News

Lloyds to ramp up sustainable agriculture financing

Lloyds Bank is set to increase its financing for farmers seeking to transition to more sustainable activities, through the use of mechanisms such as biodiversity credits, with "whatever they need", an executive has said.

Bond round-up: CEB, Italy, Pacific Gas and Electric ... and more

US politicisation won't stop ESG momentum, says Columbia Threadneedle

Despite growing politicisation of ESG in the US market, global momentum means progress in the country is unlikely to significantly slow sustainable investments, Columbia Threadneedle has said.

Zero-deforestation soy finance initiative ready to 'scale significantly'

A green bond-backed, zero-deforestation soy farming finance initiative is planning to grow to $250 million in 2024 and $1 billion in 2025, after the success of a $11 million pilot in Brazil.

ISSB to allow year-long delay for reporting non-climate risks and opportunities

Companies will not be required to disclose their non-climate risks and opportunities in the first year of reporting under IFRS S1, owing to a transitional relief approved by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

Axa IM votes against company director due to deforestation inaction

Axa Investment Managers voted against the re-election of a director of one company following its failure to engage on deforestation, an executive has said as the firm steps up its biodiversity engagement.

Chinese banks not shifting away from coal, says Sustainable Fitch

Despite a movement into 'cleaner' assets, Chinese banks have yet to shift away from coal, which risks leaving many with stranded assets, Sustainable Fitch has said.

Sustainability Linked Loan Principles update 'de-emphasises' financial incentives

Updates to the Sustainability Linked Loan Principles (SLLP) intentionally weakened language around financial "incentives" as it was believed to place the "wrong emphasis" on the point of the instrument, according to the Loan Market Association (LMA).

CDP says more stringent scoring methodology at heart of 'transformation'

CDP is strengthening its process for scoring companies on sustainability aspects and introducing new forward-looking metrics, as part of a push to transform the influential disclosure project.

SocGen biodiversity-screened indexes expand with Japanese focus

Solactive has focused on Japan in an expansion of its Société Générale-licensed biodiversity-screened index series with three new indexes, informed by Iceberg Data Lab.