ESG Today: Week in Review
This week in ESG news: Investor engagement on sustainability issues picks up with SSGA focusing on climate and diversity, and ShareAction targeting HSBC on fossil fuel financing; ESG ETFs claim more than half of 2020 ETF flows; Biodiversity coming into focus as a key area for ESG action; a plethora of new ESG services and tools for investors; BlackRock to enhance Aladdin’s sustainability reporting and analytics capabilities with new investment; largest-ever US offshore wind award goes to Equinor; and more.
See below for the highlights of the past week, and get all your ESG news at ESG Today:
Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements
Investors, Companies Join HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta Sustainable Business Charter
Pepsi Strengthens Climate Commitments, Pulls Ahead Net Zero Goal to 2040
United Natural Foods Unveils Sustainability Goals Covering Climate, Waste Reduction and Food Access
Sustainable Finance
EIB Issues €1.5 Billion Sustainability Awareness Bond, Adding Biodiversity Protection to Scope
Southern Company Launches Sustainable Financing Framework, Issues $400 Million Green Bond
Reporting and Disclosure
DWS calls for Global Sustainability Reporting Standards Under IFRS, Emphasizes Double Materiality
Government, Regulators and Politics
OSFI Launches Consultation on Climate Risks in Financial Sector
UK Commits £3 Billion to Protecting and Restoring Nature and Biodiversity
Markets
ESG ETFs Claim More than Half of All European ETF Inflows in 2020: Lyxor
Energy Transition
Equinor, bp, to Provide Renewable Energy to NY State in Largest-ever US Offshore Wind Award
Excelsior Energy Capital Announces Final Close of Inaugural Renewable Energy Fund
ESG Services and Tools
ISS ESG Enhances Climate Physical Risk and Scenario Analyses in Climate Impact Reporting Solution
Edison Looks to Democratize ESG Insights for Investors with Launch of New ESG Reports
dv01 Acquires Pragmic Technologies, to Provide ESG Ratings for Structured Products
Verdantix Launches Expanded ESG and Sustainability Research Practice
IQ-EQ Launches ESG Compliance and Reporting Service Offering
Investor Engagement
SSGA Outlines 2021 Stewardship Priorities, Will Focus Engagement on Climate and Diversity
ShareAction-Led Investor Group Targets HSBC for Action on Fossil Fuel Financing
Investment Managers, Pension Funds Form Initiative to Embed Stewardship into Investment Process
Funds and Investors
EIB and ADB Form Partnership on Sustainable Ocean, Blue Economy Initiatives
CFA Institute Publishes Updated Policy Position on ESG Integration
Bloomberg and Rockefeller AM Launch Index Ranking Companies on ESG Improvement
Exec Appointments
Singapore Exchange Appoints Herry Cho as Head of Sustainability and Sustainable Finance
Sustainability Education Platform Earth Academy Appoints Stefaan van Hooydonk as Dean