Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Dredging firm Van Oord signs first green loan for LNG ships

    02 June 2020

    Dutch offshore contracting firm Van Oord has secured its inaugural green loan to finance three liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled dredging vessels in a bid to reduce the emissions of its fleet.

  • Less than half of green bond funds are ESG leaders, says MSCI

    01 June 2020

    Less than half of green bond funds were ranked as leaders in terms of their environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials, according to MSCI ESG Fund Ratings.

  • Largest private pension scheme in UK announces first divestments

    01 June 2020

    The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has announced it will not invest in tobacco, coal, and controversial weaponry firms under its exclusions policy, though campaigners are pressing for the £68 billion ($84 billion) fund to divest from other fossil fuel firms.

  • Total becomes next oil major to feel shareholder climate pressure

    29 May 2020

    French supermajor Total has become the latest oil firm to face rising pressure from shareholders at its annual general meeting (AGM) over it environmental ambitions.

  • Chinese regulators to exclude 'clean' fossil fuels from green bond standard

    29 May 2020

    Chinese regulators propose to exclude controversial 'clean' fossil fuel projects from their list of eligible green bonds.

  • Investor climate pressure builds on US oil majors as BlackRock steps-up

    28 May 2020

    US oil supermajors ExxonMobil and Chevron experienced significant investor pressure over their climate policies at their annual general meetings, with major investor BlackRock stepping up support for some proposals.

  • Economic rebound will be 'final test' for ESG funds, says Candriam

    28 May 2020

    After delivering relative outperformance before and during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, the "final test" for environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds will be how they perform during the ongoing rebound, says Candriam.

  • DWS launches 'smart' ESG investment approach

    27 May 2020

    Asset manager DWS has announced stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment criteria, focused on identifying and engaging with firms with high climate transition risk and violators of international sustainability standards.

  • 'Time has come' for SEC to address ESG disclosure

    22 May 2020

    A committee of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged the regulator to take a lead on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures, amid concerns a delayed response will result in US firms suffering a "distinct disadvantage" in accessing international capital.

  • Manulife US REIT secures maiden $100m green loan

    21 May 2020

    Manulife US Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has secured a $100 million green loan from OCBC Bank to refinance a US property and undertake environmental initiatives at other properties.