The idea of incorporating gross national happiness into mainstream economic thought has long been a subject reserved for debating societies and 'lefty' thinkers. As politicians are cornered into taking immediate action on climate change, capitalism is in for a big surprise.
America's solar industry has faced challenges getting financing, but investor and public sentiment is improving and government support is growing. A $400m debt issue last month was another positive sign.
The investigations by US and German financial watchdogs into $1trn asset manager DWS reflect a general tightening of regulatory criteria for funds labelled as ESG or sustainable.
The UK is about to launch its first green sovereign bond programme, which will incorporate innovative social indicators. Senior banking executives expect it to boost the corporate debt market, but want more specifics on impact benchmarking targets and deadlines.
Recently criticised for failing to deliver returns above their peer group, gender lens funds are under immense scrutiny to up their game. And while legitimate concerns exist about how they are marketed, the lack of suitable companies remains a serious problem.
The A$150bn pension fund is using its financial heft to address modern slavery and has developed a risk-assessment tool to support its reporting requirements. But while some asset managers have shown overwhelming support, others are still burying their heads in the sand.
The private placement from shopping centre operator Emergence Plaza had the advantage of a beneficial economic backdrop and high market liquidity. There is much for potential issuers to learn from only the fourth green corporate bond from sub-Saharan Africa.
Medical device maker Nipro has become a rare Japanese issuer of a sustainability-linked loan, and the first from the healthcare sector. Disclosed details are limited, but it aims to use the proceeds to help address Covid-19 issues and generally improve public health both domestically and overseas.
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, one of the largest British retirement asset pools, is developing its approach to ESG data as it ramps up its focus on private markets, carbon measurement and diversity issues. The institution's head of internal management gives Capital Monitor the lowdown.
Despite coal's influence on global warming, less than half of the world’s largest asset managers have an investment policy in place for it, according to non-profit organisation Reclaim Finance.
Some car manufacturers have sold green bonds, but Paris-based Valeo is Europe’s first automotive sector company to target carbon emission reduction along the entire manufacturing chain.
Capital Monitor analysis of government ESG bond ETF funds offers a sobering picture of a lack of diversity, limited aspiration and questionable attempts to create investment programmes with real-world impact.
As demand for sustainable investing continues its global rise, the corresponding jump in regulation has meant Australia and Europe – among the leaders in this area – have witnessed eligible ESG assets drop dramatically as a proportion of overall assets. Will Canada be next?
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