The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that its widely-anticipated Policy Statement in response to the Sustainable Disclosure Requirements (SDRs) and investment labels consultation will now be published in Q3...more
Last month, Canada’s Department of Finance published the Sustainable Finance Action Council (SFAC) recommendations for the development of a green taxonomy for sustainable investment, as the country moves toward its goal of...more
On March 23, 2023, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) commenced a new “maintenance” project to “explore whether and how financial statements can better communicate information about climate-related risks.”...more
On March 14, 2023, the European Parliament gave its final approval for member nations to implement stricter national targets relating to emissions reduction and the protection and expansion of CO2-absorbing natural ecosystems...more
On March 30, 2023, the UK government announced the publication of its 2023 green finance strategy, updating its earlier 2019 strategy, which is intended to mitigate climate-related risk and damage while increasing the amount...more
4/4/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Green Finance ,
Investment ,
IOSCO ,
New Guidance ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Risk Mitigation ,
UK
On March 15, 2023, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announced that nuclear power will be classified as “environmentally sustainable” in UK’s green taxonomy, “giving it access to the same investment...more
On March 22, 2023, Malaysian stock exchange Bursa Malaysia and the London Stock Exchange Group announced the development of a centralized ESG-reporting platform (Platform), due to launch in April 2023. The Platform has been...more
3/29/2023
/ Capital Markets ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Global Economy ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
London Stock Exchange ,
Malaysia ,
Stock Exchange
On March 14, the European Commission (EC) announced a proposal to “revise the rules for electricity market design and for improving the EU protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market.” The proposals...more
3/27/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Electric Generation Suppliers ,
Electricity ,
Energy Reform ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Green New Deal ,
Infrastructure ,
Market Manipulation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Renewable Energy
In a recent report, the UK-based NGO ShareAction claimed that “[t]he asset management industry needs to change urgently if it is to demonstrate proactive stewardship that safeguards against key social and environmental risks...more
On February 17, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Luiz Alberto Figueiredo as the Brazilian Ambassador for Climate Change. Figueiredo is an experienced diplomat who previously served as Brazil’s permanent...more
On February 22, 2023, the UK’s Pensions Regulator (TPR) announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at tightening regulation around ESG data published by trustees, as part of a wider campaign to assess whether trustees are...more
Under a proposed amendment to the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Bill, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) could be empowered to review appropriate risk weighting and capital requirements associated with a...more
On February 13, 2023, as part of the European Commission’s Strategy for financing transition to a sustainable economy, the European Banking Authority (EBA) launched an industry survey seeking input on green loans and...more
3/6/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Green Loans ,
Mortgages ,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) ,
Sustainable Finance
On February 17, 2023, the European Commission granted approval for the Spanish and German governments to subsidize the construction of two renewable hydrogen-powered steel production facilities for Europe’s largest...more
3/3/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Foreign Subsidies ,
Germany ,
Infrastructure ,
Spain ,
State Aid ,
Steel Industry ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On February 13, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the French financial regulator, proposed the introduction of legislation to establish “minimum environmental requirements” that must be met in order for financial...more
On January 16, 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced the launch of a common supervisory action (CSA) in partnership with EU Member State national competent authorities (NCAs). The CSA will cover...more
2/13/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Greenwashing ,
Marketing ,
MiFID II ,
New Guidance ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements
On January 17, the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) announced that its Asset Manager and Asset Owner Task Force (AMAO Task Force) has released a Transition Categorization Framework. The AMAO Task Force is comprised of 34...more
On February 1, the European Commission (EC) launched its Green Deal Industrial Plan to “enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s net-zero industry and support the fast transition to climate neutrality.” According to the...more
2/3/2023
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Energy & Climate Debates ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Financing ,
Green Deal ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Investment Funds ,
Net Zero ,
Sustainable Projects
Recently, agents from Brazil’s environmental protection agency, the Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), carried out the first significant environmental enforcement activity under the new...more
On January 13, an independent report was published into the UK government’s approach to delivering on its net zero obligations. The review, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), was...more
Foreign energy companies are taking initial steps to develop a large number of offshore wind farms along the coasts of Brazil and Colombia. As governments seek to reduce their carbon emissions to meet climate goals and...more
1/18/2023
/ Brazil ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Colombia ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Infrastructure ,
Offshore Wind ,
Renewable Energy ,
South America ,
Wind Power
On January 9, the UK’s Department of Business, Energy & Industry Strategy (BEIS) launched a consultation aimed at better aligning the UK’s electricity generation market with the UK government’s net zero targets, including a...more
1/13/2023
/ BEIS ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Electric Generation Suppliers ,
Energy Policy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Infrastructure ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Regulatory Reform ,
UK
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumed office on January 1 after being elected to a third term in a contentious and closely fought race. On his first day in office, Lula signed a package of executive orders, including seven that...more
Taiwan’s central bank announced it will begin incorporating climate change related risks into its forecasts and modelling for inflation and economic growth. The central bank will also amend its monetary policy to better...more
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) ended in Montreal, Canada, on December 19, 2022 with a landmark agreement to protect at least 30% the planet’s lands, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans by 2030 (known...more
1/3/2023
/ Biodiversity ,
Board of Directors ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
COP ,
Corporate Issuers ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Environmental Summit ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Infrastructure ,
United Nations