Ahren Lester

REC-reduced emissions targets are 'not reputable', says MainStreet

The use of 'market-based' emissions targets for sustainability-linked instruments is "not reputable", as it demonstrates no long-term operational sustainability improvement, according to MainStreet Partners.

Bond round-up: Swedbank, Nordic social spotlight, Singapore, BNG ... and more

World Bank: 'Save' SLBs with stricter standards and scrutiny

The World Bank said there are encouraging signs that the quality of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) is improving, but standard-setters, external reviewers and regulators also need to up their game to support the "revival".

Ostrum AM: 'Very interested' in more social sustainability-linked bonds

Ostrum Asset Management is "very keen" to see more social-focused sustainability-linked bonds come to the market, to allow for diversification from its current climate-focused investments in the performance-based instrument.

ESG 'important' for SMEs to maintain liquidity access, win work

NBIM: ESG ratings 'should disclose methodology change impacts'

Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) has urged regulators to require environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings providers to be more transparent about the impact of changes to their methodologies.

Stage set for record-breaking 2023 sovereign green bond issuance

Sovereign green bond issuance in 2023 has already exceeded the level set in the whole of 2022, and is on course to surpass the record-breaking 2021 total.

Singapore prices SGD2.8bn green bond tap

Singapore is raising SGD2.8 billion ($2.1 billion) from a tap of its 50-year green bond, which takes the total raised by the city-state from its debut sovereign green bond to SGD5.2 billion.

Loan round-up: AirTrunk, Sime Darby Motors, Frasers Property ... and more

ESG ratings are down but not out, says ESG Book

The use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and scores are becoming less prominent in financial markets, but ESG Book said they remain a "powerful tool" for making a complex topic comprehensible and delivering investment strategies.