Banks say they can help build scale in voluntary carbon markets, by providing services from market-making to deal origination and stewardship. But some say it is too early for such intervention, arguing that profits still need to go into developing technologies.
One of Africa’s biggest polluters, energy and chemicals group Sasol has repeatedly refused to table resolutions calling for disclosure of climate lobbying activities. Similarly obstructive tactics have been used elsewhere, including in Europe.
As another emerging economy gears up to tap international markets with a green bond, Capital Monitor explores how much potential there is for governments to make their debt sustainable.
A corporate treasurer’s work has historically revolved around cash flow forecasts, but increasingly involves defining sustainability key performance indicators and monitoring ESG data. Miguel Silva Gonzalez of Dutch supermarket giant Ahold Delhaize gives his take.
The chief investment officer of Spanish insurer Mapfre says EU regulators' attempts to supervise sustainable assets are too prescriptive, in that they lack essential interpretative context. This, he adds, is also partly why external ESG ratings fail to add major value.
Under pressure from the financial sector, the EU, G7 and other influential bodies are ramping up the push to achieve consistent measurement and reporting of sustainability impact amid concerns that separate initiatives are hindering this goal.
Singapore's Nanyang Technological University has sold a bond that is only the second of its kind globally. If it misses its targets, the step-up money will go into climate research or carbon offsets, not to investors. Capital Monitor gets the skinny from NTU finance chief Ong Eng Hock.
With investors pushing back on what they see as weak or immaterial claims by issuers of sustainability-linked debt, banks are now citing similar concerns – though they are still arranging deals seen as questionable.
The lucrative business of securities lending – often criticised for lacking transparency and not being aligned with long-term responsible investment – is in the spotlight more than ever. But ESG-related standards are being developed for the industry.
The founder of ClientEarth, James Thornton, explains how the environmental law charity takes on large corporates and governments to tackle climate change.
Often cash-flush and shy of scrutiny, higher education institutions have not typically felt the need or inclination to raise green bonds, despite their suitability for such funding. That is changing, with private placements seen as increasingly popular.
New research reveals many insurers are still shying away from tightening up their oil and gas policies in line with International Energy Agency recommendations. That said, they have made solid progress on coal, having generally closed the gap on the asset and liability side.
AkademikerPension, ATP and PensionDanmark are increasingly heavily focused on green investing but take different approaches to renewable energy and high-carbon assets, and to climate transition in general.
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