People Moves: who is hiring who within the industry?
New appointments have been made across the UK, US, MENA, and Australia
Christopher Marchant
How are investors tracking climate risks in fixed income?
Bonds could play a key role in the transition to net zero, but fixed income investors are facing new challenges
People Moves: who is hiring who within the industry?
A range of large church pension funds across Europe have appointed new sustainability heads while the GSIA has a new chair
Hopelessly divided California: home to a host of different net zero approaches
Climate policies of pension funds across the Golden State range from full divestment from oil and gas to the notion that being a net zero investor is simply 'untenable'
People Moves: Who is hiring who within the industry
Key exectutive hires have been made at two Australian firms.
Laura Hillis: How the church faced the ‘ultimate escalation’ of oil and gas divestment
CofE Pensions’ Laura Hillis speaks to Net Zero Investor on the future of engagement following the board’s decision to divest from oil and gas.
People Moves: who is hiring who within the industry?
Quadruple CEOs named at impact firm Palladium while OMERS hires a new infrastructure head
PGGM’s Geraldine Leegwater: Pension funds must act for a liveable world
The PGGM investment chief speaks on the need for cooperation in sustainable finance, ongoing difficulties in the asset owner and manager relationship, and time running out for direct oil and gas engagement
People Moves 28 July: Who is hiring who within the industry?
Change made at the top of the UK's largest master trust
AP7’s Johan Floren: Placing biodiversity in the ‘active consciousness’ of investors
AP7’s ESG chief spoke to Net Zero Investor on sustainable finance waking up to biodiversity and its role in the climate transition
Post Paris: Investors divided on 1.5°C target
With the world on track to miss the targets set in the Paris agreement, investors are divided on how to benchmark their progress on climate change
Asset owners must ‘vote with their feet’ on managers not backing net zero
The CofE climate director has encouraged asset owners to end relationships with asset managers who aren’t doing enough to back their own climate goals
People Moves 21 July: Who is hiring who within the industry
Adam Matthews has ended his stint at the TPI, while a board appointment has led to BlackRock’s sustainability credentials being challenged.
UN PRI exec: GFANZ needs ‘repositioning’
Conflicts between zero aims of institutions and the interests of their clients pose a challenge to net zero targets, PRI's CRO said at an industry event
Will the Swiss climate referendum spark institutional demand for transition assets?
A referendum on climate in Switzerland has put greater impetus on the nation to take action on net zero
People Moves: who is hiring who within the industry?
The past week saw changes at pensions and asset management firms around the world, from the UN PRI to State Street
Explainer: what does the ISSB and TCFD merger mean for sustainable finance?
The regulatory merger marks a milestone development in the climate disclosure space, but what does this mean for investors?
People Moves: who is hiring who within the industry?
UK asset owners have seen a raft of changes so far this month, including People’s Partnership and Scottish Widows
“Catastrophic market failure”: Mispricing gives edge to oil firms that won’t go net zero
Rewarding firms that are dragging their heels on the net zero transition could pose an investment risk, industry experts warn.
People Moves 30 June: Who is hiring who within the industry?
Sustainability hires across insurance and asset management
New ISSB standards: Appeasement or a new era of accountability?
The industry is divided whether new standards launched by the ISSB have the potential to unify sustainability reporting, or become yet more regulatory bluster.
HSBC: ‘Other banks are following our oil and gas strategy’
Net Zero Investor spoke to Tim Lord, head of climate change at HSBC UK, and Robert King, UK head of sustainable finance at the bank, on what big banks can do if they are serious about sustainability
Fidelity: Biodiversity ‘investment megatrend of a lifetime’
The asset manager has called for capital to be shifted towards reversing damage to nature caused by last half century of human activity.
Panel: Differing standards make it ‘super tricky’ to be international player
Fund managers have decried increasing amount of reporting obligations and data disclosures in sustainability space
Exclusive: NY City Comptroller’s head of infra sees ‘strong tailwinds for renewables’
New York City Comptroller’s deputy chief investment officer Petya Nikolova speaks to Net Zero Investor on how to best incorporate renewables into a pension portfolio
People Moves 23 June: Who is hiring who within the industry?
A range of asset managers named new heads of key sustainable finance strategies this week
Why the asset owner-manager relationship powers record growth in impact investing
A senior executive at France's AXA IM said institutional investors' appetite for green opportunities makes the impact investing space swell
Pension funds spot fresh investment opportunities in renewables
Asset owners are increasingly adapting mandates to incorporate renewables, as they spot new income streams and identify risks in sectors such as oil and gas
People Moves 15 June: Who is hiring who within the industry?
This week saw C-suite changes at some of Europe’s largest asset managers
Adam Matthews: ‘There is a limit to what you can achieve’ with oil and gas engagement
The CofE responsible investment chief drives home the need for institutional investors to reassess how best to engage on climate following a disappointing AGM season
Can social issues and net zero challenges be separated in Asia?
Engagement chiefs call for greater consideration of issues such as workers rights and the role of state owned enterprises as Asia looks to move to net zero
PensionDanmark’s climate boss: Returns in renewables can now be found in new tech
A range of net zero investment leaders spoke about adapting to the 'crowded’ renewables market on the first day of the NordicSIF conference in Copenhagen
Triodos Bank exec: climate transition needed to avoid ‘stagnant societies’
Hans Stegeman argues that shift in economic model must be driven for environmental factors and due to a widely changing society
How new laws are ramping up the push for renewables investment
The Inflation Reduction Act in the US has already seen increased capital diverted to American renewables projects. Can the rest of the world catch up?
People Moves 19 May: who is hiring who within the industry?
Several UK asset owners and managers have appointed new sustainability heads, including LGPS Central, Brunel, Franklin Templeton and AXA IM
Can investment decisions and net zero strategies live in separate silos?
Net zero heavyweights discussed the flaws in the sector's current approach to risk assessment during a panel discussion in London
Corporates hit by wave of new sustainability reporting rules: ‘It is a leap’
Senior figures at PwC told an industry conference corporates are rushing to adapt to a range of incoming sustainability reporting standards
Rising interest rates increasingly a threat to net zero progress in infrastructure
Infrastructure's move to net zero is overlooked by short term pressures despite the sector's strong green credentials, an investment veteran has said
Hollow words: Stewardship leads show continuing scepticism over offsets
BNP Paribas AM’s head of stewardship says a lot of companies with net zero strategies are solely talking about carbon offsetting, without much action
People Moves: Who is hiring who within the industry?
A range of industry insiders with a sustainability background climbed the corporate ladder this week
Church of England: Investors should focus more on immediate impact of climate change
The Church Commissioners for England's net zero lead warns investor focus should shift to immediate climate change impact rather than long term net zero goals
Asset owners speak of ‘inflection point’ in engaging corporates on climate
How far can asset owners push their companies in implementing an ambitious net zero agenda? Panellists at a conference in Paris agreed there are limits
Investor mood turns sour on biodiversity: ‘it is a scary zone’
Panellists at a conference in Paris expressed their concern about the biodiversity investment space as a host of challenges throw doubt on how fast they can move
Industry insider: Net zero success requires ‘paradigm shift’ in human consumption
A major impact investor highlighted during a London panel the importance of ‘sustainable growth’ moving forward
Fund manager: Asset owners should tackle corporates’ net zero issues head on
Institutional investors should not shy away from escalating net zero challenges at corporates, a leading fund manager has said
BP shareholders dismiss net zero push during messy AGM
BP's board and shareholders faced a chaotic AGM yesterday. Despite the mess, a much-talked about net zero motion did not fly
People Moves 28 April: Invesco, Algebris, Robeco and more
Several asset managers across the US and Europe named new sustainability leads this week
A new dawn for renewable energy as investors embrace wind, water and sunlight
With energy security topping the global agenda since the start of the Ukraine war, more and more asset owners spot long-term opportunities in clean energy
Can sustainable timber help forestry industry to overcome negative reputation?
Industry insiders at Net Zero Investor’s inaugural Natural Capital conference in London discussed carbon credits and long-term income
People Moves 20 April: Nigel Topping, Bezos Earth Fund, ThomasLloyd, CSSB, and more
Bezos Earth Fund lures BlackRock executive Paul Bodnar while ThomasLloyd has appointed Nadir Maruf as its new chief investment officer
Net zero panel: Destruction of nature ‘greatest ever market failure’
Bold statements were made at Net Zero Investor’s first-ever Natural Capital Forum, which took place in London yesterday
IIGCC’s firm warning to oil and gas firms: New net zero standard ‘not easy to meet’
IIGCC's Adam Matthews explained the ‘tough standard’ looks to hold oil firms to account while acknowledging transition challenges
Panel: Understanding compliance should take priority over amassing net zero data
Corporates should get a proper understanding of reporting requirements before they spend money on expensive data sets, industry insiders agreed
Boost for green bonds space as CBI lifts certification scheme to company level
Green bonds are increasingly gaining momentum with the CBI becoming the latest key player to confirm their value within the finance space
People Moves: Who is hiring who within the industry?
Three seperate pension funds saw senior figures depart this week
Setting standards: How the ISSB plans to revolutionise climate reporting
New draft standards that the International Sustainability Standards Board plans to issue at the end of this quarter have the potential to unite a fragmented disclosure space
Green discomfort for UBS board as sustainability dominates AGM
A long and heated meeting with shareholders exposes dissatisfaction over the bank's sustainability progress
Ceres: ‘Climate justice’ missing from most transition plans
Green finance executives at a London conference identified public policy as a key gap in transition planning
Weekend Read: Black is the new green as anti-ESG sentiment swells
The movement that is fiercely opposed to ESG principles in investing is rapidly gaining ground, particularly in the world's largest market
Panel: Climate adaptation cannot be ‘poor cousin’ of climatic mitigation
The chief of UN Global Compact UK warned today the world needs to make climate adaptation a priority
Panel: ESG is ‘ill defined’ but no returns on a dead planet
Industry heavyweights discussed the shortcomings of ESG and the difficulties of reporting on these standards
What finance needs is a ‘radical’ collaboration with policymakers
Industry heavyweights gathered in London to discuss the disconnect between investors and net zero policymakers
Green gilts: Is a British sustainability-linked bond still a long way off?
Green finance experts discussed in London the current state of the green, social and sustainability bonds space
Is sustainable finance being hijacked by a ‘surreal’ anti-ESG movement?
A panel of asset managers in London discussed the anti-sustainability wind that is currently blowing through the green finance space
Panel: Pension funds should be ‘top of list’ for impact investing
A number of net zero insiders in London discussed how to tackle the continuing issue of greenwashing
Net zero could be sped up if oil, coal and gas capital costs were to rise
Energy transition specialists argue that the cost of capital for dirty energy sources should go up to hit net zero
Exclusive: Net zero future more likely after Ukraine war, says sustainability chief
Willis Towers Watson's head of sustainable investment Adam Gillett discusses the 'massive macro transition' to net zero
Not so green? Dutch pension giants under fire for ‘weak climate signal’
New probe finds the funds voted in favour of less than 70% of climate shareholder resolutions
BlackRock sees no role for investors in ‘policing’ net zero targets
Larry Fink, who heads the world's largest asset management firm, warns climate issues are investment risks
Budget 2023: Nuclear classed as sustainable to lure investors
Hunt's support for CCS and nuclear is largely welcomed by the sustainable finance sector
Bank of England calls for stress tests to handle climate change impact
The Old Lady is pushing for scenario planning as the Bank warns for 'capability gaps'
Asset managers fear ‘public shaming’ as anti-ESG lobby grows
Morningstar’s global head of sustainability research Hortense Bioy told NZI asset managers are increasingly ‘softening' their ESG language
Monday Debate: Are renewables a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card?
Energy investors should not pretend that decarbonisation will be achieved only by a shift to renewables
Investment manager’s stark warning: transition to net zero unlikely to be neat
Investment manager Ninety One pointed to ‘transition assets’ to bolster portfolios
Carbon capture: net zero investment opportunity or another greenwash?
A milestone event in the Danish North Sea is showing that oil and gas majors may finally be taking carbon capture and storage seriously, though greenwashing concerns remain
Exclusive: Biodiversity has been ignored, says Federated Hermes UK investment chief
Eoin Murray told Net Zero Investor the investment sector needs greater awareness of the natural world in sustainable finance
Morningstar: passive funds rapidly entering the ESG investment space
Passive investments now represent almost a quarter of all ESG fund assets globally, according to Morningstar's sustainability research chief Hortense Bioy
PepsiCo facing ‘$4.4bn of climate related risk per year’
US food and beverage giant PepsiCo could be exposed to $4.4bn of climate related risk per year by the end of the decade
Nazmeera Moola: net zero without government policy ‘woefully naïve’
Ninety One’s head of sustainability speaks to Net Zero Investor on both the opportunities and limitations for asset managers when combating emissions
Is BP’s climate rollback the death of oil and gas engagement?
BP making its climate goals less ambitious puts pressure on investors to justify continuing to have oil and gas holdings
Federated Hermes calls out ‘trilemma’ of crises facing energy
The asset manager pointed to accelerating climate change, challenges to energy security and rising costs as potential risks to climate action.
Six in ten SMEs feel lack of support for net-zero plans
Majority of SMEs see knowledge gap as key issue in net zero, plus a lack of funds and a need for tools for measuring and monitoring emissions.
PFZW makes €300m divestment from oil and gas firms
Dutch pension fund PFZW has divested from 78 oil and gas companies as part of a two-year programme focused on high-emitting industries.
ISSB standards to take effect from January 2024
The International Sustainability Standards Board has confirmed that its first two Sustainability Disclosure Standards will become effective starting January 2024.
Jean Boissinot: sustainable finance runs risk of ‘over promising and under delivering’
Deputy director at Banque de France warns that private finance may be expected to do too much in response to weak policy responses to climate change.
UK regulator faces legal action over energy firm’s climate risk disclosures
Environmental law firm ClientEarth is suing the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority over alleged lapses in climate disclosures in the prospectus of energy company Ithaca.
SDR: A regulatory saviour?
The UK’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements have learnt lessons from the failings of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
Investors demand vote on climate transition plans at FTSE firms
A group of asset managers and pensions bodies has written to FTSE listed companies calling for a ‘Say on Climate’.
‘Key shortcomings’ in Fed’s climate risk principles
NGO Ceres calls for US Federal Reserve to target smaller banks in its draft principles for climate-related financial risk management.
Shell facing legal action over oil and gas operations
ClientEarth launches case against Shell directors for ‘failing to move away from fossil fuels fast enough’.
Denise Odaro: ‘reasons to be bullish’ on sustainable finance in 2023
The head of ESG and sustainability at PAI Partners discusses current opportunities in private equity and ongoing challenges in sustainable finance.
MSCI launches tool to help companies compare ESG data
The tool – Corporate Sustainability Insights – allows firms to measure and test their ESG and climate data against their peers.
Climate Action 100+ shows mixed results in progress report
The engagement drive saw overall improvement, but many high emitters remain largely unmoved.
Divestment ‘not main mover’ in reducing pension portfolio emissions
Research from Netherlands central bank shows reduction in emissions from pension funds comes mainly from action by the invested companies themselves.
Net zero ‘best issue’ for pensions engagement
Trustees at Net Zero Investor’s Defined Contribution Forum make the argument that climate concerns are the best way to engage all members of DC pensions.
Institutional investor body expresses ‘serious concerns’ over UK’s ESG labelling scheme
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change has criticised ESG proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority for the mutually exclusive nature of the categories.
Spanish solar: the next big sustainable investment opportunity?
Spain has recently experienced its best ever year for solar development, and this is expected to grow yet further.
Stephanie Maier: net zero must come from ‘carrot and stick’ regulation
GAM’s head of responsible investment discusses the opportunities ahead and the most recent policy developments for net zero.
Investors help launch commission on global mining industry
UN PRI and Church of England Pensions Board behind drive to reform industry in wake of allegations of labour abuses and biodiversity loss.
Only 7% of large banks energy financing going towards renewables, report claims
Data sourced for NGO report calls out GFANZ members for failing to reach the required renewables to fossil energy investment ratio needed to achieve net-zero goals.