Ahren Lester

UK government announces green sovereign bond and climate disclosure plan

The UK government has announced plans to issue its first green sovereign bond in 2021, as well as making for climate-risk disclosures mandatory for major companies by 2025.

BofE announces climate stress tests launch in June after Covid-19 delay

The Bank of England (BofE) has announced that its postponed climate stress tests will now launch in June, after the central bank used the delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic to work on the design of the exercise.

News round-up: Investor group urges coal exit, ESG index numbers jump, Franklin Templeton boosts social assets

$5trn UN-convened global alliance calls for thermal coal exit

UK lawmakers urged to strengthen ESG focus of pension funds

UK legislators were urged to back a law to compel managers of the £2.8 trillion ($3.6 trillion) in pension fund assets to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as part of their fiduciary duty to clients, including through the creation of a Scandinavian-style ethics council.

Green and sustainability-linked loan round-up: Polymetal and Fortune REIT

Polymetal seals first green loan for a Russian miner

Bond round-up: Kookmin, China Industrial Bank, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry ... and more

Green bond comment, November: Time is ripe for sovereigns to finally step up

Sovereign green bonds experienced a bumper September, with several new issuers, but Ahren Lester argues other hesitant sovereigns should step-up ahead of COP26 next year to light up this potentially significant market

Industrial Bank issues second 'blue bond' in China

The Hong Kong branch of China Industrial Bank (IB) has issued a 'blue bond', which was nearly five times oversubscribed, just a few weeks after the maiden blue bond in the country was announced.

$42bn Australian pension fund settles climate court case

The AUD60 billion ($42 billion) Retail Employees Superannuation Trust (REST) pension fund has settled a court case brought against it by a member over its handling of climate change risk, which could spark further legal climate challenges at pension fund managers.

News round-up: REST settles climate case, Solarcentury acquired, Equinor net-zero pledge ... and more