One in five green, social and sustainability (GSS) bonds from the non-financial sector came from the auto industry in 2022, a report by MainStreet Partners has found, in a boom for electric vehicle funding. The annual issuance of GSS bonds declined for the first year on record last year, at approximately $845bn, down from $1.05trn … Read more
Investing in low-carbon stocks is only one part of the climate solution. After all, it is no good investing in windmills if the steel mills that supply them do not decarbonise. The most difficult part of the energy transition – and what underpins our ability to prevent global temperatures rising beyond 1.5°C – is the … Read more
Violent suppression of peaceful protestors against a coal mine expansion, and its funding by a secret loan from HSBC, calls into question the value of engagement over total divestment, a sustainability advice consultant has said. Rebecca Kowalski, founder of advice consultancy firm Overstory and ESG Clarity EU Committee member, said images of scenes at Lützerath, … Read more
Hong Kong’s legal sector needs to address its ‘boys’ club’ culture in which men form groups excluding women, and tend to favour other men when it comes to promotions or professional development opportunities. That was one of the many conclusions that came from a joint survey from law firm Mayer Brown and pressure group Women … Read more
UBS Asset Management has hired Narina Mnatsakanian (pictured) in the newly-created role of head of impact investing. Reporting to head of sustainable investing Lucy Thomas and based in the Amsterdam office, Mnatsakanian will lead the expansion of the group’s impact investment offering, research and impact measurement capabilities. Previously, Mnatsakanian led sustainability and impact investments at … Read more
Federated Hermes has hired Ross Teverson from Jupiter as a dedicated team head for engagement in Asia and emerging markets. Based in London, Teverson will be responsible for the development and delivery of Federated Hermes’ EOS engagement plan with companies in the region. The group said it engaged with 270 firms in Asia and EMs … Read more
The world is at a pivotal point in a transition to clean energy, but the path is anything but straightforward and easy, panelists at last week’s Milken Institute Public Finance Forum said. The level of interest and resources for renewable energy projects has never been higher, with last year’s Inflation Reduction Act being one example, … Read more
When hearing “COP” conference, many think of the UN Climate COP. However, another Conference of the Parties that is making incredible strides is the “Biodiversity COP.” The 2022 Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held in Montreal was attended by representatives from 188 governments around the world, ministers … Read more
Stewart Investors has launched an Irish-domiciled VCC version of the Indian Subcontinent Sustainability Fund, managed by Sashi Reddy and David Gait. The OEIC strategy was launched in 2006 and currently has $627m in assets under management for global clients. Joining the group’s existing global suite of sustainability funds, the Irish-domiciled VCC will be available to … Read more
A vegan ETF is claiming the title of first to be certified as carbon neutral without relying on offsets. That product, the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF, received the designation from third party Ethos ESG, the investment firm announced today. The ETF invests exclusively in companies involved in plant-based foods and materials and avoids … Read more