News
An Australian court invokes the climate to reject major mining project
An Australian court just reached a potentially far-reaching decision for the mining industry. In order to reject a coal mining project, the court invoked climate change and the Paris Agreement.
PG&E electric: the first bankruptcy linked to climate change
The recent bankruptcy of energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) is a very concrete illustration of climate risk. Suspected of being at the origin of the fires that devastated California last November, the company alone is paying a heavy price for its poor consideration of climatic...
10 signals proving the ecological transition is on the right path
Global temperatures are rising, and biodiversity is degrading. Some experts are even predicting the collapse of our civilisation in the near future. Yet, the WWF along with the Banque de France have identified how renewable energy development, agricultural transformation and corporate engagement are...
Vale’s dam disaster in Brazil is one disaster too many
On 25 January, a Vale mining dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil. The avalanche of mud waste caused hundreds of deaths, creating a human and environmental disaster for the mining giant. The incident highlights the need to integrate social and environmental risks in the sector’s performance,...
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund attacked over ethical investment strategy
Norway’s $1 trillion wealth fund has found itself under fire by conservative Norwegian critics. The new conservative coalition in power is particularly alarmed by the number of sectors excluded from the fund’s scope of intervention. The Ministry of Finance will set up a commission to review the...
Unlisted green funds: many opportunities but very little impact
Nearly €60 billion has been invested in unlisted European green assets by 223 funds. This is the result of the new Novethic study on unlisted green asset funds, conducted in partnership with Ademe, revealing an asset class that interests investors more for its profitability than its positive...
From the geopolitics of oil to the geopolitics of renewable energy
If the geopolitics of oil were far from simple, it may be even more complex for renewable energy. It is a multifactorial domain that incites much negative reaction. Between the criticality of raw materials, the technological transfer to developing countries and the implication of oil-producing...
Coca-cola to use atmospheric CO2 for sparkling water
Coca-Cola has recently unveiled an original plan for one of its products. In conjunction with the startup Climeworks, the group will capture atmospheric CO2 to form the fizz in Valser bottles, the group’s Swiss sparkling water brand. Climeworks affirms that is a way to fight against global warming,...
Disappearance of biodiversity: a systemic risk for the economy that remains underevaluated
The disappearance of natural capital is the second major risk factor the world faces in the next ten years, according to the Davos Forum Annual Global Risks Report. Yet at a time when biodiversity is at great risk, sustainable finance has its eyes set on climate change. To improve the situation, we...
Amazon employee shareholders push for climate action
At the end of 2018, a group of employee shareholders for the e-commerce giant submitted a resolution calling on Amazon to implement a plan to fight climate change. The group, which has made several environmental commitments, is regularly singled out for its lack of transparency and for lagging...
BlackRock calls on companies to create “purpose”
At the beginning of each year, the CEO of the largest asset management company in the world, sends a letter to leaders of the companies in which BlackRock invests on behalf of its clients. The 2019 edition stresses the link between purpose and profits.
SDGs: good intentions are not enough !
It's time for new year’s resolutions! For 2019, companies can already add to their list of good deeds, bridging the gap between their Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) engagements and their actual integration into the core company strategy. PWC's 2018 study, which references the trend in company...
The state of world in 10 key figures
10% of people are living in extreme poverty, 2.7 billion women are without work, 50% of school-age children are undereducated…but there is also better access to financial services and electricity. The World Bank has given us a contrasting view of our civilisation in 2019.
Maersk, the world's leading container shipping company, aims for carbon neutrality in 2050
This is a strong signal sent to the entire maritime sector, about its climate commitments. Denmark's Maersk, world leader in container shipping, announced at COP24 in December 2018 that it is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, thus meeting one of the objectives of the Paris Agreement. And...
The carbon market does not undermine company competitiveness...quite the contrary
The decline in company competitiveness due to the carbon market is a popular argument being put forward by employers in an effort to curb new regulations and emissions taxes. Yet, in an OECD report, the authors identified an increase in turnover and asset value for the companies concerned.
Shell and BHP Billiton join companies leaving lobby groups over lax climate action
Enough is enough! After BHP Billiton, Shell is now turning away from lobbies and professional organisations, due in large part to their lack of an ambitious climate agenda. Such abrupt action is intended to send a message to stakeholders and shareholders alike that are increasingly concerned with...
Job cuts and a falling stock market: bayer in turmoil after purchasing monsanto
How will Bayer come out of this crisis? Since its merger with Monsanto, Bayer’s stock has decreased by 38%. The 9,300 glyphosate-related complaints against the firm have investors fearful of hefty fines. To minimise damage, Bayer announced 12,000 new job cuts. But employees do not want to be the...
[Inside story] COP24 highlights limits to financial engagement on coal-related emissions
At COP24, which is taking place in Katowice, Poland until 14 December, 415 major global investors are calling on states to be more ambitious about reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. This is a puzzling message considering that many management company funds have increased the quantity of...
Shell to link executive compensation to climate targets
Shell has announced several ambitious climate engagements amidst growing pressure from its investors. The oil company wants to link executive compensation to the achievement of specific climate targets. In addition, the Anglo-Dutch giant agrees to disassociate from lobbying groups that are...
Human Rights: less than 5% of global corporations show tangible action
The Declaration of human rights is 70 years old this December 10th. However, despite international texts and local regulations, the issue of human rights remains poorly apprehended by large companies worldwide, according to a study published by the extra-financial rating agency Vigeo Eiris.