SPOTLIGHT Three-quarters of the largest publicly traded companies should not encounter additional compliance costs from disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions under the upcoming Securities and Exchange Commission climate financial risk disclosure rules, according to a new report from The Sierra Club, Public Citizen and …
SPOTLIGHT Investors are ditching Article 8 funds, an EU fund classification requiring ESG goals are “promoted,” due to growing skepticism around their efficacy. These funds lost more than €20.5 billion last quarter, and the funds that suffered the most had the weakest sustainability …
SPOTLIGHT The climate crisis costs the world $391 million per day, according to a new study, and almost two-thirds of the costs come from human loss of life. This hefty price tag is attributed to climate change-induced wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, and other extreme events, …
SPOTLIGHT Anti-ESG sentiment in the U.S. hasn’t deterred asset managers and investors, but some are revising their messaging strategies. 30% of asset managers surveyed in a new Cerulli report plan to be more cautious about messaging, though none of them intend to cease integrating ESG considerations …
SPOTLIGHT The European Union is considering a delay in some of its ESG rules over concerns they’re too burdensome for industry. Certain elements of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards could be pushed off for two years in an attempt to make sure European companies “remain …
SPOTLIGHT Check out this new podcast on responsible investing crafted by the minds behind the popular Climate Town YouTube channel. This episode delves deep into the ESG space and the myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Please give it a listen and share it within your network. …
SPOTLIGHT “We live in a deranged age,” says tech investor Marc Andreessen in his new Techno-Optimist Manifesto. And no, he’s not talking about his $350 million investment in disgraced former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann’s crypto-real estate venture or how a tougher fundraising environment has forced him …
SPOTLIGHT The European Banking Authority is revising the framework that sets industry-wide capital requirements for lenders, known as Pillar 1, to incorporate environmental and social risks. These rules will likely impact high-emitting sectors like oil, gas, cement, steel, and mining.While the EU is making progress …
SPOTLIGHT It’s Friday the thirteenth and California’s pension funds’ scary Big Oil investments just got exposed. After launching one of the most prominent lawsuits against Big Oil in the nation, joining international calls to end fossil fuels, and passing global-leading climate financial risk and emissions disclosure requirements, new analysis by …
SPOTLIGHT Expanded labor strikes in the auto industry are driving Republican attacks on President Biden’s climate agenda. While Donald Trump accused Biden of sending autoworkers to the unemployment lines, other candidates focused on the strikes in the second Republican primary debate, and some GOP …
SPOTLIGHT Despite being sued by former employees and insider trading accusations, Vivek Ramaswamy’s firm Strive made headlines for eclipsing over $1 billion in assets a few weeks ago, making the right-wing asset manager one of the biggest players in the small anti-ESG pond. While Vikek and Strive are most …
SPOTLIGHT A Trump-appointed Texas judge backed Biden’s ESG rule—which simply allows ESG investment factors to be considered in retirement funds—against a challenge by 26 red states. The judge argued that it’s not too different from its Trump-era predecessor. Retirement law expert Andrew …
SPOTLIGHT Expect a load of Republican disinformation about the proposed SEC climate disclosure rule today as Chair Gary Gensler testifies before the House Financial Services Committee. Elizabeth Warren and 24 other Democrats applied pressure on the SEC prior to the hearing to push out a strong reporting …
SPOTLIGHT Deutsche Bank’s investment arm, DWS, reached a $19 million settlement with the SEC to resolve allegations that it overstated its use of ESG factors in its funds. DWS did not admit or deny the charges, but accepted two cease-and-desist orders related …
SPOTLIGHT California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a new rule allowing insurers to consider future climate change risks when setting prices. The rule will likely cause insurance rates to rise in some high-risk fire areas, but has been applauded by the …
SPOTLIGHT The SEC approved the new Investment Company Names Rule on a 4-1 vote yesterday. The rule aims to help rein in ‘greenwashing’ by investment funds where a fund’s name falsely suggests investment in companies meets certain environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. It’s an …
SPOTLIGHT Skyrocketing property insurance premiums burden Americans across the country, yet a new report says premiums aren’t rising fast enough to accurately reflect climate risk. An estimated 39 million US homes are insured at suppressed prices compared to actual climate risk, and nearly 6.8 million of those …
SPOTLIGHT Asset managers are having a tough time selling funds in Europe that aren’t ESG-registered. The European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) has spurred 3.4 times more client flows into ESG categories compared to non-ESG funds, according to a study by …
SPOTLIGHT Amid raging wildfires and coastal deluge, HSBC’s global head of ESG research fears “the externalities of sustainability issues aren’t well priced or accurately priced at the moment.” Instead of relying on ESG scores, HSBC is seeking a more comprehensive approach by integrating climate …
SPOTLIGHT As summer recess comes to an end, five Republican lawmakers face scrutiny over their support for legislation that weakens investor protections, reduces transparency, blocks climate disclosure, and stifles shareholder rights. The Congressional Integrity Project released targeted digital ads in five districts that …