ESG News Week In Review: 21 October – 27 October

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ESG NEWS SMART READ OF THE WEEK

Tim Mohin: Is “Nature Positive” the new “Net Zero?”

This Monday, COP16 – the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity –  kicked off in Cali, Colombia. Despite previous UN meetings on biodiversity being the realm of NGOs, activists, and governments, companies are now flooding in – this year’s event is expected to have more than 1,000 private-sector participants, and ‘nature positive’ goals are moving up the corporate agenda.

The new term of art is “Nature Positive” – defined as limiting and reversing biodiversity loss, with a goal of increasing nature by 2030. However, with so many companies brandishing the term around, some wonder if it is becoming a buzzword and if biodiversity is the next area ripe for greenwashing.

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This Smart Read article is contributed by Tim Mohin, Global Sustainability Leader, BCG. Every week ESG News delivers smart commentary from ESG practitioners and experts to unpack issues of the week. Become a contributor!

ESG AROUND THE WORLD

• EU Invests €4.8 Billion from Emissions Trading Revenues to Fund Net-Zero Projects
• 43% Surge in Companies Disclosing Biodiversity Data, Says CDP Report
• JPMorgan, Natixis-Backed Taskforce Unveils Guidelines to Boost Transparency in Reporting SDGs Progress
• ICC Unveils New Principles for Sustainable Trade Finance to Combat Greenwashing
• U.S DOE Launches $900 Million for Next-Generation Nuclear Technology
• 8 Ways Google is Using AI to Help Cities Become More Sustainable

CLIMATE & ENERGY TRANSITION

• KKR Makes $3.2 Billion CleanTech Bet on Enilive, Eni’s Sustainable Mobility Company
• 61% of EU Companies Invest in Climate Action: EIB Investment Survey 2024
• Masdar, EDF, and TotalEnergies Compete for $2.12 Billion in Saudi Solar Energy Projects
• Gevo Secures $1.46 Billion DOE Loan for World’s First Net-Zero Aviation Fuel Plant
• Switzerland to Launch World-First Solar Panels on Railway Tracks for Clean Energy

And More…

EXECS ON THE MOVE

• MSCI Appoints Richard Mattison to Lead ESG and Climate Business
• JPMorgan Appoints Ex-NOAA Chief Scientist Sarah Kapnick as Global Head of Climate Advisory
• UK Appoints Ruth Davis as First Special Representative for Nature Ahead of COP16
• Oliver Wyman Appoints Ziad Moukarzel as New Head of Climate & Sustainability for IMEA

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

• EU Invests €4.8 Billion from Emissions Trading Revenues to Fund Net-Zero Projects
• ICC Unveils New Principles for Sustainable Trade Finance to Combat Greenwashing
• HKMA Launches Sustainable Finance Action Agenda with Eight Key Goals
• HKMC Issues Record $3 Billion Social Bond, Largest in Asia Pacific
• Standard Chartered Launches ESG-Linked Trade Loans to Boost Global Commodity Decarbonization
• Saudi Arabia Secures $9.8B in Private Investments for Sustainable Agriculture Projects
• Mastercard Expands Priceless Planet Coalition to Restore 100 Million Trees with New Global Projects
• Saur Group Issues €500M Blue Bond for Sustainable Water Projects

And More…

CARBON MARKETS

• Microsoft Partners with Ebb Carbon for Up to 350,000 Tonnes of CO2 Removal
• Morgan Stanley Partners with Climeworks, Signs Its First-Ever Carbon Removal Deal
• SAP, Ambipar Launch Tool to Help Firms Manage and Offset Carbon Emissions Globally
• Meta Pledges $35 Million for Carbon Removal Projects in Partnership with U.S. Department of Energy
• Comcast Fully Allocates $1 Billion Green Bond to Sustainability Projects

RESEARCH & ANALYTICS

• 43% Surge in Companies Disclosing Biodiversity Data, Says CDP Report
• Sustainable Funds Reach Record $3.5 Trillion AUM in 2024: Morgan Stanley Report
• 83% of CSOs See C-Suite Collaboration Driving Ambitious Sustainability Goals: BSR Report
• 61% of EY Suppliers Have Adopted Science-Based Targets in FY24
• 90% of Building Products Firms Profit From Sustainable Products: Morningstar Sustainalytics
• 61% of EU Companies Invest in Climate Action: EIB Investment Survey 2024
• 85% of Investors to Prioritize Sustainability as Private Equity Accelerates Net Zero Efforts: BCG Report

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, INITIATIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• H&M Launches Global Change Award to Accelerate Net-Zero Textile Industry by 2050
• Mercedes F1 Cuts 500 Tonnes of CO2e with Biofuels in European Season

ESG INVESTING & FUNDS

• 85% of Investors to Prioritize Sustainability as Private Equity Accelerates Net Zero Efforts: BCG Report
• KKR Makes $3.2 Billion Bet on Enilive, Eni’s Sustainable Mobility Company
• JPMorgan, Natixis-Backed Taskforce Unveils Guidelines to Boost Transparency in Reporting SDGs Progress
• CalSTRS Awards $150M Sustainability Mandate to Ninety One’s Global Environment Strategy

TECHNOLOGY, ESG TOOLS & SERVICES

• IBM’s ESG Suite Secures Approval to Aid Federal Agencies in ESG Data Management
• SAP, Ambipar Launch Tool to Help Firms Manage and Offset Carbon Emissions Globally
• SAP Launches Sustainability Data Exchange to Help Companies Achieve Net-Zero Goals
• Bureau Veritas Acquires Aligned Incentives, Expanding AI-Powered Sustainability Services
• SBTi Launches New Website to Streamline Science-Based Target Validation for Businesses