Aviva Investors’ proposed move out of its sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) funds is “not good news for SRI at Aviva Investors, but there is good news for ESG integration”, according to the London-based firm’s new chief responsible investment officer.

London-based investment management firm Ecofin has launched an Australian subsidiary on the back of a local acquisition.

The announcement yesterday by insurer Aviva that it is to close its sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) equities desk is part of a wider realignment of the fund management industry, and does not reflect on the health of the SRI market, according to the head of UKSIF.

Institutional investors should continue to track the progress of international climate talks, despite limited progress since Copenhagen in 2009, according to a leading analyst.

A Latin American renewable energy fund is on the cusp of its first close, having attracted a $30 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Bunge is closing in on Climate Change Capital (CCC), according to unconfirmed reports, following a fund-raising process first revealed by Environmental Finance.

The managers of BlackRock's New Energy Investment Trust are looking at diversifying into natural gas following a year when the fund's share price fell 26.7%, against a drop of 1.3% in its performance benchmark index.

Meteor Asset Management has set an initial target of £50 million ($77 million) for its Clean Energy Fund, which will invest mostly in energy projects in developing countries that also generate carbon or other offset credits.

Innogy Renewables Technology Fund I, a clean-energy venture capital fund, has boosted its resources to €115 million ($155 million) following additional investment by its founder, German energy giant RWE, and Hamburg-based investor Conetwork Erneuerbare Energien (CEE).

F&C Investments has reached the first close of a private equity fund-of-funds that focuses on climate change investment, attracting a total of €30 million ($41 million) from three unnamed institutional investors.

A successful earlier fund and backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) helped Impax buck a tough fundraising environment to pull €330 million ($450 million) into its latest fund, its CEO said – but troubles in Spain held the asset manager back.

The CEO of Climate Change Capital (CCC) has unexpectedly left the firm which, Environmental Finance has learnt, has commissioned an advisory firm to explore fundraising options.

Investment management firm Union Capital Group (UCG) has acquired London-based renewable energy investment company Plane Tree Capital.

The founder of US solar developer First Solar has announced plans to raise a $300 million venture capital fund which will target companies in the energy, water, agriculture and waste sectors.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has joined a handful of socially responsible investors in backing an innovative fund that will invest in businesses that protect ecosystems.

The overweighting of the UK stock market towards fossil fuel companies means that UK pension funds are at particular risk of any sudden reassessment of the viability of high-carbon energy sources, according to a leading analyst.

The UK’s national pension scheme is to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis across all its asset classes, and has signed up to the UN-backed Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), winning plaudits from sustainable investment groups.

Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global has more than tripled its green-themed assets under management to NOK25.7 billion ($4.6 billion) in one year.

Future Capital Partners (FCP) has launched two renewable energy funds aimed at UK investors.

Guinness Asset Management is aiming to raise £10 million ($16 million) from tax-paying UK citizens for a fund that will invest in renewable energy assets.