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Italy Launches Greenwashing Investigation into Shein Environmental Claims

Italy Launches Greenwashing Investigation into Shein Environmental Claims

The Italian Competition Authority announced that it has launched a investigation into global fashion online retailer Shein’s website operator Infinite Styles Services Co over possibly misleading advertising claims made on the site regarding the environmental sustainability of Shein branded clothing. According to the regulator, the investigation is focused on the possible misleading nature of environmental claims in several sections of…

Stewardship Central to CalSTRS’ Emissions Mission

US pension fund’s selection of ESG-tilted Nordea fund to manage US$450 million of equity investments highlights integration and engagement priorities. The essential role of engagement in the California State Teachers’ Retirement System‘s (CalSTRS) approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its investment portfolio is increasingly reflected in its manager choices. Earlier this month, CalSTRS, the world’s largest educator-only pension…

Schneider Electric Launches Building Decarbonization Planning Tool

Schneider Electric Launches Building Decarbonization Planning Tool

Energy and automation digital solutions provider Schneider Electric announced today the launch of its new Building Decarbonization Calculator, designed to enable building owners and operators to quickly test and explore a range of energy and carbon conservation measures (ECCMs). Buildings are a key source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and also one of the hardest to replace, given their…

Masdar Acquires Renewables Developer Saeta from Brookfield for $1.4 Billion

Masdar Acquires Renewables Developer Saeta from Brookfield for $1.4 Billion

UAE-based clean energy-focused developer Masdar announced plans to acquire renewable power company Saeta Yield from Brookfield Renewable together with its institutional partners, for an implied enterprise value of US$1.4 billion. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary approvals, and is expected to occur around the end of 2024. Based in Madrid, Spain, Saeta is an independent developer, owner…

More than Two Thirds of Asset Owners Say ESG Factors Have Become More Material: Morningstar Survey

More than Two Thirds of Asset Owners Say ESG Factors Have Become More Material: Morningstar Survey

Over two thirds of asset owners report that ESG has become more material to their investment process, as a greater share of assets is being invested in strategies that take ESG factors into account and asset owners increasingly set up dedicated ESG teams, according to a new survey released by investment research firm Morningstar. For the report, Voice of the…

Cleantech Startup Ayrton Energy Raises $7 Million to Tackle Hydrogen Transport and Delivery Challenges

Cleantech Startup Ayrton Energy Raises $7 Million to Tackle Hydrogen Transport and Delivery Challenges

Ayrton Energy, which is developing advanced methods for the transport of liquid hydrogen, has secured a $6.8 million seed round investment to advance its liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology. The company said that it will leverage the financing to scale its proprietary technology, double the size of its team, and expand operations into energy hubs in the US. Hydrogen…

IFRS Foundation Launches Guide to Help Companies Voluntarily Apply ISSB Sustainability Reporting Standards

IFRS Foundation Launches Guide to Help Companies Voluntarily Apply ISSB Sustainability Reporting Standards

The IFRS Foundation announced today the publication of a new guide aimed at helping companies to voluntarily apply the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) recently issued climate and sustainability-related disclosure standards and communicate their progress to investors. The IFRS Foundation’s International Sustainability Standards Board was launched in November 2021, with the goal to develop IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards to provide investors…

National Service Versus Fiduciary Duty

Concerns raised over proposed National Wealth Fund as UK government struggles to fill seats at investment summit. Less than a week after winning July’s UK general election, Keir Starmer’s Labour government unveiled plans for its National Wealth Fund (NWF), looking to combine public and private investment focused around five preliminary sectors. The sectors – green steel, green hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation, gigafactories…

Australia Court Fines Vanguard Record $12.9 Million Over Misleading Sustainable Investing Claims

Australia Court Fines Vanguard Record $12.9 Million Over Misleading Sustainable Investing Claims

A federal court in Australia assigned a record A$12.9 million (USD$8.9 million) penalty to Vanguard Investments Australia for misleading claims made by the investment management firm about one of its ESG funds, including failing to apply exclusionary screens to avoid investments in companies with fossil fuel activities, as claimed in its communication materials and disclosures. The fund, the Vanguard Ethically Conscious…

Great British Energy Bill

Great British Energy Bill

On 3 September 2024, the UK Government published its factsheet on the Great British Energy Bill which received its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 5 September. The purpose of the Bill is to establish a publicly-owned energy company designed to drive clean energy deployment and support the UK Government’s aim of decarbonising the UK’s electricity system by…