The Climate Bonds Initiative and the European Mortgage Federation-European Covered Bond Council (EMF-ECBC) have partnered to develop standards that align EU covered bonds with the EU Taxonomy, promoting sustainable finance.

The European Commission has issued warnings to 17 EU member states for failing to implement the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) by the July 2024 deadline. This directive aims to enhance transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability reporting across the EU.

The EU’s latest energy report reveals a remarkable 32.5% decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 1990, despite a 67% growth in the economy. This achievement highlights the EU’s successful integration of sustainability into its economic development strategies.

The European Commission (EC) has released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to aid in the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These FAQs aim to clarify various aspects of the CSRD and the first set of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs), ensuring stakeholders can comply with regulatory requirements effectively.

The recent European Union (EU) parliamentary elections have caused ripples in the sustainable investing world. With a notable shift towards right-wing and nationalist parties, the future of the EU’s ambitious sustainable agenda is now uncertain. The 2019 EU elections were dubbed a “green wave,” but this time, the Greens suffered losses, reflecting voter disenchantment with the perceived costs of the green transition. Populist parties are skeptical of the EU’s climate agenda, potentially affecting policies like the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. The fate of the EU’s Green Deal hangs in the balance, as right-wing parties gain influence in the European Parliament.

The European Council has approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), overcoming earlier setbacks and revisions to mandate large companies to address their adverse impacts on human rights and the environment within their supply chains. Proposed by the European Commission in 2022, the directive aims to tackle issues like child labor, pollution, and deforestation while aligning businesses with the Paris Agreement's climate goals. Despite initial concerns from member states like Germany and Italy, the revised CSDDD, approved in March, reduces the number of affected companies by raising thresholds and implements a phased approach for compliance, starting with larger corporations in 2027 and extending to others by 2029. Though some provisions, such as financial incentives for climate transition plans, were removed, the directive stands as a significant measure in promoting corporate responsibility and sustainability within the EU.

In recent years, with the rise of Sustainability and ESG across policies and media across the globe, there has been a surge in companies making green claims. However, these claims are not always what they seem to be raising concerns around greenwashing and misleading practices. To address this issue, the European Parliament is passing more policies to fight against greenwashing and promote genuine sustainability and ESG efforts and claims.

Yesterday, The European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) published their final report on the European Union Carbon Market. Key findings from the ESMA website note that while there weren’t any major deficiencies found, there are a few policy recommendations that to no surprise, end up centralized around transparency and monitoring.

Yesterday, The European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) published their final report on the European Union Carbon Market. Key findings from the ESMA website note that while there weren’t any major deficiencies found, there are a few policy recommendations that to no surprise, end up centralized around transparency and monitoring.