Michael Hurley

Articles by Michael Hurley

  • First US state financial regulator joins NGFS

    25 September 2019

    The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) has become the first US state financial regulator to join the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS).

  • Sustainability bond labels can be a case of 'splitting hairs'

    23 September 2019

    The transition bond label is unnecessary and can amount to 'splitting hairs' over the perceived sustainability of some sections of the market, according to a leading green bond second opinion provider.

  • One-third of banking sector signs Principles for Responsible Banking

    23 September 2019

    A set of principles designed to hardwire sustainability into the global banking industry has been formally launched with the backing of more than 130 banks – which together represent one-third of the global banking sector's assets.

  • EBRD issues world-first ‘climate resilience’ bond

    20 September 2019

    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has issued what it says is the first bond to exclusively finance climate resiliency projects.

  • Setting the benchmark for sustainable banking

    18 September 2019

    The Principles for Responsible Banking are due to be launched this month. Could they be a game-changer for the sector, Michael Hurley asks

  • Growing the NY Green Bank

    13 September 2019

    NY Green Bank's Alfred Griffin will deliver a keynote address at next week’s ESG in Fixed Income conference, featuring Green Bonds Americas. He tells Michael Hurley about the bank's next moves

  • Don’t rely on easy climate gains in land-use sector, PRI report warns

    13 September 2019

    Existing climate scenarios lean too heavily on the expectation of major cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the land use sector and investors are therefore underestimating the amount of reductions that will need to happen in other sectors, according to a report commissioned by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

  • US ESG funds fail to support shareholder resolutions, suggests SEC

    11 September 2019

    US-based funds that claim to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when they invest generally fail to support shareholder votes on such topics, according to a senior official at the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

  • Enel inks ‘world-first SDG-linked’ bond

    06 September 2019

    Enel has issued what it claims is the first bond to link its coupon to the company’s achievement of a renewable energy generation target in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Taxonomy moving in the right direction but still too complex, says Cicero

    06 September 2019

    The second draft of the EU’s taxonomy of climate-related economic activities is an improvement on the first draft – but still risks burdening the market with unnecessary complexity, according to Cicero Shades of Green.