News

• Economists promise COP28 roadmap to reform financial system

  16 August 2023

  A "roadmap" to reform international climate finance is to be delivered at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai that will involve measures to catalyse more private finance in developing countries.

• EU ESG ratings regulation risks hindering global providers, says Sustainalytics

  16 August 2023

  ESG ratings regulation being developed by the EU needs to better take into consideration the global nature of data providers, or risk hampering a growing market, Sustainalytics has told Environmental Finance.

• UK advised to develop green bond standard

  16 August 2023

  The UK Treasury should develop a voluntary Green Bond Standard to enable issuance of green bonds aligned to the UK green taxonomy, an expert group has recommended.

• Early coal phase out deals 'beset by hurdles', says Sustainable Fitch

  15 August 2023

  Early coal phase out deals in the Asia-Pacific region are 'beset by hurdles', particularly for investors which could face reputational risks for being involved, Sustainable Fitch has said.

• Gabon secures ground-breaking $500m debt-for-nature blue bond

  15 August 2023

  Gabon has issued a $500 million blue bond to fund a debt conversion which will unlock more than $160 million of funding for ocean conservation projects, becoming the first issuer of such a deal in mainland Africa and on public bond markets.

• Integrity Council to tackle technology in voluntary carbon markets

  15 August 2023

  The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) is to study how technology will impact the market for carbon credits and where standardisation is needed, as part of its second phase of work.

• European insurers 'shun green bonds,' according to study

  14 August 2023

  Research has suggested European insurers surprisingly "shun green bonds" as investments, leaving mutual and pension funds as the "preferred habitat" for the sustainability-focused fixed income instrument.

• ESG private credit reporting project aims to bolster SFDR alignment

  14 August 2023

  The ESG Integrated Disclosure Project (ESG IDP) has welcomed the "positive reaction" from loan market participants to its template for private credit sustainability reporting, as it looks to bolster alignment with the EU SFDR.

• Final SEC rule 'expected in October'

  14 August 2023

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to publish a final rule on climate disclosures in October, according to a note by Jefferies.

• KBRA criticises 'irresponsible' ESG scoring in credit ratings amid S&P reversal

  11 August 2023

  KBRA has criticised the "irresponsible" and "arbitrary" scoring of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in credit ratings after rival agency S&P removed its own scoring system from its reports.