ISSB expects SASB enhancements to reflect location-specific nature risks, acknowledges role for standard setters in data consistency.  Standard setters’ efforts to align nature-related disclosure requirements will help investors to select from a growing plethora of metrics and data, according to panellists at ESG Investor’s Nature Data for Institutional Investors event.  Until interoperability is achieved, investors and their portfolio companies will…

Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are increasingly investing in the green energy transition as renewable energy tops climate investment priorities, according to a report by PwC. The report – Rethinking the role of long-term investors in the energy transition – published in collaboration with the International Forum for Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) and One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund Network (OPSWF), looked…

Panellists at ESG Investor’s Nature Data event identified need for guidance and action on artisanal mining, lobbying and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Investors seeking to address the ESG risks in their mining investments have been urged to respond to a consultation on a consolidated sustainability standard developed by leading industry bodies. The Copper Mark, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM),…

Aviva Investors has been fined €56,500 by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) for “persistent breaches” of their internal governance framework concerning five sub-funds classified as Article 8 under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). During an inspection that took place between 3 October 2022 and 11 May 2023, the CSSF found certain bonds held by the…

While assembling resources for a training programme aimed at raising awareness of impact laundering and reporting misrepresentation, I explored historical intelligence methodologies to evaluate their applicability to today’s challenges. During this research, I inadvertently found some declassified CIA documents outlining techniques such as source verification, network analysis and detecting psychological manipulation.  Surprising relevance of Cold War tactics  Originally designed to…

BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) has launched the BNP Paribas Low Carbon Transition Infra Equity fund, targeting €750m (£621m) in assets from institutional investors such as insurers, pensions funds and corporates. The fund is classified as Article 8 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). It aims to build a diversified portfolio of eight to 12 equity investments centred…

Ninety One has announced it will merge its UK Sustainable Equity fund with its Global Sustainable Equity fund in 2025, subject to shareholder resolution. The move will see a reduction in the number of UK equity funds the business will run from five to three, and means the UK Sustainable Equity fund will no longer exist in its current form….