The foundation is seeking feedback on its upcoming standards, as new research aims to define impact value creation. The International Foundation for Valuing Impacts (IFVI) has said it would aim to make the impact accounting standards it is currently developing complementary to existing sustainability ones. With that in mind, the foundation has launched a consultation on two upcoming…
US Pharma Prices: a Hard Pill to Swallow
Though a growing cohort of investors is prepared to fight for equal access to medicine, the absence of strict pricing regulation remains a significant hurdle. The socioeconomic ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic have put the importance of the global workforce’s health into stark relief for investors. As Suzi van Es, Investor Engagement Manager at the Access to Medicine Foundation, puts…
S&P Launches Biodiversity-Focused Versions of S&P 500 and Global LargeMidCap Indices
Index provider S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) announced today the launch of biodiversity-focused versions of its flagship S&P 500 and Global LargeMidCap indices, aimed at offering investors with a benchmarking solution integrating sustainability factors including biodiversity, the UN SDGs, and climate change. The new indices mark an expansion of the sustainability-focused benchmarks offered by S&P, and follows the recent…
Verizon Issues $1 Billion Green Bond to Invest in Renewable Energy
Verizon Communications announced that it has completed a new $1 billion green bond offering, with proceeds from the issuance to be allocated entirely towards renewable energy investments. The offering marks the sixth green bond issuance for Verizon, raising $6 billion since the launch of the company’s inaugural green bond in 2019. The new green bond offering follows the company’s announcement…
Canada Launches Second Green Bond Offering, Adds Nuclear Power to Eligible Investment Categories
The Government of Canada announced that it will issue its second green bond this week, aimed at unlocking financing to accelerate green infrastructure and nature conservation projects, and supporting the achievement of the country’s climate goals. According to media reports, the new offering will aim to raise $4 billion through the issuance of 10-year notes. The new offering follows Canada’s…
Guest Post – Adapting to CSRD: 5 Essential Considerations for European Businesses
By: Peter Walsh, Director, ESG Market Strategy & Partnerships at Benchmark Gensuite The introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) marks a significant shift in European sustainability reporting. As companies gear up to align with these expanded requirements, understanding the intricacies of CSRD is crucial. Here are five key considerations: 1. Getting to grips with the scope and compliance…
EU Parliament Adopts Nature Restoration Law, Overcoming Last-Minute Objections
The European Parliament announced today that it has adopted aimed at restoring and protecting natural habitats and ecosystems, including a mandated target for EU countries implement measures to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and for all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The new law passed with a narrow majority of…
Deutsche Bank Releases New Framework to Classify Sustainable Finance and Investment
Deutsche Bank announced the release of a new Sustainable Finance Framework, outlining the methodologies and procedures, including the environmental and social criteria and categories, used by the bank to classify transactions and financial products as “sustainable.” The new framework is the second to be released by Deutsche Bank, following the initial sustainable finance framework launched by the bank in July…
Deforestation Human Rights Risks Call for Regulation
Campaigners tell policymakers to create ‘ambitious’ measures to tackle abuses, as new tracking tools offer greater transparency and traceability. A new report from non-profit group Global Canopy has stressed the key role that regulation must play in addressing human rights risks linked to deforestation. The tenth annual Forest 500 report tracked the policies and performance of 350 companies and 150…
Industrial Decarbonization Startup Antora Energy Raises $150 Million for Zero-Emissions Heat & Power Solution
Zero-emissions industrial heat and power solution provider Antora Energy announced that it has raised $150 million, with proceeds from the Series B financing round aimed at supporting the acceleration of the production of its thermal batteries to decarbonize industrial facilities. Industrial heating uses high amounts of energy, often from fossil fuel-based sources, in order to transform materials into products such…