLR announced today the acquisition of advanced climate-modelling and analytics platforms Planetrics and ClimSystems, alongside the launch of an enhanced Digital Services offering utilizing capabilities from the newly acquired companies. According to SLR, the announcement comes in response to growing demand from investors and businesses to understand and address climate risk and associated value-at-risk with greater…