Basic biology means energy, water and food remain the most important economic goods – and so significant themes for informed investors The energy-water-food ‘nexus’ is now widely recognised as a critical element in efforts to combat climate change. Crucially, the number of potential investment themes emerging from it is practically without limit, as are the…
A new ruling from the French government around ESG investing could potentially lead to forced divestments worth billions of euros. As the Financial Times recently reported, the country has decided funds under its ‘L’investissement socialement responsible’ (ISR) label will no longer be able to put money into hydrocarbon exploration, exploitation or refining projects. Companies that…
BNP Paribas has launched a portfolio aiming to help fund projects and businesses involved in energy transition and climate-change mitigation. The BNP Paribas Climate Impact Infrastructure Debt fund will be structured as a Luxembourg Reserved Alternative Investment Fund and classified as ‘Article 9’ under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. The bank added it would be…
Despite the positive mood music from the organisers of this year’s climate change conference, Michael Nelson finds many commentators more cautious about heralding victory COP28 has concluded in Dubai with a new deal calling on all countries to “transition away” from using fossil fuels – the first time any such deal on fossil fuels has…
North Macedonia has launched its own energy transition investment platform, making the announcement to coincide with COP28. The country said it now aimed, by the end of the decade, to have phased out coal, adding 1.7GW of renewable energy, and strengthened its grid. The move is being supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and…
Europe has to “push” the green transition forward if it wants to remain competitive on the global stage, the European Central Bank (ECB) has warned. The assertion was made in the first in a series of articles from Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, Werner Hoyer, president of the European Investment Bank,…
Climate change remains the biggest environmental consideration affecting investment decisions, a new report from Deutsche Bank argues. According to the group’s 2023 ESG Survey, more than two-fifths (44%) of respondents saw it as the most-important factor, followed by 20% naming land degradation, 15% ocean pollution and the unsustainable use of marine resources, and 12% naming…
The EC has proposed an ‘Action Plan’ to help accelerate the roll-out of electricity grids across the continent, calculating €584bn in investment will be needed. The proposal from the European Commission said electricity consumption was expected to rise 60% by 2030, precipitating the need for investment. The €584bn figure had been calculated, it said, based…
The European Commission (EC) is preparing a €50-€60bn package to help support Ukraine’s National Plan to rebuild the country. Addressing the Kyiv Investment Forum, EC president Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine had the people and the determination to make the country a “hub of green industry and digital innovation”. “The city of Kyiv is…
VBDO benchmark finds 34% lacked ‘proper ESG integration in tax matters’, writes Natasha Turner European companies are becoming ever-more responsible taxpayers, but a third still lack proper ESG integration on tax matters, this year’s Tax Transparency Benchmark has found. The benchmark, which has been published by the Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) and PwC, this…
Robeco has launched an equities strategy with the intent to invest in, and engage with, companies across the fashion value chain, writes Michael Nelson. The Fashion Engagement Equities Strategy will invest in 30 to 40 publicly listed companies across the entire fashion value chain, including sourcing, production, consumption and end-of-life. The firm will particularly be…
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has called for more private investment to help underpin a smoother sustainability transition. According to the organisation, the continent needs a “solid socio-economic and fiscal policy framework” to ensure that the European Green Deal is implemented smoothly. First presented by the Commission in 2019, the European Green Deal aims to…
