News

• Alok Sharma: COP 26 'will see agreement' on Article 6 debate

  22 September 2020

  Alok Sharma, president of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) has spoken of his confidence in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement - relating to carbon markets and yet to be ratified - being agreed next year.

• Big four accountancy firms agree universal ESG disclosure framework

  22 September 2020

  A set of 'universal' environmental, social and governance (ESG) assessment criteria has been published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the 'big four' accountancy firms.

• 'Insurers could collaboratively engage with companies over transition plans'

  22 September 2020

  The insurance industry could collectively engage with fossil fuel companies over their plans to transition to low-carbon business models before they agree to insure them, according to the head of Willis Towers Watson's Climate and Resilience Hub.

• Morgan Stanley pledges net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

  22 September 2020

  US banking giant Morgan Stanley has committed to a net-zero financed emissions target by 2050. NGOs said the move "sets a new bar for other major US banks to follow" but pointed out that it lacks "key details".

• SEBI sets up Indian social stock exchange 'technical group'

  22 September 2020

  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has established a 'technical group' to develop a national social stock exchange, that will enable for-profit and non-profit investors to allocate to social impact opportunities.

• Voting opens for Environmental Finance's 21st Annual Market Rankings

  22 September 2020

  Voting has begun in Environmental Finance's Annual Market Rankings - the largest and most closely watched survey of the world's environmental markets, which is now in its 21st year.

• EU carbon market update: 21 September 2020

  22 September 2020

  The outlook for EU Allowances is bearish this week, but industrial buyers could provide some support, says Tom Lord*

• IFC tightens coal phase-out conditions on financial clients

  22 September 2020

  The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has strengthened its approach to thermal coal investment exposure among its financial institution clients, announcing it will not make equity investments in firms that do not have a phase-out plan in place.

• WCI Carbon Market Update, 21 September 2020

  21 September 2020

  The downside risk to CCA prices seem to be limited but the forthcoming US elections could lead to increased volatility, warns Nicolas Girod*.

• The 'biodiversity funding gap' is up to $824bn a year

  21 September 2020

  Financial flows into global biodiversity conservation in 2019 have been estimated at between $124 and $143 billion but the estimated amount needed to protect the earth's biodiversity is $722- $967 billion per year, leaving a current biodiversity financing gap of between $598 billion and $824 billion annually.