ESG ratings will become a regulated activity under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) from June 2028 if new proposals are approved, with ratings providers required to publish minimum disclosures about methodologies, data sources, conflicts of interest and objectives. In the FCA’s consultation paper CP25/34 – Proposed Regulation of ESG Ratings Providers, published today, a major new regulatory regime has been set…
FCA Releases New Proposed Rules to Regulate ESG Ratings Providers
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s conduct regulator for financial services firms and financial markets, announced the publication of new proposed transparency, governance and conflict of interest management requirements for ESG ratings providers. The launch of the proposals follows the finalization of new legislation in October by the UK government to regulate ESG ratings providers, under the supervision of the…
CVC Acquires European Green Energy Platform Low Carbon
Private markets investment manager CVC’s infrastructure strategy CVC DIF announced the acquisition of a majority controlling stake in European renewable energy company Low Carbon, in a deal securing more than $1.4 billion in capital for Low Carbon aimed at creating a leading, pan-European Independent Power Producer (IPP). Founded in 2011, London-based Low Carbon develops, builds, and operates utility-scale solar, onshore…
EU Watchdog Says Commission Failed to Follow Procedures in Cutting Sustainability Reporting Rules
EU Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho announced that she has found a series of shortcomings in the European Commission’s process to launch its “Omnibus” initiative to simplify and reduce corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, alongside other legislative proposals, amounting to “maladministration” by the Commission. The Ombudsman’s findings follow an inquiry into the Omnibus proposal, launched by the Ombudsman in May,…
Knight Frank Signs $238 Million Green Energy Deal for UK Properties
Global property consultancy firm Knight Frank announced that it has signed a three-year renewable energy supply contract with French energy giant TotalEnergies valued at more than £180 million (USD$238 million). Under the new agreement, TotalEnergies will supply renewable energy which will cover the commercial properties managed by Knight Frank across the UK, as well as the firm’s own offices and…
Morningstar Sustainalytics Appoints Jodie Tapscott as Head of Climate and Nature Solutions
ESG ratings, data, and research provider Morningstar Sustainalytics announced the appointment of Jodie Tapscott as head of climate and nature solutions, with responsibility for leading the company’s climate and nature product strategy, development and delivery. Prior to joining Morningstar Sustainalytics, Tapscott worked for nearly five years at investment manager, most recently serving as Director of Responsible Investing Strategy & Portfolio…
LEGO Passes Halfway Point in Transition to Paper-based Packaging for Bricks
The LEGO Group announced an update in its progress on its initiative to transition from single-use plastic to paper-based for its LEGO sets, indicating that more than half of its packaging lines have now completed the change, nearly doubling from the prior year. The update follows an announcement by the company in 2023 that it would begin phasing out single-use…
Microsoft, Powertrust to Support Deployment of 270 MW of Green Energy in Mexico, Brazil
Clean energy aggregator and financing platform Powertrust announced a new agreement with Microsoft, with the companies collaborating to support the deployment of 270 MW of distributed solar projects across Mexico and Brazil over the next four years. Founded in 2020, Vancouver-based Powertrust supports companies’ clean energy procurement and helps to finance distributed solar development in fast growing markets, by aggregating…
EU Parliament Agrees to Delay, Review Supply Chain Deforestation Law
Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted 402 – 250 on Wednesday to delay and simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a new law aimed at ensuring that products imported to or exported from EU markets no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation globally, and to review the impact of the law early next year for potential further simplification, even…
Overstory Raises $43 Million to Help Utilities Avoid Wildfires with AI
AI-powered grid resilience platform Overstory announced that it has raised $43 million in a Series B round, with the new capital aimed at supporting the development of its AI-based risk models to help utilities prevent wildfires. Founded in 2018, Amsterdam-based Overstory’s platform uses high-resolution satellite data and AI to enable utilities to optimize vegetation management, to help prevent wildfires and reduce…