In early October, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) marked a new chapter in the history of sustainability by fining Dish Network $150,000 for abandoning one of its satellites in an orbit that was well below an acceptable elevation. This action is shining the spotlight on an issue that has been largely ignored until now—the “space junk” that satellite and aviation…

Nature Action 100 and PRI’s Spring to liaise closely to avoid duplication when engaging with investee firms on nature risks. Nature-focused investor engagement initiatives have committed to “build up as well as out” from existing sustainability-led stewardship programmes, in line with regulatory encouragement to increase collaboration. Speaking at ESG Investor’s Nature Data for Institutional Investors event, Tim Steinweg, Head of Stewardship…

In October 2023, there was a noticeable uptick in ESG policy developments worldwide. The world’s first green bond standards were issued as a regulation in the European Union. Meanwhile, efforts to dilute the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) were thwarted as the Members of European Parliament maintained that ESRS would be implemented without modifications, but introduced a delayed timeline for…

Platform for Living Wage Financials’ five-year progress report says work needed on engagement with unions and evidence base of action.   The challenge of moving towards a fair living wage is huge, but some progress is happening, according to Johanna Schmidt, Sustainability Researcher at Triodos, a founding member of the Platform for Living Wage Financials (PLWF), an alliance of investors…

UK Regulator’s Head of ESG urges finance sector collaboration to tackle nature risks, leveraging climate experience in incorporating nature into decision-making processes.  The finance sector should be using its expertise, resources and influence to address nature-related financial risks, rather than waiting for regulation to arrive, according to the UK’s financial regulator.  In her regulatory keynote speech at ESG Investor’s Nature Data…

A selection of this week’s major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  This week, the balance of responsibility between public policy action and private sector initiative took centre stage. A design for life – The unquantifiable and unpredictable impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has propelled governance and regulation of the sector to the top of the agenda for…

Thierry Philipponnat, Chief Economist at Finance Watch, warns that economic modelling must evolve to prompt policymakers to take action on climate. Almost seven years since the Paris Agreement was signed at COP21, any number of initiatives have been launched with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limiting global warming to 1.5°C. But a severe disconnect between climate…

Stephanie Maier, Chief Sustainability Officer at GAM Investments, considers the potential opportunities that AI could enable in the sustainable investing space, and the risks that must be mitigated. Years from now, 2023 may well be known as the year where AI and complex machine-learning algorithms brought about a permanent shift in whole sectors of the real economy.   The launch of…