Investor engagement and regulation have helped to improve corporate human rights commitments, but progress remains patchy. The concept of human rights due diligence and responsibility has now become “mainstream” in the corporate world – led in part by investors’ efforts to engage on the issue, and under the impulse of regulation. It is almost 76 years since the UN Universal…

Petrostates, petrochemical companies and lobbyists derail potential for “ambitious” global policy instrument, increasing the prospect of a fragmented environment. Last weekend’s failure to establish a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty risks exposing investors to regulatory fragmentation, after the latest set of negotiations underlined major divisions between countries. Countries’ inability to reach a deal raises the prospect of disparity across jurisdictions over…

Will the evolving use of artificial intelligence in financial services hollow out the sector by replacing human beings with automated functions and algorithms? If not, what role will humans play in an increasingly AI-driven future? Tariq Munir, a Digital transformation advisor and keynote speaker, and Gilles Bonelli, founder and CEO of UK digital and sustainable finance… The post AI and the…

Alignment in carbon pricing rules will lessen compliance burden and may serve as protection against trade tariffs.  Confirmation of a UK carbon tax on imports has sent investors a positive signal of the Labour government’s climate ambition, but experts insist it must be interoperable with the EU’s carbon rules to minimise disruption.  Currently slated to come into effect from January…

A majority of large asset owners have been found to be underperforming in their efforts to address systemic risk at a macro level.  Some of the world’s largest asset owners are failing to engage with policymakers to push for ambitious climate policies that align with the goals of the Paris Agreement.  As they increasingly recognise climate change as a systemic…

It’s been a challenging time for people dedicated to fighting climate change. According to a recent UN Climate Change Panel report, the world is falling “miles short” of its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. In order to limit global temperature increases to the targeted 1.5° C mark, by 2030 we would collectively need to reduce GHG emissions by 43% from…