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.

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.