A selection of the major stories impacting ESG investors, in five easy pieces.  People and planet have been put on an equal footing by standards setters. Capital investments – The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) finally confirmed its next move, having completed much of the heavy lifting on its standards for climate and general sustainability disclosures. Following an extensive consultation…

Storebrand Head of Climate and Environment Emine Isciel stresses the need for governments to take effective measures to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically on the alignment of financial flows. As countries begin the countdown to the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Colombia later this year, the pressure is mounting on governments to develop ambitious – and…

Nature-focused scenario mapping and valuation are deemed pivotal to managing water stress as global warming worsens.   Most companies globally are still failing to account for water-related risks in their business operations and supply chains, industry experts warned during Rathbones Greenbank’s 27th Investor Day.  “Last year, we saw the first year of 1.5°C warming, and that is having a flywheel effect…

Dame Sara Thornton, Consultant on Modern Slavery at CCLA IM and former Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, says investors can help to protect workers. Over the last year there has been growing evidence of exploitation in the UK care sector. Unscrupulous opportunists here and overseas have exploited the desire of workers to obtain social care visas and have either abandoned them in…

Jessye Waxman, Senior Campaign Strategist at Sierra Club, argues that investors are failing to adapt to a new era of risk ahead of the 2024 AGM season. April marks the start of AGM season, the time of year when global investors are preparing to vote on critical matters at companies in their portfolios that have a significant impact on the climate….

Elizabeth Coleman, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, considers the rise in ESG-related class actions being heard at the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal. As the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) increases its focus on ESG, and the number of US-style ‘class actions’ being brought in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) surges, it is time that investors became aware that these suits now…

New benchmark provides insight into actions taken in systemically important sectors on reversing nature and biodiversity loss by 2030. Global investor-led nature and biodiversity initiative Nature Action 100 has published a set of benchmark indicators to assess companies’ nature-related ambition, and measure their progress towards fixed targets. Based on the initiative’s Investor Expectations for Companies and developed in consultation with…