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According to data firm Preqin, only one emerging markets greenfield renewables fund has raised more than Copenhagen wants to amass, although the 2014 $3.26 billion Guangzhou City Development Industry Fund is focused on China. While a deal to phase out fossil fuels has been hard to agree, more than 60 countries have backed a global agreement to triple renewable energy this decade. The growth in demand for electricity is enormous," he told Reuters, adding that renewable energy was often the cheapest energy source. Founded in 2012, Denmark's Copenhagen manages 26 billion euros ($28.3 billion) of assets and runs 12 funds. Recent development projects include an offshore wind farm in Bangladesh and the first 100% foreign-owned offshore wind energy schemes in the Philippines.

Persons: Niels Holst, Holst, Simon Jessop, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Jan Harvey Organizations: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Reuters, Guangzhou City Development Industry Fund, Denmark's, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Copenhagen, China, Dubai, Britain, Denmark's Copenhagen, Bangladesh, Philippines, Asia, Pacific, America

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change event on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit at Dubai Expo, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates December 1, 2023. SAUL LOEB/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSummary COP 'side deals' have boomed in recent yearsVoluntary climate pledges yield mixed resultsSome have led to tougher CO2-cutting policiesDUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - While the world's climate diplomats huddle over draft decisions to be made at the end of this year's U.N. climate summit, governments at COP28 are firing off a flurry of new promises for action. Among the expected pledges at COP28 are a goal to triple renewable energy capacity and initiatives on methane and coal power. These voluntary side deals have proliferated in recent years, even as global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. "They go much further than what you can do multilaterally," said Marc Vanheukelen, a former EU official who led the bloc's work on an international methane emissions pledge launched at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

Persons: Antony Blinken, SAUL LOEB, Marc Vanheukelen, Jonathan Banks, Laurie van der, OCI, It's, Erin Matson, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Matson, Kate Abnett, Tommy Wilkes, Katy Daigle, Jon Boyle Organizations: Food Systems, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS Acquire, EU, Global, Air Task Force, Reuters, Bank, U.S, Change, WWF, Rainforest Alliance, Climate, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, DUBAI, COP28, Glasgow, U.S, Nigeria, Canada, The U.S, China, Russia, COP26, Britain, France, United States, Italy, Germany, Brazil

☆ COP28 Lines up New Climate Pledges - but Do They Work?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Kate AbnettDUBAI (Reuters) - While the world's climate diplomats huddle over draft decisions to be made at the end of this year's U.N. climate summit, governments at COP28 are firing off a flurry of new promises for action. Among the expected pledges at COP28 are a goal to triple renewable energy capacity and initiatives on methane and coal power. These voluntary side deals have proliferated in recent years, even as global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Unlike official summit decisions, which must be passed by consensus among the nearly 200 countries, voluntary pledges can be made quickly, and boldly, without the worry of one party objecting. "They go much further than what you can do multilaterally," said Marc Vanheukelen, a former EU official who led the bloc's work on an international methane emissions pledge launched at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

Persons: Kate Abnett DUBAI, Marc Vanheukelen, Jonathan Banks, Laurie van der, OCI, It's, Erin Matson, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Matson, Kate Abnett, Tommy Wilkes, Katy Daigle, Jon Boyle Organizations: Reuters, EU, Global, Air Task Force, Bank, U.S, Change, WWF, Rainforest Alliance, Climate Locations: COP28, Glasgow, U.S, Nigeria, Canada, The U.S, China, Russia, COP26, Britain, France, United States, Italy, Germany, Brazil

☆ Exclusive: Four banks quit initiative assessing climate targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Four major banks, including Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L) and HSBC Plc (HSBA.L), have quit a United Nations-backed initiative to scrutinise climate targets set by corporations, according to people familiar with the matter. Many lenders say they should finance fossil fuels as long as economies depend on them. The spokesperson added that Standard Chartered was seeking alternative third-party validation of its climate targets and that it was setting science-based targets through the NZBA. It will still require them to cease the financing of fossil fuel projects that would weigh on their longer-term emissions targets. Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA), ING (INGA.AS), BBVA (BBVA.MC) and Swedbank (SWEDa.ST) told Reuters they remained committed to SBTi validating their emissions targets.

Persons: SBTi, SBTi's, Pietro Rocco, haven't, it's, Rocco, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Simon Jessop, Josie Kao Organizations: Standard Chartered, HSBC Plc, United, Societe Generale SA, ABN Amro Bank, Zero Banking Alliance, HSBC, Societe Generale, ABN Amro, Reuters, Credit, ING, BBVA, NatWest, Commerzbank, BNP, Allianz, Alliance, Zero, Carbon Trust, Thomson Locations: United Nations, Nations, Paris, U.S, decarbonising, London

Blended finance see providers of public money - typically government aid departments, development finance institutions or charitable donors - agree to accept more risk in a fund to encourage private sector investors to join. The money raised through blended finance funds is a fraction of what's needed. The new 25-year SDG Loan Fund is structured so that FMO takes the first loss should the loans turn sour. Private investors, which include Allianz and Skandia, will be the last to lose money. But this loan fund structure ensured "everyone's interest is aligned," she said, noting that private investors can start getting their money back when loans begin amortising in a few years.

Persons: Tilman Blasshofer, FMO, That's, Nadia Nikolova, Nikolova, Nic Wessemius, FMO's, Wessemius, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Simon Jessop, Mark Potter Organizations: Allianz Global Investors, REUTERS, MacArthur Foundation, LONDON, Private, Allianz, Skandia, FMO, Reuters, concessional, Investment, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Dubai

"This COP we need to see accelerated action from all parties," Matt Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, said. The business and finance sectors have long called for a global carbon emissions price that they say would level the playing field for polluters and make the switch to low-carbon more cost-effective. Confidence in voluntary carbon markets has fallen this year as critics question the environmental credibility of projects. "The last 10% of a (corporate) carbon reduction plan will always include some carbon removal credits," Leggett said, adding that "the market needs clarity on what that means." Reporting by Simon Jessop and Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yves Herman, Matt Bell, Bell, Sultan Al Jaber, Virginie Derue, Katherine Dixon, Victoria Leggett, Leggett, Simon Jessop, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, Sustainability Services, Reuters, ESG Research, AXA Investment, Accenture, Bain & Company, UBP, Thomson Locations: Dunkirk, France, Dubai, COP28, Paris, China, United States

☆ Big Oil has a place in ESG funds, says Deutsche Bank CIO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Fossil fuel stocks have boomed (.dMIWO0OG00PUS) since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent fossil fuel prices soaring, leaving the performance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds lagging. Pure-play renewable energy stocks such as Orsted (ORSTED.CO) and First Solar (FSLR.O) have also fallen sharply this year as higher interest rates and inflationary pressures squeeze profitability. European oil and gas companies including BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) have increased renewable energy investment, although they are expanding production of dirtier energy too. Sustainability-minded investors, Müller said, needed more disclosures from firms about their plans for shifting to lower-carbon models, and regulatory clarity on labelling transition-focused funds. Morningstar estimates that 45% of funds have exposure to traditional energy, totalling 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion).

Persons: Markus Müller, Müller, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Deutsche Bank's Private Bank, Reuters, BP, Shell, ISR, Morningstar, Investors, Deutsche, Investment Office, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, France, Europe

A view of the exterior of the JP Morgan Chase & Co. corporate headquarters in New York City May 20, 2015. "We need to build a funding model for green tech companies," Chuka Umunna, JP Morgan's (JPM.N) head of EMEA ESG and green economy investment banking, told the Reuters Energy Transition Europe 2023 event in London. This was partly because of the capital requirements for some green tech firms in early stages of development, he said. Investment into green tech was also being stymied by bureaucracy, including delays to permitting for the infrastructure needed for renewable energy and other projects. Umunna also said a shift to a greener, lower-carbon economy offered up a huge opportunity for banks such as JP Morgan.

Persons: Morgan Chase, Mike Segar, Morgan, Umunna, JP Morgan's, JP Morgan, Simon Jessop, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, David Goodman, Alexander Smith Organizations: Co, New York City, REUTERS, EMEA, Reuters, Capital, British, Investment, Thomson Locations: New York, London, Europe

Sustainability-linked loans (SLL), which were first used in 2017, offer slightly cheaper borrowing, typically around 2.5-10 basis points less, if companies meet goals such as cutting their carbon emissions or improving board diversity. These let banks strip the sustainability-linked label from the loans if targets are no longer deemed appropriate. The banks' tougher standards are discouraging some borrowers from using SLLs entirely, bankers and lawyers told Reuters. The Engie spokesman said the utility would not agree to linking an event of default to sustainability targets. "We have stated our willingness to walk away when sustainability targets were too soft," said Brittany Agostino, vice president in the environmental, social and governance group at Los Angeles-based Ares.

Persons: Toby Melville, Banks, Constance Chalchat, Pascale Forde Maurice, Elliot Beard, Simmons, Beard, I've, David Milligan, Norton Rose Fulbright, Gemma Lawrence, Pardew, Brittany Agostino, Fredrik Altmann, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Isla Binnie, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Simon Jessop, Alexander Smith Organizations: FCA, Financial, Authority, REUTERS, LONDON, BNP, Corporate, Institutional Banking, Reuters, JPMorgan, Ford Motors, SLLs, CIB's, European, Sustainable Investment Banking, Simmons, Norton Rose, Market Association, BMW, Porsche, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, North America, Asia, Los Angeles, New York

☆ Nestle, Volvo among 130 companies urging COP28 agreement to ditch fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Companies including Nestle (NESN.S), Unilever (ULVR.L), Mahindra Group and Volvo Cars are urging political leaders to agree a timeline at the upcoming U.N. climate summit to phase out fossil fuels. "Our businesses are feeling the impacts and cost of increasing extreme weather events resulting from climate change," the companies wrote in the letter, which was coordinated by the non-profit We Mean Business Coalition, which is pushing for greater climate action globally. "To decarbonise the global energy system, we need to ramp up clean energy as fast as we phase out the use and production of fossil fuels," they wrote. The speed at which countries should phase out fossil fuels will be one of the thorniest issues. Reporting by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: COP28, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Companies, Nestle, Unilever, Mahindra Group, Volvo, Business Coalition, Bayer, Heineken, IKEA, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Paris, Europe

Last February, the State Department said that Hamas raises funds in other Gulf countries and gets donations from Palestinians, other expatriates and its own charities. Blockchain researchers TRM Labs said this week in a research note that crypto fundraising has previously increased following rounds of violence involving Hamas. However, since last weekend's violence, prominent Hamas-linked support groups had moved just a few thousands dollars through crypto, TRM noted. Between Dec. 2021 and April this year, Israel seized almost 190 crypto accounts it said were linked to Hamas. SHIPS AND SHELLSWhether through crypto or other means, Hamas' allies have found ways to get money to Gaza.

Persons: Matthew Levitt, Levitt, Tom Robinson, TRM, Israel, they've, Stephen Reimer, Saeed Azhar, Sinead Cruise, Tom Wilson, Tommy Wilkes, Andrew Mills, John O'Donnell, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: LONDON, Hamas, Barclays, Islamic Resistance Movement, State Department, Reuters, TRM Labs, The U.S . State Department, U.S . Treasury, UN, Qatari, Royal United Services Institute, Parisa, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Iran, Qatar, United States, Britain, The, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, Islamic Republic, New York, London, Doha, Dubai

☆ Analysis-Hamas' Cash-To-Crypto Global Finance Maze in Israel's Sights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

In the past, Hamas has said financial restrictions placed on its donors were an attempt to neutralise legitimate resistance against Israel. However, since last weekend's violence, prominent Hamas-linked support groups had moved just a few thousands dollars through crypto, TRM noted. Between Dec. 2021 and April this year, Israel seized almost 190 crypto accounts it said were linked to Hamas. SHIPS AND SHELLSWhether through crypto or other means, Hamas' allies have found ways to get money to Gaza. "Qatari aid to the Gaza Strip is fully coordinated with Israel, the UN and the U.S.," the Qatari government official said.

Persons: Al Sayegh, John O'Donnell, Elizabeth Howcroft, Matthew Levitt, Levitt, Tom Robinson, TRM, Israel, they've, Stephen Reimer, Saeed Azhar, Sinead Cruise, Tom Wilson, Tommy Wilkes, Andrew Mills, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON, Reuters, Hamas, Barclays, Islamic Resistance Movement, State Department, TRM Labs, The U.S . State Department, U.S . Treasury, UN, Qatari, Royal United Services Institute, Parisa Locations: DUBAI, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Iran, Qatar, United States, Britain, The, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, Islamic Republic, New York, London, Doha, Dubai

A general view of GE Renewable Energy wind turbines, part of Pattern Energy’s Western Spirit Wind project, the largest wind project in the U.S., near Encino, New Mexico, U.S., March 15, 2023. Renewable energy funds globally suffered a net outflow of $1.4 billion in the July-September quarter, the biggest ever quarterly outflow, according to LSEG Lipper data. Reuters GraphicsInvestors have been exiting traditional energy funds, too, but the rate has slowed - net outflows reached $438 million in the last quarter compared with $3.32 billion in the previous three months. Reuters GraphicsDemand for exposure to renewable energy had been a major driver of cash flowing into climate-related funds in recent years. Wind projects off Britain, the Netherlands and Norway have been delayed or shelved due to rising costs and supply chain constraints, raising concerns about countries hitting their 2030 renewable energy targets.

Persons: Bing Guan, Denmark's, Madeline Ruid, Ruid, Morningstar, they're, Rich Pontillo, Patturaja, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Simon Jessop, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: GE Renewable Energy, REUTERS, Investors, Reuters Graphics, Companies, U.S . Infrastructure, Clean Energy Exchange, Energy, Reuters, Nasdaq, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: U.S, Encino , New Mexico, BENGALURU, LONDON, Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Bengaluru, London

Negotiations between Exxon and Pioneer are advanced but have not yet led to an agreement over the acquisition of the largest oil producer in Permian basin. So far, shareholders profited as the share price more than doubled since early 2021 when activist investors publicly pushed for changes. Big Oil is responsible for the bulk of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and pressure for action is building. "Investor pressure has decreased; they're backtracking... the big investors are enabling this," said climate investment group Follow This founder Mark van Baal. Privately, investors worried if Exxon bowed out of production, someone else would pick up the slack and nothing would be gained for shareholders or energy transfer.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Exxon Mobil's, Jim Rossman, that's, Andrew Logan, tussles, Mark van Baal, Charlie Penner, Ceres, Logan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Environmental, Exxon, Republique, New Global Financial, Big Oil, Energy, Natural Resources, Pioneer, Barclays, Oil, Public, International Energy Agency, Investors, Ancora, Holdings, Algonquin Power & Utilities, Elliott Investment Management, NRG Energy, Smart, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, BOSTON, Ukraine

☆ Asia apparel hubs face $65 billion export hit from extreme weather, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The study also mapped out the supply chains of six unidentified global apparel brands operating in the four countries studied - Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Vietnam - and found all six would be hit materially. There are some [apparel] brands not disclosing the factory locations of their suppliers," said Angus Bauer, Schroders' head of sustainable investment research. Using projections, the researchers analysed future heat and flooding levels to estimate what would happen under a "climate adaptive" scenario and a "high heat and flooding" scenario. Flooding will also force factories to close in the four countries, which account for 18% of global apparel exports and employ 10.6 million workers in apparel and footwear factories. By 2050, lost export earnings would reach 68.6% and there would be 8.64 million fewer jobs.

Persons: Jason Judd, Judd, Angus Bauer, Schroders, Bauer, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Mark Potter Organizations: Cornell University, Reuters, Cornell Global Labor Institute, Thomson Locations: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam

REUTERS/John Muchucha Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Fossil fuel subsidies hampering green energy rolloutMore clarity needed on rules for carbon marketsCalls echo Africa Climate Summit on faster actionLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Ditch fossil fuel subsidies, agree the rules for carbon markets and provide more finance to emerging markets. That was the clear message from business leaders at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London on Wednesday about what they say needs to happen at the forthcoming COP28 climate summit. The meeting of world leaders in Dubai beginning late November is seen as a crucial test of countries' willingness to accelerate action to limit global warming, with efforts so far doing little to stem global carbon emissions. Despite this, failure to remove fossil fuel subsidies would make it harder to expand renewable energy in some countries, Ingka's van der Poel said. "My concern is that we have very little hopes for that ambition to be raised during COP28," she said.

Persons: John Muchucha, Peter Van der Poel, Anél Bosman, Ingka's van der Poel, Helena Viñes, Preeti Srivastav, Andy Griffiths, Richa Naidu, William James, Helen Reid, Simon Jessop, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters IMPACT, Ingka Investments, Africa Climate Summit, Nedbank Corporate, Investment Banking, Sustainable Finance, Asahi Europe, Diageo, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, London, Dubai, Africa

☆ Exclusive: Banks vote to limit accounting of emissions in bond and stock sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Banks' accounting of these emissions will impact their targets for becoming carbon-neutral. The banks have also expressed concern about capital market-related emissions dwarfing their lending-related emissions, the sources said. The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), an association of banks seeking to harmonise carbon accounting across the industry, formed the working group comprising major banks in the hope that others will follow the standard that emerges. PCAF's board will now have the final say on whether to adopt the 33% accounting share for capital markets. A Standard Chartered spokesperson said the bank was comfortable with any emissions accounting threshold and declined to comment further.

Persons: Banks, Morgan Stanley, PCAF, ShareAction, Xavier Lerin, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Greg Roumeliotis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Sierra Club, Carbon Accounting, Barclays, Bank of America, Citigroup, HSBC, BNP, NatWest, Standard Chartered, United Nations, Thomson Locations: London

☆ Canadian pension fund taps Europe's green hydrogen hopes with Dutch investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Canada's biggest pension fund, CPP Investments, has made its first bet on green hydrogen playing a growing role in cutting emissions, with a 130 million euro ($143 million) investment and the purchase of a majority stake in a three-year-old Dutch firm. "Europe is generally seen as the leading industrial market or consumer for these green molecules. Power2X's current projects include a green hydrogen and ammonia development in Portugal and a solar power and green hydrogen project in Spain. Expanding green hydrogen production will require more renewable power generation, and some questions remain over its potential use cases versus other low-emission technologies. Last month Canada's Investment Management Corporation of Ontario announced a $400 million investment in Sweden's battery producer Northvolt.

Persons: Bruce Hogg, CPPI, Hogg, Occo Roelofsen, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Conor Humphries Organizations: Investments, Reuters, Investor, McKinsey, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Europe, Portugal, Spain, Power2X

Reuters GraphicsAnalysts said the data underlined that once-booming ESG funds were no longer immune from wider market dynamics. BELOW PEAKNet assets across ESG funds fell in the second quarter and to below recent peaks, according to Refinitiv. Morningstar's global director of sustainability research, Hortense Bioy, said their preliminary data suggested demand for more stringent ESG funds appeared resilient. However, she said that managers' desire to meet European Union regulations had encouraged some firms to reclassify their ESG funds as traditional products, impacting investor flows. The anti-ESG backlash had also hit U.S. firms' appetite for marketing sustainable funds, "which has had an impact on sales," Bioy said on the sidelines of a conference this week.

Persons: outpacing, Edward Glyn, ESG, Hortense Bioy, Bioy, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Patturaja, David Holmes Organizations: Equity, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Analysts, outflows, ESG, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Europe, United States, Calastone

☆ Exclusive: Insurers look to ease UN climate alliance rules after member exodus - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The U.N.-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) is set to remove a six-month deadline for members to publish greenhouse gas emissions targets alongside other changes to make membership less prescriptive, the sources said. The hope is to "steady the ship" and create space for ex-members to consider returning later, they said. The changes under discussion have not been finalised, the sources said, and it's not clear how the alliance would deal with insurers that drag their feet in publishing targets. Remaining members believe the NZIA still has a valuable role, and point to methodologies it developed for assessing and reporting on underwriting-linked emissions. France's AXA, which chaired the NZIA before quitting in May, last week published its first emissions goals for its insurance portfolio.

Persons: Italy's, Peter Bosshard, Bosshard, Canada's Beneva, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Greg Roumeliotis, Simon Jessop, Emelia, David Evans Organizations: Zero Insurance Alliance, United, Zero Insurance, AXA, Tokio, Republican, Glasgow Financial Alliance, Aviva, Alliance, Insurance Australia Group, France's AXA, Thomson Locations: United Nations, London, United States, U.S

The World Bank and others also said they would start adding clauses to lending terms that allow vulnerable states to suspend debt repayments when natural disaster strikes. Specifically, for the first time, the document acknowledged the potential need for richer countries to provide fresh money to multilateral development institutions like the World Bank. Another first was in the explicit target for multilateral development banks to leverage "at least" $100 billion a year in private sector capital when they lend. All eyes now turn to more traditional events later in the year, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, a G20 meeting in September and the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Persaud said his focus would be on making sure the plan to scale up multilateral development bank lending was in place by the time of annual meetings in October, and that pilot work began on reducing the cost of capital for developing countries.

Persons: Macron, Mia Mottley, Avinash Persaud, What's, Persaud, Teresa Anderson, They've, Sonia Dunlop, Simon Jessop, Leigh Thomas, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Global, Pact, Reuters, World Bank, International Maritime Organisation, Paris Summit, Climate Justice, ActionAid, International Monetary Fund, Bank, Thomson Locations: Barbados, PARIS, Bridgetown, Zambia, Paris, Dubai

Northvolt, which counts BMW (BMWG.DE) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) among its investors, last year delivered its first battery cells from its gigafactory in Skelleftea in Sweden. In its largest deal in Europe yet, IMCO has invested $400 million in Northvolt through convertible notes, it told Reuters. "Whether it (Northvolt) goes public or stays private, we've done our homework and we are happy with the investment." Matthew Mendes, IMCO's head of infrastructure, said the Northvolt investment was examined jointly by his team and IMCO's public equities managers. IMCO has an investment team of 110 staff, which it plans to grow as it looks for more investments overseas.

Persons: IMCO, we've, Northvolt, Stoyanova, Carlyle, Matthew Mendes, IMCO's, Mendes, Simon Jessop, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Energy, Canada's Investment Management Corporation of Ontario, BMW, Volkswagen, Reuters, Blackstone, Thomson Locations: Europe, Swedish, Skelleftea, Sweden, Germany, Britain, North America, Ontario, Brookfield

ESG ratings providers must stop providing consulting services to investors, stop the sale of credit ratings and the development of benchmarks among other things, according to the EU's draft legislation published on Tuesday. "ESG ratings agencies that score companies on governance factors are completely unregulated so it's very difficult to compare ratings by different agencies. Agencies providing ESG ratings include S&P Global (SPGI.N), Moody's (MCO.N), MSCI (MSCI.N)> and Morningstar's (MORN.O) Sustainalytics. Britain has also outlined plans to regulate ESG ratings providers where the rating is used by anyone in the UK. In March, the finance ministry published a consultation on regulating ESG ratings providers, saying it saw a "clear benefit" from improving the transparency of methodologies as well as rating providers' governance and processes.

Persons: Mairead McGuinness, Markus Ferber, Ferber, Julia Payne, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Sinead Cruise, Mark Potter, Ed Osmond Organizations: European, European Securities and Markets Authority, Financial Services, P, Global, Morningstar, Conservative European, European Commission, Thomson Locations: EU, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Britain, Europe

☆ Investors in biggest climate pressure group don't like to pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Climate Action 100+ (CA100+), set up in 2017, comprises more than 700 investment firms representing $68 trillion in assets. At stake is whether CA100+ members use all the tools at their disposal to pressure climate laggards. FLAGGING CLIMATE LAGGARDSCA100+ posts on its website upcoming shareholder resolutions and board re-election votes but it doesn't recommend voting against directors at climate laggards. Wespath's sustainability director, Jake Barnett, said that challenging board directors over their climate policies was not being used widely enough "as a method of accountability". In at least one area there is compulsion; CA100+ members not responding to a survey asking for their engagement interests within a year could be delisted.

Persons: laggards, Xander Urbach, CA100, Francois Humbert, bodes, Eli Kasargod, Staub, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Jake Barnett, MN's Urbach, Shell, Wael Sawan, Vincent Kaufmann, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Greg Roumeliotis, Susan Fenton Organizations: Reuters, MN, Generali Investments, Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron, Valero Energy, Warren, Investments, The United Methodist Church, Shell, Ethos Foundation, Thomson Locations: Paris, Swiss

The Asia, Africa and Middle East-focused bank had previously set a 2030 target to reduce the emissions 'intensity' of loans to the sector by 30% from 2020 levels. Emissions intensity measures carbon emissions as a percentage of business activity, such as revenue. As a result, carbon emissions can increase in absolute terms even when emissions intensity goes down, because businesses can become more efficient in reducing emissions and still emit more in total when their activity goes up. Banking peers that have adopted an absolute emissions reduction target include HSBC(HSBA.L) and Citi (C.N), as well as a number of smaller banks. "Setting this absolute sector target and supporting our clients in their transition journey are critical sustainability priorities for Standard Chartered," Chief Sustainability Officer Marisa Drew said.

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