HSBC: 'Inklings' of more nuanced investor demands of SLB targets
HSBC said there are already "inklings" of investors returning to more nuanced assessments of sustainability-linked bonds (SLB) in 2023, with less pressure on issuers setting vague targets for emissions reductions in their value chains.
Australian regulator launches greenwashing litigation against superfund
The Australian regulator has launched court action against 'superfund' Mercer Super for misleading its sustainable fund investors over its involvement in fossil fuels.
Biodiversity fund assets triple in 2022 to nearly $1bn
Assets in biodiversity funds passed $984 million at the end of 2022, with a flurry of strategy launches despite macroeconomic woes, Thomas Cox reports
India keen to 'set the pace' on ESG, says HSBC
Recent regulatory developments that push India's ESG requirements forward show it is looking to "set the pace in certain areas", HSBC has said.
Climate litigation unlikely to be as significant in Asia, says HSBC
As climate-related litigation ramps up around the world, HSBC has predicted it will be much less prevalent across Asia.
HSBC: Biodiversity investing in its 'infancy'
Biodiversity-related investing is "in its infancy" with only a "limited" number of relevant investment products available to investors, an executive at HSBC Asset Management has said.
Emirate of Sharjah issues first Gulf state sovereign sustainability bond
The Emirate of Sharjah has raised $1 billion from the first sovereign sustainable bond from a Gulf state country and first sustainability bond from a Middle Eastern nation, with the deal more than twice oversubscribed.
SLB issuers 'lose their halo', says HSBC
Sustainability-linked bonds lost their 'halo effect' in 2022, the knock-on benefits to their conventional bonds from issuing a sustainable bond, research by HSBC has found.
China tipped to strengthen lead in 'green finance readiness' ranking
China is to strengthen its lead on green finance in Asia throughout 2023, driven by rising demand for ESG-focused funds and movements to open up its green bond market to international investors, research has found.
EU green bond standard mired in broader market discussions
Attempts to finalise a standard have been bogged down in talks about whether the labelled bond market also needs minimum requirements - but there is hope of resolution. Ahren Lester reports