Ahren Lester

Articles by Ahren Lester

  • Expect limit to EU Taxonomy alignment by global peers

    19 March 2020

    Partial alignment with the EU Taxonomy by some international peers may be the most investors can expect in the future, although the European Commission will promote international convergence on 'green' standards.

  • Carney: sovereigns benefit from green bond market 'success story'

    19 March 2020

    Former Bank of England (BoE) governor Mark Carney has described green bonds as a "success story", while lauding the benefits of sovereign issuers entering the market.

  • Coronavirus stimulus packages 'should be green'

    18 March 2020

    Countries are announcing a string of multi-billion dollar stimulus packages to support their economies amid the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but pressure is building on them to demonstrate a commitment to the green economy.

  • EU Taxonomy to be reference in innovating bond market - ICMA

    17 March 2020

    The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) believes the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities will become a key reference as the green bond market moves beyond its current use of proceeds focus.

  • Meat industry "burying head in the sand" over climate risk

    17 March 2020

    Many of the major global meat producers are failing to adapt to climate change challenges, a report has argued.

  • Strong performance for green, social and sustainability bond funds in 2019

    16 March 2020

    After a torrid 2018 green, social and sustainability bond funds experienced a stronger performance in 2019, off the back of a rallying fixed income market. But performances were highly variable, reports Ahren Lester.

  • Mizuho Financial faces first Japanese climate resolution

    16 March 2020

    Mizuho Financial faces the first shareholder resolution in Japan, calling on the bank to disclose its climate risks and publish a plan to align investments to the Paris Agreement.

  • Church investors toughen ESG shareholder voting policy

    10 March 2020

    As annual general meeting (AGM) season approaches, the Church Investors Group (CIG) has announced a toughened stance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when considering shareholder voting decisions.

  • Role of ESG in credit risk analysis is growing, despite data drag

    09 March 2020

    Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is becoming more "mainstream" and playing a growing role in credit risk analysis, said a report from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

  • UK regulator proposes tightened climate-risk disclosure demands

    09 March 2020

    The UK financial services regulator has announced it is considering new climate-related disclosure requirements for most of the major firms listed in the country, despite disappointment from campaigners that its proposals were not mandatory.