Green finance reaches EU policy ‘tipping point’ (
EURACTIV) The mid-term review of the EU’s Capital Markets Union initiative, due on Wednesday (7 June), will mark another step towards the mainstreaming of green finance in Europe, a senior EU official told EURACTIV.
Time the green bond market grew up (
Environmental Finance) The exclusion of Repsol's bond from the main green bond indexes highlights that a lack of a clear definition of what is green is hindering the market, argues Keith Mullin.
Passive’s next opponent: climate change (
Modern Investor) Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement may prove to be futile as a wall of passive money is already rebelling on climate related issues.
'We are still in: US cities and businesses launch 'societal' commitment to the Paris Agreement (
Edie) More than 900 companies, including Nike, Tesla, Google and Microsoft, have joined former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's declaration of defiance against Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, with a vow to achieve and exceed the original commitment.
Business is leading the transition to renewables while politicians dither (
The Guardian) This current political impasse is frustrating business leaders around the globe – and right here at home. Following Trump’s announcement, Goldman Sachs’ chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, used his first ever tweet to lampoon Trump, while even fossil fuel companies such as Exxon said leaving was a stupid idea.
European Development Days focus on private sector (
EURACTIV) The European Development Days, often called the ‘Davos of Development’ opened on Wednesday (7 June) in Brussels, with many of the VIP speakers stressing that in a difficult international context, the public sector cannot go it alone and therefore the role of the private sector is key.
EU environment and science money moved to military fund (
EUobserver) The European Commission is proposing to finance parts of its proposed defence fund with money originally allocated to energy, environmental and scientific programmes. The EU's executive announced its plan to subsidise research and procurement of high-end defence technologies on Wednesday (7 June), but the origin of the money has gone largely under-reported.
ESG investors hit out at Trump’s Paris Agreement renege (
Portfolio Adviser) According to Deutsche Asset Management’s second sustainable finance report released Thursday, 58 countries representing over 85% of global GDP have now implemented regulations or guidelines on sustainability reporting, ESG integration or exclusions.
Bolster safeguards through civil society to protect the environment (
Eco-Business) Hitting two birds with one stone: Engaging civil society organisations in development will ensure local participation as well as strengthen the environmental sustainability of these projects, writes ADB’s Richeline Tan Mascarinas.
Devon shareholders reject climate resolution (
Environmental Finance) Shareholders of US oil company Devon Energy have voted against a resolution calling on the company to do more to report on climate change at its annual general meeting (AGM). The proposal, filed by NGO George Gund Foundation, called on Devon to publish an annual assessment of the long-term portfolio impacts of global climate change policies and technological advances. It received 40.8% of the vote, below the 50% threshold needed.