David Walker

Articles by David Walker

  • Suncorp to pull out of oil, gas and coal

    21 August 2020

    Suncorp has committed to not finance or insure the oil and gas industry by 2025, complementing its ban on backing new thermal coal projects.

  • German regulator praises sustainability taxonomy for undermining greenwashing 'ploys'

    19 August 2020

    The EU's sustainability taxonomy, launched in March this year, is helping to uncover greenwashing ploys prevalent in the investment industry, according to the head of sustainable finance at Germany's financial regulator, BaFin.

  • European insurers demand more sustainable investments

    21 July 2020

    Insurance Europe, which represents most of the continent's insurance industry, has reiterated calls for the European Commission to increase the supply of suitable sustainable investments. It also called for increased access to environmental, social and governance (ESG) data, and asked the Commission to ensure proportionate ESG rules.

  • Insurers' oil and gas activities to be next under spotlight

    18 June 2020

    Re/insurers around the world should limit their support for oil and gas projects and have until mid-September to explain the measures they are taking to reduce exposure to the sector, according to environmental NGOs.

  • The rise of social investing amid COVID-19

    01 May 2020

    Elisabeth Stadler, chief executive of Vienna Insurance Group, has been one of the industry's most long-standing advocates of social investing - the "S" in ESG. As combating COVID-19 heightens the general awareness of socially-minded investing, she discusses the topic with David Walker

  • Danish pension funds invest $250m in US solar projects

    15 April 2020

    Danish pension funds PenSam and PKA have invested DKK1.7 billion ($249 million) in US solar energy plants in California and Texas.

  • Pandemics come and go, climate risk here to stay, Swiss Re warns

    08 April 2020

    Financial markets must not lose sight of the threat from global warming in the frenzy around the Covid-19 pandemic, Swiss Re has warned.

  • Australian regulator to advise insurers on climate change response

    24 February 2020

    Australia's insurance regulator is preparing a guide on the best practices for insurers in understanding and preparing for climate change, which it hopes will also help address a "data deficit" on the topic.

  • Insurance claims from Australia's catastrophic summer pass A$2bn

    27 January 2020

    Insurance claims from Australia's natural catastrophe season have surpassed AUD2 billion ($1.4 billion) as the bill from hailstorms that hit Southeastern Australia on 20 January quickly breached AUD500 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

  • Nomura wins ESG fund mandate from Japanese life insurer

    21 January 2020

    T&D Holdings adds to ethical investment programme with T&D Funds - Euro ESG Bond Fund