• info@esgwise.org
BlackRock Sued by Tennessee for “Deceiving Consumers” about ESG Investing

BlackRock Sued by Tennessee for “Deceiving Consumers” about ESG Investing

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced the launch of a new lawsuit against investment giant BlackRock, alleging that the misrepresented the extent to which it uses ESG considerations in its investment strategies, including in those that do not have a stated sustainability focus. The complaint states that BlackRock is “deceiving consumers about the company’s extensive commitment to fulfilling ESG aims.”…

Brookfield, NGO Disagree on Scope 3 Reporting

Canadian private equity giant criticises “mistaken view” of its reportable emissions.  NGO Investors for Paris Compliance has said there is a “pervasive issue” across the financial sector industry with climate misreporting, as Net Zero Finance Tracker says more transparency is needed in disclosures on portfolio emissions.    The comments come as Brookfield has hit back at suggestions in a new…

UK to Launch a Carbon Tax on Imports by 2027

UK to Launch a Carbon Tax on Imports by 2027

The UK government announced that it will introduce a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) by 2027, establishing a carbon tax on imported goods targeted at a series of key emissions-intensive industries, aimed at equalizing the carbon price paid by UK producers with those outside the UK, and avoiding “carbon leakage,” or shifting of production of carbon-intensive goods to jurisdictions with…

SFDR: Market Divided on Future of Article 8, 9 Funds

Market participants flag importance of double materiality to enhance Article 8/9 definition alignment, stress need to recognise transition strategies.  Responses to the European Commission’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) consultation largely support improved definitions for green funds but are split on whether to junk existing labels.   In a joint response, Impact Europe – formerly the European Venture Philanthropy Association…

Issuers Seen as Key to Overcoming “Hurdles” to SDG Impact

EMDE-focused Impact Disclosure Taskforce aims to complement sustainability and impact-focused initiatives, such as the ISSB standards.   Better disclosure guidance to issuers, especially those in developing markets, has the potential to close the widening funding gaps that are putting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk.   This is the view of a new financial institution-driven taskforce which is in the…

EU Markets Regulator Updates Proposed Rules for Fund Names Using “ESG” or “Sustainability” Terms

EU Markets Regulator Updates Proposed Rules for Fund Names Using “ESG” or “Sustainability” Terms

EU markets regulator the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced the release of an update of its proposed guidance for the use of ESG and sustainability-related terms in investment fund names, including the introduction of a new “transition” category enabling the use of labels to identify funds that include investments not currently classified as green, but are focused on…

Guest Post – The Road to Decarbonization: How Blockchain Technology Can Accelerate Your Carbon Agenda

Guest Post – The Road to Decarbonization: How Blockchain Technology Can Accelerate Your Carbon Agenda

By: Clare Adelgren, EY Global Head of Blockchain Sales and Operations As companies globally accelerate their decarbonization journeys, scope 3 emissions—which include all indirect emissions originating from organizations’ upstream and downstream activities such as supply chain—present a significant challenge. Although scope 3 is often the largest portion of an organization’s carbon footprint, accounting for, it is also the most difficult…

KKR Highlights Brown-to-Green Transition as a Key “Mega-theme” in 2024 Outlook

KKR Highlights Brown-to-Green Transition as a Key “Mega-theme” in 2024 Outlook

Global alternative asset and private equity investor KKR announced the release of its 2024 Global Macro Outlook, identifying decarbonization, and the large scale “brown-to-green” transition of asset-heavy sectors in particular, as a key “mega-theme” driving investment opportunities. In the report by Henry McVey, CIO of KKR’s Balance Sheet and Head of Global Macro and Asset Allocation, KKR notes that while…

Apax Raises $900 Million for Global Impact Fund

Apax Raises $900 Million for Global Impact Fund

Private equity investor Apax announced the final close of the Apax Global Impact Fund (AGI), with commitments of approximately $900 million for investments in companies that provide products and services addressing environmental and social issues. According to Apax, the fund aims to support companies delivering tangible social or environmental impact, targeting key themes including Health & Wellness, Environment & Resources,…

U.S. Grants $890 Million for Carbon Capture Projects at Coal and Gas Power Plants

U.S. Grants $890 Million for Carbon Capture Projects at Coal and Gas Power Plants

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) announced that it will award up to $890 million to projects at three natural gas and coal-fired power plants, aimed at demonstrating carbon capture, transport and storage technologies to reduce emissions from the plants. According to the DOE, the three projects, located in California, North Dakota, and Texas,…