• info@esgwise.org

Into the Mainstream

Justine Leigh-Bell, Executive Director at Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute, surveys the sustainability-linked bond market and outlines steps to widen the investor base. Sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), which first emerged in late 2019, have seen a ramp-up in adoption, as more corporates and sovereigns set ambitious commitments to transition towards net zero carbon emissions. The market has grown to US$279 billion, totalling…

Chip Innovation Heightens Water Risks

Semiconductor producers’ growing demand for water could outstrip reliable supply, explains Erica de Souza, APAC Regional Manager, Water Security at CDP.   What does a Toyota Prius, a dishwasher and a long-range laser-guided hypersonic missile have in common? The answer is semiconductors, the ubiquitous microchips that power the modern economy. They underpin the transformative innovations, like artificial intelligence, that are…

On the Cusp of a New Era

Latin America’s next phase of impact investing must embrace the region’s specific challenges and opportunities, says Ahmad El Jurdi, Principal at Lightrock. In recent years, Latin America has been at the core of a paradox within the global investment landscape. On one hand, the region experienced a significant downturn in funding in 2021, reflecting broader global economic challenges and investor…

No Evidence of CA100+ Voting Collusion

Analysis shows US support for climate-focused shareholder proposals diverged from EU, as investor-led initiative updates FAQs to further assuage anti-trust concerns. A new report from Morningstar has found the proxy-voting records for 20 high-profile climate resolutions last year contradicted accusations of collusion levelled at Climate Action 100+ (CA100+). The investor-led initiative has faced accusations of collusive behaviour from some US…

Bloomberg Launches New Suite of “Climate Tilted” Versions of Government Bond Indices

Bloomberg Launches New Suite of “Climate Tilted” Versions of Government Bond Indices

Bloomberg announced today the launch of the Bloomberg Government Climate Tilted Bond Indices, a new series of government bond benchmarks aimed at offering investors with exposure to its flagship fixed income benchmarks, in addition to the low-carbon transition, by increasing weightings on countries incorporating climate transition objectives. At launch, the new series will include 14 indices, including global, Eurozone and…

Clean Energy Developer Solarig to Build $850 Million Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in Spain

Clean Energy Developer Solarig to Build $850 Million Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in Spain

Clean energy developer Solarig announced today that it will develop a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Spain, with a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes (approximately 75 million liters) of SAF per year. The company anticipates that it will invest €780 million (USD$847 million) in the new plant, located in in Parque Empresarial del Medio Ambiente (PEMA) located in…

Farmers, Financiers Urged to Seek Pastures New

Livestock funding swells US banks’ financed emissions, research warns, as Brazil’s cattle sector told to get to grips with transition.  Livestock producers and their financial backers stand to benefit financially and strategically by accelerating their transition to more sustainable practices, according to new research.   But the reports also highlight the environmental and revenue risks from current finance flows, which are currently…

Biden Administration Announces $20 Billion of Awards to Finance Clean Energy Projects in Low-Income Communities

Biden Administration Announces $20 Billion of Awards to Finance Clean Energy Projects in Low-Income Communities

The Biden administration announced today the selection of $20 billion of awards to fund thousands of climate and clean energy projects across the U.S., with a particular focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities. The buildout of clean energy capacity has been key focus areas for the Biden administration’s climate agenda, with the administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) including allocations…

IKEA Foundation Invests $100 Million to Increase Access to electric Vehicles in Emerging Markets

IKEA Foundation Invests $100 Million to Increase Access to electric Vehicles in Emerging Markets

The IKEA Foundation, a strategic philanthropy funded by IKEA owner INGKA Foundation, announced that it will invest $100 million to support the Leapfrogging Partnership, a new project launched by vehicle electrification-focused initiative Drive Electric Campaign, aimed at advancing decarbonized road transportation in emerging markets. Launched in 2021 by Climateworks Foundation, the Drive Electric Campaign focuses on advancing the goal of…