What’s Happening in Sustainable Finance: The Nuance of ESG Ratings, the Impact of Climate Change on Sport, and “Code Red” for Humanity
Discussing diverse sustainability and green finance topics including the momentum behind sustainability-linked bonds, the latest IPCC report as well as recent sustainable finance deals and transactions.
Bringing Investors and Companies Together to Accelerate Human Rights Progress
Human rights issues have been rising on the responsible investment agenda in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have provoked even more pointed discourse on the topic. The European Union’s current efforts to introduce rules to hold companies accountable for social and environmental risks in their supply chains further accelerate that ascent. This wave of legal requirements and normative expectations is impacting financial markets worldwide, with responsible business regulations already in place or quickly becoming valid.
Governance in Brief – October 07, 2021
At its 2021 AGM, Frasers Group shareholders approved a GBP 100 million compensation scheme for incoming CEO Michael Murray, amid backlash from independent investors. While the remuneration policy was supported by nearly 85% of votes cast, there was around 49% dissent among independent shareholders.
Governance in Brief – September 30, 2021
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Zoom Video Communications’ deal to buy American software company Five9, citing potential national security risks posed by foreign participation. In July, Zoom had announced an all-stock deal to acquire Five9 for USD 14.7 billion, contingent on Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) approval.
Climate Week NYC: Navigating the Fast Evolving Sustainable Debt Market
While global green bond issuance has been growing rapidly, these instruments still represent a niche segment of the global bond market. Join Sustainalytics during Climate Week NYC for a virtual event on Navigating the Fast-Evolving Sustainable Debt Market.
Governance in Brief – September 23, 2021
Philip Morris International Inc (“PMI”) secured nearly 78% of UK inhaler maker Vectura’s shares through a public tender offer. These developments mark a milestone in PMI’s pursuit of Vectura, which involved a bidding war with U.S. private equity firm The Carlyle Group and backlash from health groups.
Know Where You Stand With Corporate ESG Benchmarking
In this post we discuss why companies should generate a corporate ESG benchmark against their peers, explain how they can go about this exercise, and highlight how they can use that information to advance and enhance their own corporate ESG initiatives.
Impact of Climate Change and Extreme Weather on Essential Services
Utilities have found themselves in the literal and metaphorical eye of the storm over the last year as hurricanes, floods and wildfires of increasing frequency and strength have wreaked damage on their assets. In late August, Storm Ida made landfall in Louisiana, USA and devastated the power grid lines. Entergy, the utility operating in Louisiana, supplying most of New Orleans, restored 90% of the supply only by mid-September, with 87,000 customers still without power.
Governance in Brief – September 16, 2021
Private market investors and global non-profit organization CDP launched the Private Markets Pilot which aims to increase environmental disclosure from private companies. The CDP platform will allow investors to benchmark private companies and compare them in terms of environmental performance.
What’s Happening in Sustainable Finance: Key EU Developments and the Untapped Market of Climate-Aligned Bonds
Covering summer developments in the global sustainable finance market, including the launch of the EU’s renewed sustainable finance strategy, the publication of the Social Loan Principles and the EU Green Bond Standard, and the continuing growth in the sustainable bond and loan markets.
The circular way forward could be the key to reducing food waste
Indications that a food crisis is imminent are clear. Fundamental changes in the global food system are required to address these challenges. This decade is a watershed moment for urgent efforts to close the loop, and companies and investors can play a pivotal role. Despite being closely connected to issues such as climate change and basic human rights, food waste has attracted comparatively less attention from companies, investors, and other stakeholders.
Human Rights Accelerator
This thematic engagement aims to improve the adoption of globally agreed corporate standards for managing and promoting human rights, as defined by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and mirrored in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.