News
Ebola Outbreak: the World Bank fails to release funds to fight the epidemic
As the Ebola outbreak spreads through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), questions have been raised concerning the World Bank’s ability to release the emergency funds raised on the bond market that were specifically created to prevent such pandemics.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund backtracks on its decision to divest from oil
Two years ago, the Norwegian sovereign fund made an impressive move by announcing its divestment from hydrocarbons. This was a strong message for the sovereign fund as it has built its wealth on oil extracted from the North Sea. However, the final plan would only concern $5.7 billion of a $1.1...
Leaving carbon behind: Ursula von der Leyen wants to create a just energy transition fund for the EU
The next president of the European Commission is starting to shed some light onto her upcoming tenure this November. During a trip to Poland, Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted to create an investment fund to help transform coal-dependent countries. She also wants to launch a citizens conference...
The European Investment Bank turns its back on fossil fuels
The European Commission has recently published an ambitious climate strategy. The European Investment Bank, its financial tool for policy implementation, is in turn deciding to no longer finance projects linked to fossil fuels. This is somewhat revolutionary for the EIB, which is often criticized on...
[The World in 2050] At COP 56, the finance sector seeks to rid itself of fossil fuels from the past
Welcome to 2050. In a prospective way, our journalist, Arnaud Dumas, used the actual trends of finance to imagine what could be the finance sector by then. The "stranded assets crisis" of 2039 left serious consequences for the global economy. During COP 56, held in Paris in 2050, the French Minister...
G7 finance ministers meeting: Libra, the Facebook cryptocurrency worrying global leaders
G7 Finance Ministers met in Chantilly, France on July 17th and 18th to discuss the cryptocurrency that Facebook is set to launch next year. Ministers and regulatory authorities want more details on the cryptocurrency project. They fear the project’s magnitude due to Facebook’s billions of...
Five celebrities using their fame and fortune for a sustainable future
Robert Downey Jr., the actor known for his role as Iron Man, wants to launch the Footprint Coalition in 2020, a project aimed at using science to protect the environment. He is not alone in using his fame - and fortune – to serve the common good. Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio, Serena Williams, and Bill...
Shareholder Engagement Demonstrates Its Impact On Company Transformation In The Oil And Gas Sector
Investor coalitions are putting in place specific methodologies to question companies on their social responsibility. The Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) and the Dutch NN Investment Partners explained the results they obtained from companies like Shell, BP and Tesla at Novethic’s 2019 Positive...
The great battle over the european classification system for sustainable activities has begun
Members of the European Commission’s technical expert group recently unveiled the fruit of a year’s worth of labor: a proposal for a regulation on the establishment of a classification system (i.e. taxonomy) to facilitate sustainable activities in Europe. As the backbone of the sustainable finance...
Three essential questions to navigating the jungle of sustainable finance labels
Sustainable finance labels provide valuable insights for investors seeking to manage their money more responsibly. However, there are significant disparities between many European sustainable finance labels, which makes it difficult to understand their true impact. To better understand this impact,...
ESG focus: Beyond Ratings moves to the London stock exchange!
On June 3rd, the London Stock Exchange announced the acquisition of Beyond Ratings, signifying the rise of sustainable finance in the London Stock Exchange. This French rating agency, created in 2014, specializes in the integration of ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria into credit...
[Europe] The European union: a motor in the development of sustainable finance
European institutions deserve much credit for the recent momentum around sustainable finance. In less than three years, it has become a major focus of the Commission's financial markets policy. It is likely to transform the European economy, provided that differences of opinion between Member States...
The World Bank wants to reconcile mining and climate action
The World Bank has launched a $50 million fund to invest in mining sites in developing countries. Its goal is to support the energy transition by financing the extraction of the mines and metals needed for green energy. The plan to introduce responsible practices to a sector known for its many...
Shareholders rebel against top companies ahead of annual meeting season
Bayer, Barclays, UBS...annual meeting season is already in a state of turmoil, with shareholders voting against corporate leadership and asking them to be more responsible. Shareholder activism is strengthening to hold companies more responsible, particularly on the climate issue. Businesses are...
Impact investing: a holy grail for the finance sector
The search for impact investing has spread across the entire finance sector. From specialized management companies to the largest of banks, financial institutions want to be a part of this rapidly growing market, estimated at $502 billion by Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). However, there is...
Gender equality: the next challenge in sustainable finance
Thematic funds on gender equality are starting to emerge within companies. And it's not an easy task! Women continue to experience difficulties in attaining corporate leadership roles. The management company Mirova has just created a fund that goes against current statistics, by investing in...
Greening the financial system : a new mission for central banks
The fight against climate change can work wonders. It is not only able to transform central bankers into environmental apostles, but also reduces circumspect regulation to concrete considerations of climate-related financial risks. This was demonstrated by the Paris meeting of the Network for the...
Responsible investment could mean a crash test for the mass market
Responsible investing is growing at a rapid pace and is beginning to intertwine with the rest of the finance sector. The challenge is far from being won. Disparity in terminology makes it particularly difficult for investors and salespeople to market it. And lack of standardization concerning impact...
The SEC allows ExxonMobil to axe climate change resolution at general meeting
The basis of the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent decision goes against historical trends. While shareholders once again tried to put climate on the agenda of ExxonMobil's General Meeting, the stock exchange watchdog authorised the oil giant to dismiss the resolution, on the premise...
Artificial intelligence: one week after being established, Google's ethics board is already falling apart
Google's ambition was to develop an artificial intelligence program with the US military. But faced with the outcry raised by its own employees, the company has since changed course and set up an ethics committee on this new technology. Impacted by a poor casting of board members, the plan has...