SPOTLIGHT California’s leadership on climate risk disclosure and emissions reporting requirements is hitting all the right marks. After Gov. Newsom confirmed he’d sign the global-leading legislation earlier this week, SEC Chair Gensler indicated that it could make it easier for the agency …
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 …
Although cars have become the dominant mode of transportation, they’ve also become a greater household expense.
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 …
SPOTLIGHT In last week’s GOP primary debate, Vivek Ramaswamy declared himself as the “only person on the stage who isn’t bought and paid for”—even though he is most certainly bought and paid for. Ramaswamy leveraged his ties within the conservative dark …
SPOTLIGHT Saudi Aramco is under United Nations investigation for potential human rights violations linked to climate change. The UN’s human rights and transnational corporates working group is examining allegations against the world’s biggest fossil-fuel producer, claiming Aramco has violated Paris Agreement goals …
SPOTLIGHT Polluting companies would face a hefty price tag if they actually had to pay for their climate damage. The cost of emitted carbon pollution would eat up 44% of profits for the nearly 15,000 companies, with 90% of the calculated damage …
SPOTLIGHT Chaos erupted at last night’s debate after Republican presidential candidates were asked if they would calm younger voters’ concerns that the party doesn’t care about climate change. A chorus of boos rained down on candidate Vivek Ramaswamy when he claimed the ‘climate change …
SPOTLIGHT Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is investigating anti-ESG ringleader Leonard Leo and his dark money ring. While the scope of the probe is unclear, it likely has to do with multi-million dollar payments—totaling $73 million over six years—made from Leo’s …
SPOTLIGHT New York City pension funds asked the state’s Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit against them for divesting from fossil fuels. The funds argue that the plaintiffs are “wasting the Court’s time” and trying to protect companies that repeatedly uplift fossil fuels despite the …
SPOTLIGHT The SEC’s enforcement division has issued subpoenas to several asset managers, seeking details on their ESG investment marketing strategies, in a push to eliminate greenwashing. Those under scrutiny include traditional investment funds that have pivoted to ESG funds, as well as funds …
SPOTLIGHT McDonald’s Corp. has removed the term “ESG” from parts of its website, coinciding with Republican criticism of environmental, social, and governance initiatives. At the same time, concerns over the clarity and consistency of ESG scoring have led Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to support …
SPOTLIGHT S&P has switched from numbers to narrative when rating ESG factors. It is a welcome move to focus on a clearer qualitative assessment of investments instead of complex, sometimes contradictory scores across different parts of a company’s activities. Investors have found S&Ps …
SPOTLIGHT Barclays classified a $10 billion revolving credit facility for Shell as “social and environmental financing,” helping Barclays reach its $150 billion sustainable financing goal. Regulators are concerned that these climate commitments are a dishonest attempt to continue funding fossil fuels, even if …
SPOTLIGHT “Climate cartel” has become a popular anti-climate action buzzword both on social media and in the halls of power. A new Fortune op-ed refutes these false accusations, stating climate alliances are permissible under U.S. antitrust law as they focus on collaborative …
The U.S. interstate highway system was built on the backs of low-income communities of color across the country, and many of those communities are still suffering from its effects to this day.
Introduction The World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), also known as the “Bretton Woods institutions,” are global financial power brokers dominated by US and EU interests. Their prominent role in the multilateral, public financing landscape reflects their …
For immediate release: May 26, 2023 Climate Nexus, a US-based nonprofit strategic communications firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Isis Dallis as our new Executive Director. “We are delighted to announce this appointment,” said Heather Grady, Vice President …