Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance Archives

The World Is ‘Off Track’ On Climate Action

27Sep

By Guest WriterNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy and International Law, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

The World Is ‘Off Track’ On Climate Action

Leaders Pledge Action And Finance For Climate Initiatives At UN General Assembly Matthew Lauster is a freelance writer living in Washington, D.C. Matthew graduated from the College at Brockport State University of New York with a BA's of Science in Journalism and Broadcasting and a Minor in History. He has previously reported on climate change for George Washington University's Planet Forward. September 27, 2021—As the world’s leaders convene in New York this month for the 76th United Nations General Assembly, they are discussing national and multilateral efforts to address the many challenges the world faces. At the top of many of their lists is climate change, and its drastic impacts around the world. "Without deep and rapid decarbonization of our energy systems over the nex...

Investors in Asia Embracing New Sustainable Technologies

24Aug

By Frank McMullinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Investors in Asia Embracing New Sustainable Technologies

Photo of Shanghai by Alexander Schimmeck courtesy Unsplash. CONFERENCE COVERAGE: Talks Show Investors Pivoting To 'Purposeful' Portfolios August 24, 2021--Leaders from financial investment firms, consulting agencies, nonprofits and startups met virtually last week to spur collaborations and sustainable investments in Asia. The South China Morning Post’s held the event, called Asia Sustainability Conference. As investors continue to flock to rapidly-developing markets in Asia, the conference reflected growing demand for investment opportunities in line with environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria. "Going forward, we are all equal. There is so much pressure to look at sustainable investments that, with new investments, we are on par with the rest of the world," s...

As The Economy Goes Greener, The Job Market Is Evolving Rapidly

19Aug

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Analysis

As The Economy Goes Greener, The Job Market Is Evolving Rapidly

Solar jobs are growing. Photo: Science in HD, Unsplash Policymakers Deal With Both Climate Change And Economic Losses In Fossil-Fuel Communities August 19, 2021--As the long-term fight against global climate change intensifies, workers and communities reliant on the fossil fuel industry are increasingly feeling the pinch of potential job losses and revenue. That presents a challenge for policymakers in the public and private sectors. As they move toward a greener economy, they also need to think in terms of mitigating losses in traditional energy sectors. "It's important to be doing it now because the transition is beginning to accelerate," said Phil Jordan, vice president at BW Research Partnership. "We have to figure this out in the next three to five years at the latest." ...

Earth To Warm By 1.5 Degree Celsius By 2040, UN Report Warns

9Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

Earth To Warm By 1.5 Degree Celsius By 2040, UN Report Warns

Consensus Now Says Human Influence on Climate Warming Is 'Established Fact' August 9, 2021--In a massive 3949-page report, a United Nations working group warns that the climate is warming and humans influence is a cause. The report covers every area of the world. It discusses both the cause and effect. Most notably, it warns that even under the best-case scenario, scientists predict the Earth will warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2040. "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land," the report said."Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred." It is the sixth of eight reports by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report comes in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference i...

Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles

7Aug

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos, United States

Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles

President Biden held an event with U.S. and Dutch automakers August 5, 2021 at the White House. Executive Order Establishes New Rule-Making on Emissions Standards And Sets Goal 50 Percent Electric Vehicles by 2030 August 7, 2021--President Joe Biden signaled a new push for U.S. battery manufacturers and lower greenhouse gas emissions with an Executive Order calling for half of all new cars and trucks made in America to be electric by 2030. In addition to setting that goal, the president called for federal investment in building a national network of a half-million electric vehicle charging stations, customer incentives that will result in more manufacturing and union jobs, financing and retooling the domestic manufacturing supply chain, and developing more clean technologies. Fund...

UK’s Johnson Sees Chance for Green Investments; Will He Seize It?

22Jul

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Europe, EU, Eurozone, and United Kingdom, Types of News: Brief

UK’s Johnson Sees Chance for Green Investments; Will He Seize It?

July 22, 2021 -One-time climate change skeptic UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson now sees an opportunity where he once saw only a grim warning. That opportunity is the chance to attract private investment in a green economy. "We're confident that green technology and green investments are the roots to not just cutting emissions but to long-term job creation and economic growth," Johnson said during a recent meeting with a parliamentary liaison committee. Johnson said he sees "huge" investments happening in wind energy and enormous potential for investments along the British coast. Johnson rolled out a plan that includes a blueprint for private sector investments late last year. The plan targets a 78 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2035 when compared to 1990 levels an...

U.S. and Russia Optimistic About Joint Climate Action

15Jul

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy and International Law, Types of News: Brief

U.S. and Russia Optimistic About Joint Climate Action

July 15, 2021—Top officials from the old Cold War’s top superpowers said they see an issue on which they can work together: climate change. Courtesy Needpix.com The optimistic outlook came during U.S. climate envoy John Kerry's four-day visit to Moscow to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other government officials. The countries they represent produce the second and fourth greatest amounts of carbon dioxide emissions, respectively. China is number one and India is third.* Kerry said, “we believe that there is space for us to cooperate on this," as reported by Radio Free Europe. Lavrov agreed that such discussions are a positive move forward. The detente on climate change is a bright spot during a time of heightened tensions between th...

G20 Finance Ministers Back Carbon Taxes To Fight Climate Change

12Jul

By Steve BerlinNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy and International Law, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

G20 Finance Ministers Back Carbon Taxes To Fight Climate Change

July 12, 2021—G20 finance ministers last week agreed carbon pricing could be an effective tool to help fight global climate change. During their meetings at the G20 High Level Tax Symposium on Tax Policy and Climate Change in Venice, Italy, the ministers also reaffirmed a 2050 target for net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, using carbon taxes as a way to get there. Photo by veeterzy on Unsplash Tools At Their Disposal While the ministers did not approve a carbon tax proposal, they acknowledged that different countries had many tools at their disposal to reduce emissions, but international cooperation is ultimately critical. Carbon Pricing, Explained Carbon pricing is a fee or tax on companies to cover the external costs of greenhouse gas emissions, such as...

Climate Change Driving a Global ‘Race to the New Technology,’ US Envoy Says

25Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy and International Law, Types of News: Brief

Climate Change Driving a Global ‘Race to the New Technology,’ US Envoy Says

March 25, 2021--Climate change is driving a massive shift in investment and industry in the United States and around the world, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said today. 'Massive Transformation' "We are on the cusp of a massive transformation and ultimately the market is going to make the moves, not the government," Kerry said, during a virtural conference held by the Washington-based Institute of International Finance. In a conversation with IIE President and CEO Tim Adams, Kerry said climate change is driving widespread changes in industries and opening up markets in the future. "This is not something for people to be scared of. This is the biggest economic opportunity we have seen," Kerry said. White House Priority To emphasize the importance he p...

Europe Agrees on 2030 Emissions Targets, Changes to Energy and Transport Sectors

11Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Europe, EU, Eurozone, and United Kingdom, Types of News: Brief

Europe Agrees on 2030 Emissions Targets, Changes to Energy and Transport Sectors

Dec. 11, 2020--A year after introducing the Green New Deal, the European Council agreed today to targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade. The plan envisions cutting emissions by 55 percent of 1990 levels by 2030. The deal requires significant changes to the energy and transportation sectors. It also calls for investment in energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure for electric cars. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement "future-proofs" the European Union. "Today's agreement puts us on a clear path towards climate neutrality in 2050. It gives certainty to investors, to businesses, to public authorities and to citizens," von der Leyen said in remarks given after the European Council meeting today. Leaders emerge fr...