It was encouraging that the heads of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) called on leaders from government, finance and industry across Europe to deliver a clean energy transition that is just, swift and maintains competitiveness. Ministers, ambassadors, business leaders, central bankers and other key … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 1, 2023
Category: ESG
The new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: “We do not want to be crushed and knocked out” by burdensome regulations, say French SMEs
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive would extend the scope of companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting obligations to inform investors, banks and insurance companies better. The new rules would also apply to SMEs. In an article on the EURACTIV website, Théo Bourgery-Gons discusses how French SMEs argue that new regulations are so onerous that … Continue reading The new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: “We do not want to be crushed and knocked out” by burdensome regulations, say French SMEs
Summary of UN Summits Week 2023
Last week, the UN Headquarters was busy with the General Debate of the 78th session of the General Assembly together with summits on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and on climate change. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) does an incredible job … Continue reading Summary of UN Summits Week 2023
One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it
In an article on the Conversation website, Daniel Tsai, Lecturer in Business and Law at the University of Toronto and Peer Zumbansen, Professor of Business Law at McGill University discuss the need for changes to how ESG is implemented. The lack of government leadership and the fragmentation of the ESG landscape has created uncertainty about … Continue reading One of the issues with ESG is how difficult it is for investors, consumers and the public to assess how effectively companies have implemented it
Silencing climate voices in the insurance industry, but not actions
There have been recent attacks by Republican-led states in the US against investors and insurers who integrate the risks of climate change into their business models. Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University writes on The Conversation website that, while voices may have changed, for the most part actions have not. Fewer … Continue reading Silencing climate voices in the insurance industry, but not actions
Investment funds branded as green or socially responsible are being used to invest in fossil fuel companies
BlackRock and L&G among asset managers using funds with ESG label to invest in coal, oil and gas. Phillip Inman discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. Should we be surprised? Green investment funds pushing money into fossil fuel firms, research finds Investment funds branded as green or socially responsible are … Continue reading Investment funds branded as green or socially responsible are being used to invest in fossil fuel companies
A new twist to ESG investing
When making a quick judgement on a company or other investment proposition, don’t take any assertions of ethical behaviour at face value, writes Hamish McRae in an article on The Independent website. Ethical investing is harder than it looks – here’s why It is a tough one. Do investors have to choose between ethics … Continue reading A new twist to ESG investing
Finance, whether green or otherwise labeled, will not come to the rescue of the planet
'Le Monde' journalist Eric Albert explains how the global head of responsible investing at HSBC bank dared to voice what most financiers are thinking: that climate change does not affect finance. Green finance will not save the planet Stuart Kirk jolted everyone in the room awake. At a May 20 conference hosted by the … Continue reading Finance, whether green or otherwise labeled, will not come to the rescue of the planet
The “roiling debate over the value of ESG ratings”
Something does not seem right when a major stock index that tracks sustainable investments dropped electric vehicle-maker Tesla from its list in May 2022 – but it kept oil giant ExxonMobil. Tom Lyon, Professor of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce and Business Economics, at the University of Michigan discusses the issues in an article on … Continue reading The “roiling debate over the value of ESG ratings”
If ESG is to live up to its potential, we’re still a long way from making it meaningful
In an article on The Conversation website, Marc Lepere, PhD Candidate in Political Economy at King's College London discusses many of the concerns about the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) label. Fortunately, there is hope for the future. Green investing: the global system for rating companies’ ethical credentials is meaningless As the war in Ukraine … Continue reading If ESG is to live up to its potential, we’re still a long way from making it meaningful
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 