Michael Hurley

MSCI anticipates EU climate benchmarks with new index series

MSCI has raced out of the EU legislative starting blocks with the launch of two series of indexes designed to meet the minimum standards of proposed categories of climate-related benchmarks.

EU countries urged by MEPs to ‘at least double’ GCF pledges

Every country in the EU should “at least double” their contribution to the Green Climate Fund, the influential Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has said.

BlackRock, UBS back IIF to ‘align’ sustainable investment definitions

Recommendations designed to “simplify sustainable investment terminology” have won the backing of BlackRock and UBS.

Repsol commits to ‘positive’ climate lobbying following investor pressure

Spanish oil and gas company Repsol has committed to align its lobbying practices with the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement, in response to engagement by a group of European investors.

California wildfires illustrate how ESG factors can affect credit, says Moody’s

Wildfires that ravaged parts of California in recent days show the connection between environmental and social risks, and the credit quality of utilities in the US state, Moody’s has said.

One in 10 mining tailings dams have history of stability issues, investors reveal

Mining company disclosures to investors have revealed that more than 10% of those with tailings dams have encountered stability issues.

Schroders completes acquisition of impact investor BlueOrchard

New Zealand consults on comply-or-explain TCFD disclosures

New Zealand’s government has opened a consultation on introducing a comply-or-explain disclosure regime that would draw on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

‘Sustainable’ securitisations to benefit from central banks’ ESG push: Moody’s

‘Sustainable’ corporate debt securitisations are set to benefit from central banks’ increased focus on investments that satisfy environmental sustainability criteria, Moody’s has said.

Bundesbank chief rejects risk weighting adjustment for green assets

Climate risks impact on the core tasks of central banks but “it would be wrong to want to use banking regulations to set climate policy incentives, for example by granting risk weighting ‘discounts’ for ‘green’ assets,” said Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann.