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A recent YouGov survey of more than 4,400 Brits found that 72% do not know whether their pension is invested in line with their values

Pension funds covering £3trn pressured on fossil fuel investments and net-zero alignment

Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis has launched a new campaign pressuring UK pension funds to halve the emissions of their portfolios by 2030 and bring them to net-zero by 2050.

GIG is aiming to improve the biodiversity at each site, with a Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment to be carried out on each project

Macquarie issues joint venture on 1GW solar and battery project pipeline

Macquarie's Green Investment Group (GIG) has announced a new UK joint venture with Enso Energy to create one of the largest solar and battery portfolios that will enhance the biodiversity on each project site.

Fossil fuel majors are believed to have received more than £2trn in finance since the Paris Agreement was ratified

Report: Global carbon budget will be exhausted in 15 years without fossil fuel finance overhaul

Without drastic action from banks, policymakers and regulators, the world risks becoming stuck in a "climate finance doom loop", whereby financial systems support the organisations contributing most to environmental changes which undermine their very security.

Two additional projects are expecting planning decisions in July

Government blocks Vattenfall's offshore windfarm expansion

The Government has refused to grant development consent for Vattenfall's 340MW windfarm extension off the coast of Kent, and has delayed two other planning decisions in the South East, in the same week that Total acquired a 51% stake in the £3bn Seagreen project in the Scottish North Sea.

Carbon Tracker warns that any oil or gas producers attempting to revert to “business as usual” could be risking in excess of $100trn in potential profits

Fossil fuel profits set to collapse by two-thirds

The global market value of fossil fuels is set to collapse by almost two-thirds, creating heightened economic risk for companies, financial markets and countries failing to embrace new low-carbon technology.

REGIO will access both public and private capital to fund climate mitigation projects in markets where access to capital is limited

HSBC raises £386m fund for climate mitigation in developing countries

HSBC, in partnership with the World Banks's sister organisation the IFC, has raised £386m ($474m) to support investments into climate mitigation across developing countries and markets.

BNP Paribas will no longer accept new customers whose share of coal-derived revenue accounts for more than 25%

BNP Paribas accelerates coal phase-out as BlackRock predicts clean energy future

Corporate bank BNP Paribas is speeding up its phase-out of support for coal projects, while BlackRock has claimed that renewables are still the course of action for the global energy mix. However, other investors that have made low-carbon commitments have been accused of supporting a tar sands oil project in Canada.

Unilever’s chief executive Alan Jope reflected that amidst a global pandemic it was the duty of business to repair a broken capitalism mode

Unilever's Alan Jope on repairing capitalism, Covid-19 and Sustainable Living Plans

Providing an update to Unilever's flagship Sustainable Living Plan as it enters its 10th and final year, chief executive Alan Jope reflects on the need to double down to protect the planet and society during the pandemic by "driving a new model of capitalism".

40% of banks are failing to develop financing and investing restrictions or exclusions on high-carbon portfolios

Barclays and HSBC blasted over £158bn fossil fuel financing

Banking giants Barclays and HSBC have been accused of financing a combined £158bn into the fossil fuel sector since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, despite both organisations pledging to ramp up sustainable investment portfolios.

The move comes after months of mounting pressure from investors and climate activists. Image: Barclays

Barclays sets 2050 net-zero climate policy, covering operations and investments

British banking giant Barclays has pledged to become a net-zero business by 2050, under new a new climate policy which covers both direct operations and finance allocated externally.

Due to pressure from MPs and constituents, the pension fund publicised 20% of its holdings for the first time in 2017. Image: UK Parliament

MP's pension fund still investing in fossil fuels

MPs have yet again called for the trustees of the Parliamentary Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuel companies Royal Dutch Shell and BP, having finally integrated investment into renewables into the fund.

The new points installed at Tesco sites include 7kW media chargers capable of displaying advertising and a free to use

Triodos Bank joins Tesco in funding Pod Point's EV charging rollout

Ethical finance firm Triodos Bank has joined Tesco and Volkswagen in providing funding to Pod Point to accelerate access to electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the UK, including 600 supermarket locations.

Asset managers, corporates and the public remain largely unaware of the climate risks of their investments

Corporates and asset managers scrutinised as climate disclosure requirements take shape

As the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) lines up new corporate disclosure measures, the Treasury Committee and NGO ShareAction have launched separate examinations of the performance of asset managers against key Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics.

To date there have been three transition bond issuances

Cadent Gas launches UK's first 'transition bond' to spur decarbonisation

The UK's largest gas distribution network, Cadent, has agreed to the UK's first 'transition bond' which has been issued to enable heavy-carbon emitters to access funds to decarbonise.

The strategy seeks to develop “open-source, business-relevant reference scenarios” for regulators, financial firms and businesses to test climate resilience investment

'Investing for net-zero must go mainstream': COP26 finance strategy unveiled

The UK has published its COP26 strategy to help private finance support a global economic transition to net-zero emissions, with a heavy focus on exploring mandatory reporting requirements for climate-related data.

Green campaigners are seeking to embarass the Bank by highlighting "contradictions" in its climate approach. Image: George Rex, CC BY SA

Bank of England under pressure over board member's oil links

Environmental groups have called into question the Bank of England's commitment to tackling the climate emergency while it retains one of Britain's most senior oil company executives on its governing board.

The Group’s first-ever reference to global heating signals growing economic concerns over climate change

G20 sounds alarm over climate emergency despite US objections

The G20 group of the world's wealthiest nations have agreed for the first time to collectively sound the alarm over the threat to the financial system posed by the climate emergency.

Each of these success stories exemplifies how businesses are ramping up ambitions and actions in all areas of sustainable development

RBS's climate goals and Aldi's plastic bag crackdown: The sustainability success stories of the week

As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

RBS will stop all lending cases to companies that have at least 15% of their activities linked to coal

RBS to rebrand, plans for 'climate-positive' operations by 2025

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has unveiled plans to go beyond net-zero emissions for its operations by 2025 and to at least halve the climate impact of its financial decisions and activities by 2030, as part of the organisation's rebrand to the NatWest Group.

The TCFD formed in 2015 and launched its recommendations in June 2017

'Climate risk is financial risk': TCFD surpasses 1,000 global supporters

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) has revealed that more than 1,000 organisations are supporting its recommendations, including corporates with a combined market cap of $12trn and investors with $138.8trn of assets under management collectively.

The Telegraph has reported that Barclays looks set to act on shareholder calls to ditch fossil fuel investments

Reports: BlackRock and Barclays to act on climate investment calls

As reports emerge that Barclays is set to agree on shareholder calls to phase-out fossil fuel investments, BlackRock has already made strides on its stance to remove fossil fuel firms from its portfolio.

Lloyds is one of six firms to have signed all three of the commitments

Lloyds Banking Group commits to net-zero fleets and 100% renewable electricity

Lloyds Banking Group has today (6 February) joined all three of The Climate Group's business sustainability initiatives, committing to source 100% renewable electricity, reach net-zero fleets and improve energy productivity.

UK charitable foundations provide more than £4bn of funding every year

Comic Relief among charities pledging to end fossil fuel investments

Comic Relief, Power to Change, and Guy's and St Thomas' Charity are the latest organisations that have committed to end all fossil fuel investment and adopt a new ethical approach to investing, after joining the Funder Commitment on Climate Change.

The SDG500 will focus specifically on developing nations, with a sub-focus on gender equality

SDG500: Investors commit $500m to help developing nations achieve SDGs

A new coalition has been launched to mobilise a $500m (£380m) investment platform to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by targeting businesses operating in developing countries.

54% of chief executives do not believe that international policies are being introduced to mitigate climate change risks

Chief executives see reputational boosts in combatting climate change

Three-quarters of UK business chief executives believe that responding to the climate emergency through new business pledges and initiatives will provide a reputational advantage, with climate change climbing up the corporate agenda according to a new annual survey from PwC.

More than 3,000 business leaders, policymakers, thought leaders and celebrities are due to gather in Switzerland for the Forum this week

World Economic Forum calls on business chiefs to set net-zero targets

All business leaders and companies attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this week have been asked to make public commitments to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.

Johnson said Carney would help the UK to lead in mobilising businesses and investors to support a net-zero revolution Foreign and Commonwealth Office / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)”

Mark Carney announced as Boris Johnson's finance advisor for COP26

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed the departing Governor for the Bank of England Mark Carney as his Finance Advisor for the COP26 climate summit, taking place in Glasgow at the end of the year.

Reports suggest that the UK won't reach its net-zero target without making the disclosure mandatory

Will 2020 be the year of mandatory climate disclosure?

Leading experts believe that it is "highly likely" that disclosing climate-related data to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD's) will become mandatory and have called on business professionals to start collecting and mapping data now.

The EIB says it shares the Hydrogen Council's "common goal" to further investment in decarbonising industry, energy and transport

EIB unveils plans to boost hydrogen investment

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has partnered with a coalition of C-suite executives from the transport, heavy industry and energy sectors in a bid to accelerate financing for hydrogen solutions.

UN appoints Mark Carney to help finance climate action goals

Mark Carney has been appointed as UN special envoy for climate action and finance as he prepares to step down as governor of the Bank of England in January.

The investment would help less industrialised nations reduce collective emissions by more than 4% below 2010 levels by 2030

UK urged to commit £20bn as 'fair share' of climate adaptation investment

UK thinktank IPPR has called for the UK to provide £20bn to a UN climate fund to account for the nation's "fair share" of ecological degradation and climate change speed-up.

The survey acts as a snapshot of consumers' wants and needs around the sustainability efforts of the companies they buy from. Image: ING

In numbers: What do consumers want from sustainable businesses in 2020?

While many businesses are taking action to reduce emissions and waste, consumers now want them to go further and prioritise people and planet over growth, a new international survey has revealed.

The EIB recently pledged to cease funding for fossil fuel projects after 2021

Europe's climate-related investments lagging, EIB warns

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has used its latest annual investment report to warn that financing for green projects across the EU is "lagging" behind levels recorded in markets such as China and the US.

Pictured: The Manhattan Finance District. Image: Paulm27/ Wikimedia Commons

Report: World's largest asset managers failing to champion global climate goals

Some of the world's biggest asset management firms, including the likes of BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, are collectively failing to drive alignment with the Paris Agreement in their business models and policy lobbying.

The new targets came into effect late last week. Image: BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas vows to end coal financing by 2040

Corporate bank BNP Paribas has pledged to stop all funding for thermal coal globally by 2040, with an interim target of 2030 for EU Member States.

The World Bank is planning to raise at least $3bn (£2.3bn) through 'blue bonds'. Stock image.

'Blue finance': World Bank and Credit Suisse partner for sustainable water bond

Swiss finance giant credit Suisse has partnered with The World Bank to issue a $28.6m (£22.2m) bond aimed at financing the protection and restoration of fresh and saltwater resources and habitats.

The new policy will cut €2bn (£1.7bn) of yearly investments to fossil fuel projects

European Investment Bank to end financial support for fossil fuels by 2021

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has unveiled a new energy lending policy that will stop all financing for fossil fuel projects at the end of 2021 and unlock €1trn in sustainable development over the next decade.

BCAM is calling for banks to set clear, timebound strategies for restrictions and phase-outs for financing fossil fuels and deforestation

Superficial progress: Global banks failing to deliver time-bound climate strategies

A new report has accused the banking sector of superficial progress when it comes to climate commitments, noting that uptake in low-carbon services, green bonds and reporting standards isn't being matched by demands to decarbonise portfolios.

300 MPs call for Parliamentary Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels

Trustees of the £700m Parliamentary Pension Fund have been urged to respond to the climate emergency by 300 MPs who have asked that the fund divests from holdings in fossil fuel companies such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell.

The FCA said the statement 'will provide a foundation for its future work on climate change and green finance'. Image: FCA

FCA launches new measures to tackle 'greenwash' as green finance booms

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled a string of new measures designed to prevent issuers from 'greenwashing', covering challenges such as climate risk reporting and the accessibility of 'green' products such as mortgages.

Total signs cleantech deal to produce hydrogen at refineries

French energy giant Total has signed a cooperation agreement with the Sunfire cleantech company to integrate capture waste heat and CO2 at a German refinery to create synthetic methanol and hydrogen to be used to reduce energy and transport emissions.

Collectively, the participating banks manage $47trn in assets. Image: Paulm27/ Wikimedia Commons

Banks representing one-third of global market to align with Paris climate targets

A coalition of 130 banks, representing one-third of the worldwide banking sector, have committed to aligning their actions with the aims of the Paris Agreement.

With Barker leading the way, the EN+ Group has embarked on a new era of sustainability

The Barker Plan: How a former UK Energy Minister used sustainability to transform a sanctioned Russian aluminium firm

EXCLUSIVE: Over the course of a year, Russian aluminium and hydropower firm EN+ Group has gone from being banned on the US market to launching a new sweeping sustainability strategy and having those sanctions lifted. Here, edie speaks to former UK Energy Minister Greg Barker, who has been the surprise driving force behind this transformation.

Emerging economies will pose challenges around consumerism, but can also benefit from cheaper clean technologies

From climate change to urbanisation: BlackRock's five megatrends that will disrupt society

A new report from BlackRock has found that climate change, resource scarcity and growing consumerism will create disruptive structural shifts across industries as a "confluence of global megatrends" begin to clash.

The EU’s lending arm financed oil, gas and coal projects in 2018 with more than €2.4bn

EIB plans to cut all funding for fossil fuel projects by 2020

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has vowed to end its multibillion-euro financing for fossil fuel projects by the end of next year in order to align its strategy with climate targets.

New finance structures for public and private infrastructure will also be developed

EU banks launch €10bn circular economy funding pot

Five major banks located and operating within the European Union (EU) have agreed to work with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a €10bn initiative to promote circular economy projects.

The survey covered businesses of all sizes across all major sectors

HSBC: Investment in sustainability becoming mainstream for UK businesses

Against a backdrop of new green legislation and increasing consumer demand for low-carbon, resource-efficient products and services, almost half of UK businesses are planning to up their sustainability-related investments over the next two years.

UN launches Green Finance Platform to improve banks and business interactions

The UN's Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) has launched two new platforms to improve the dialogue and actions between the finance sector and businesses in order to accelerate the growth of green finance.

Thomas noted that businesses needed to get better at providing relevant data to investors. Image: GFI

What does the Green Finance Strategy mean for business?

Following the launch of the UK Government's Green Finance Strategy, the chief executive of the Green Finance Institute has outlined how climate disclosure, policy signals and a robust business case for sustainability will transform how corporates engage with the finance community.

HSBC has pledged to provide $100bn in sustainable financing by 2025. Image: HSBC

HSBC to support UK businesses with green finance offerings

One day after the Government launched its Green Finance Strategy, banking giant HSBC has launched a new range of green finance services aimed at helping businesses of all sizes strengthen sustainability initiatives.

The strategy includes expectations for publicly listed companies and asset owners to disclose climate risk and impact data by 2022

UK unveils Green Finance Strategy to drive progress towards net-zero goal

The UK Government has unveiled its highly anticipated Green Finance Strategy, outlining how the finance sector and better climate disclosure from corporates can drive progress towards wider action on climate change and the push towards net-zero emissions.

Jonathan has played a key role in several of Marston's biggest sustainability initiatives, such as helping the firm achieve zero-waste-to-landfill status

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2019: Jonathan Davies, Marston's

This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Next up: Jonathan Davies, waste & recycling co-ordinator at Marston's.

The IMO 's 2050 argets were set in 2018 and are bolstered by a short-term roadmap to 2023

Banking giants commit to align maritime shipping investments with climate goals

A group of 11 big-name banks have pledged to align their investments in the shipping sector with the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) goal of halving emissions by 2050, against a 2008 baseline.

The new report notes that almost 800 organisations have expressed support for the recommendations

Climate-related financial disclosures 'still insufficient for investors', says TCFD

Efforts to disclose climate-related data aligned to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD's) recommendations have increased by more than 50%, but concerns remain that companies aren't providing enough information to inform the investor community.

Barclays pledges to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030

Transatlantic banking giant Barclays has pledged to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030, with an interim goal of 90% by 2025.

It does appear that we’re entering an era where a single lightning rod moment can spark global change

The Big Business Plastics Debate (Part Two): How can we create a 'ripple effect' of change?

In the second of our two-part feature from the Big Plastics Debate at edie Live 2019, we move the conversation on to explore how businesses and policymakers can harness the momentum of environmental campaigns and protests to drive a new 'social norm' around plastics.

MPs have called on their own pension fund to divest its fossil fuel holdings

MPs apply pressure on pension funds over fossil fuel holdings

More than one third of MPs have called on pension fund trustees to halt investment in fossil fuels to support a move to a net-zero carbon economy.

<p>Since the unveiling of the framework in 2015, 193 countries, 9000 companies and investors with more than $4 trillion in assets have pledged their support to the SDGs</p>

World Bank to raise €1.5bn for SDG bond

The World Bank had raised €1.5bn for a new 10-year bond focused on mobilising action towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Low-carbon revenues generated in a 1.5C world are six times that of a 3C world, the report notes

Low-carbon transition puts $10trn at risk for inactive investors

A global coalition of financial investors has warned that more than $10trn (£7.7trn) in portfolio assets could be lost if the sector and governments fail to rapidly transition to a low-carbon economy.

The coalition was founded at the Paris One Planet Summit in 2017 and is convened by Banque De France

Coalition of central banks urge finance sector to 'raise the bar' on climate action

A coalition of 36 central banks and regulators, including the Bank of England and the World Bank, have issued a rallying cry urging all stakeholders across the global sector to address climate challenges by "greening" the financial system.

Puro will hold the first auctions where CORCs will be traded in May and June this year

Finnish businesses set up 'world's first' marketplace for carbon removal certificates

A group of Finnish businesses have partnered with global financial solutions firm South Pole and Swedish bank SEB to launch a new marketplace for science-based CO2 removal certificates, in a bid to scale methods that can capture and remove carbon globally.

Carney has warned the finance sector that it risks losses from extreme weather and its stakes in polluting firms. Image: Bank of England

Mark Carney tells global banks they cannot ignore climate change dangers

The global financial system faces an existential threat from climate change and must take urgent steps to reform, the governors of the Bank of England and France's central bank have warned, writing in the Guardian.

Hammond announced the UK Spring Statement last month. Image Flickr EU2017EE

Philip Hammond joins finance coalition to spur climate action

Chancellor Philip Hammond has called on global financial leaders to place climate adaptation and mitigation at the heart of future economic policies and planning, after joining a new global coalition to drive action on climate change.

The World Bank has argued that the study “paints a distorted picture of [its] energy sector work”

The World Bank accused of dodging 'no-coal' pledge by funnelling billions of dollars into fossil fuels

A large-scale study on hundreds of active energy projects commissioned by The World Bank Group has concluded that the body is currently financing $21bn of fossil fuel projects, compared to $7bn in the renewables sector.

New World Bank chief confirms commitment to environment

Donald Trump's choice to run the World Bank has moved swiftly to allay fears that his appointment will lead to a softening of the organisation's approach to climate change.

In 2018, Bank of America deployed more than $50bn on projects that impacted areas outlined by the SDGs. Image: Bank of America

Bank of America commits $300bn to sustainable finance

Bank of America has issued its third commitment to sustainable finance, pledging to mobilise an additional $300bn (£230bn) in capital by 2030, with a previous commitment set to be achieved six years ahead of schedule.

BNP Paribas aligns with SDGs and Paris Agreement in new sustainability strategy

French banking giant BNP Paribas has outlined its latest strategy to accelerate its commitment to sustainable development.

The bond will be used to finance renewables and built environment projects

How ING achieved boardroom buy-in to launch its second green bond

EXCLUSIVE: Banking giant ING was able to launch its second green bond earlier this month due to its past experience in structuring external green bonds for sustainability-conscious clients, the firm's global head of sustainable finance Leonie Schreve has claimed.

Corporates 'set to lose $1.6trn' without action on natural capital

FTSE100 firms face collectively losing $1.6trn of market capital if they fail to adopt a natural capital approach to decision-making, by assigning a monetary value to natural resources.

The organisation was set up by the government as the Green Investment Bank in 2012. It was rebranded as the Green Investment Group after being sold to Macquarie for £2.3bn in August 2017

Green Investment Group funnels £1.6bn into clean energy projects

The Green Investment Group made or arranged £1.6bn of investments in clean energy projects in the 12-months following its privatisation, according to the company's first annual progress report.

Cheshire explained that greenhush and greenwashing could both harm business reputations. Tucker Images

No more 'Greenhush': Sir Ian Cheshire urges business to get vocal on sustainability

The chairman of Barclays UK and Debenhams had suggested that the business community has a "moral imperative" to deliver and communicate real change that brings in new business models to alleviate key climate concerns.

The World Bank will use the investment programme to focus on storage that supports renewable energy projects – namely hybrid solar parks and microgrids

The World Bank launches $1bn energy storage programme for developing nations

The World Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind $1bn funding programme to fast-track deployment of battery storage projects in developing countries, to 'close the gap' on efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

The 513 organisations that have expressed support for the TCFD’s recommendations have a combined market capitalisation of $7.9trn

Climate disclosure enters 'mainstream', but better reporting required, warns TCFD

More than 500 companies have expressed support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures' (TCFD) recommendations. However, many businesses are failing to translate climate impacts into business risk.

The EIB has issued more than €23bn (£20bn) through Climate Awareness Bonds since 2007

European Investment Bank issues €500m Sustainability Awareness Bond

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has issued a €500m (£448m) Sustainability Awareness Bond designed to boost capital market and private sector transparency for climate-related risks and opportunities.

The University of Strathclyde is the latest UK university to implement the project, joining seven other higher education establishments in rolling out the scheme

University of Strathclyde widens sustainability behaviour change programme

The University of Strathclyde is rolling out an organisation-wide behaviour change project to boost sustainable habits among staff, after a five-month pilot saw the institution reduce its carbon emissions by 15,000kg.

The Group, which consists of the EIB and EIF, reduced its emissions intensity by 2.8% year-on-year

European Investment Bank Group halves emissions intensity as staff numbers increase

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has announced that it has halved its emissions intensity over the past decade, despite staff numbers increasing more than two-fold over the ten-year period.

UBS doubles sustainable portfolio of assets to almost £2bn

Financial services firm UBS has today (August 14) announced that it now manages £1.93bn worth of assets through its sustainable portfolio, more than double the size from when it first launched seven months ago.

Schreve said that investors need to ensure that the green finance market focuses on backing “quality” over quantity for environmental and social funding opportunities

How ING is avoiding greenwash in the new green finance era

EXCLUSIVE: ING's global head of sustainable finance Leonie Schreve believes that stronger internal relations between the finance and sustainability departments within businesses will create more access to green loans and bonds to assist the low-carbon transition.

SDG immersion: Breaking down barriers for business

Four days at the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is undoubtedly an immersion process. It's also a good way to gain perspective - I learnt as much by the things that weren't said as those that were.

Innovating with technology and behavioural change to leverage the employee engagement opportunity

Whilst the majority of companies now accept that sustainability is critical to long-term success, many haven't yet figured out how to effectively engage their employees on their sustainability programmes.

Macquarie has so far funnelled more than £15bn of investment into green infrastructure

Macquarie offers £500m of green loans

Macquarie is offering £500m of green financing to renewable energy, energy efficiency and other environmentally-friendly projects, as part of a new £2bn loan facility.

The pilot scheme will see participating banks explore lower interest rates for mortgages meeting the scheme’s criteria over a period of one to two years

Dozens of top European banks to trial new green mortgages

European banking giants including BNP Paribas, ING Bank and AXA have joined forces to launch a new green mortgage scheme which focuses on helping consumers drive energy efficiency.

The Unfriend Coal report accuses 25 of the world’s largest insurers of continuing to invest in ‘dirty’ tar sands and coal energy projects

Top pension funds and insurers failing to engage with climate risks

Some of the UK's biggest pension funds are failing to address climate-related impacts, while 25 of the world's largest insurance brokers continue to invest in coal or tar sands projects, two damning reports have claimed this week.

Show me the money… from sustainability

At my keynote at edie Live, I spoke about a vision of a sustainable built environment, how far away from it we currently are and what the industry is doing to move towards it. It's evident that, despite some positive progress, we need to fast-track the level of change and one way of achieving that is by making the business case for sustainability abundantly clear.

The report claims that HSBC is one of the sector’s “biggest backsliders” on fossil investments

Banking industry one of UK's 'most unethical sectors'

The UK's big five high street banks are hindering the sector's efforts to tackle climate change by continuing to profit from some of the world's dirtiest fossil fuel projects.

Lloyds is the latest in a string of High Street banks to increase its investments in green business projects in recent months. Image credit: Money Bright (https://www.moneybright.co.uk/)

Lloyds launches £2bn Clean Growth Finance scheme

Lloyds Banking Group has announced it will be providing a further £2bn of funding for sustainable investments, increasing its total UK green finance commitments to £3bn.

Barclays unveils dedicated Green Trade Loan

Barclays has launched a new loans product to help businesses meet working capital needs related to green projects.

The offer will initially cover new builds from UK housebuilders Barratt Homes, Berkeley Group, Countryside Properties, Crest Nicholson and Redrow Homes

Barclays offers green homes mortgage on select new builds

Barclays has launched a Green Home Mortgage scheme, offering homebuyers preferential interest rates and savings of more than £1,300 on energy-efficient new build houses.

NatWest purchases 100% of its energy from renewable sources

NatWest delivers £3.5bn low-carbon lending in three years

Banking giant NatWest has pledged to deliver of £10bn lending to UK renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by 2020, having provided £3.5bn over the past three years.

Paris, Frankfurt and New York were noted as centres most likely to grow across the rankings over the next two to three years

London ranked as global leader in green finance movement

London has been ranked as the best financial hub in the world for green financing offerings, with a new report predicting that the market for green offers will grow "substantially in size and quality".

MPs are concerned that fiduciary duties are often misinterpreted as efforts to maximise short-term returns

£555bn pension funds questioned over climate risk 'misunderstandings'

Government ministers are concerned about "outright misunderstandings" amongst the UK's top 25 pension funds, with assets under management worth £555bn, relating to failures to account for climate-related risk.

Lloyds aligns 2020 goals with SDGs in bid to 'help Britain prosper'

Banking giant Lloyds has vowed to "help British people and businesses prosper" with a set of 2020 CSR targets which are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Investors are calling on global banks to disclose their climate-risk in line with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework

Banking sector's 'skin deep' commitment to green finance threatens 2C future

The shortcomings of global banks on climate action could undermine efforts to achieve a 2C world, according to a damning report backed by more than 100 investors worth almost $2trn in assets.

The launch comes in response to the Government’s call last November for banks to make it easier for people to access social impact investments

Triodos pioneers sustainable crowdfunding platform

Sustainable lender Triodos has become the first UK bank to launch its own crowdfunding platform, which will enable people to invest directly in equity or bonds issues by organisations delivering positive social and environmental impacts.

Insurance companies are mindful of the danger that they could suffer a huge loss if their investments in fossil fuel companies were rendered worthless by action on climate change

Lloyd's of London to divest from coal over climate change

Lloyd's of London, the world's oldest insurance market, has become the latest financial firm to announce that it plans to stop investing in coal companies.

All sectors will be covered by the fund, image: ING

ING announces €100m Sustainable Investments fund

Dutch Bank ING has today (18 January) launched a €100m Sustainable Investments fund to help start-ups and innovative new business models scale up concepts and projects tailored for energy, water and resource efficiency.

Investment into renewable energy was the most common use of funds

Green bonds market reached record heights in 2017

The green bonds market grew by a staggering 78% between 2016 and 2017, with national and institutional investors funnelling more than $150bn into low-carbon projects.

Don’t look back in anger: Top sustainability trends in 2017

Some of us might look back on 2017 as another eventful, if somewhat discouraging year for sustainability. 2017 has seen the inauguration of Trump, which has led to the US pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and more recently, has led to removing climate change from the list of USA national security threats. Meanwhile, closer to home, Brexit brings fears that the 1,100 EU environmental laws will become watered down in the UK among the effort to ensure Britain remains a great trading nation. Amid all this, you would be forgiven for thinking that 2017 has been a dismal year for sustainability.

The bank worked with ESG research providers Sustainalytics to create the framework

Barclays updates green bonds to capture 'compelling' economic opportunity

Barclays has signified its shift towards a low-carbon economy, by announcing a set of green finance products that will help promote sustainability in the UK and across the globe.