Ahren Lester

Social bonds: powered up by the pandemic

ESG in Fixed Income Europe 2020 conference: The explosion of issuance of social bonds in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential of these flexible instruments.

Green and sustainability-linked loan round-up: Vattenfall, DSB and PSA Marine

Barclays criticised for fossil fuel lending growth

Barclays has been criticised by campaigners for increasing the amount it has lent to fossil fuel firms in 2020, just months after it pledged to become net-zero emissions across its lending portfolio by 2050.

Bond round-up: UK, Germany, CaixaBank, VTG, Orsted ... and more

Carney's voluntary carbon market taskforce launches consultation on proposals

A Mark Carney-initiated taskforce focused on rapidly scaling up global voluntary carbon markets has opened its initial report on forming a global carbon market, including creating clear core carbon principles and carbon spot and future contracts.

UK government announces green sovereign bond and climate disclosure plan

The UK government has announced plans to issue its first green sovereign bond in 2021, as well as making for climate-risk disclosures mandatory for major companies by 2025.

BofE announces climate stress tests launch in June after Covid-19 delay

The Bank of England (BofE) has announced that its postponed climate stress tests will now launch in June, after the central bank used the delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic to work on the design of the exercise.

News round-up: Investor group urges coal exit, ESG index numbers jump, Franklin Templeton boosts social assets

$5trn UN-convened global alliance calls for thermal coal exit

UK lawmakers urged to strengthen ESG focus of pension funds

UK legislators were urged to back a law to compel managers of the £2.8 trillion ($3.6 trillion) in pension fund assets to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors as part of their fiduciary duty to clients, including through the creation of a Scandinavian-style ethics council.

Green and sustainability-linked loan round-up: Polymetal and Fortune REIT

Polymetal seals first green loan for a Russian miner