The sustainable finance policy and regulation landscape continued to evolve and mature at the end of 2023 and the hope is that policymakers double down on the impetus to bolster sustainable investment this year.  A new year of sustainability reporting will require global regulators to confront challenges relating to sustainability data, making the release of International Capital Markets Association’s (ICMA) code of conduct for ESG ratings and data providers a timely policy intervention.  Europe is one jurisdiction where formal regulation is progressing on this front. In December, legislators agreed on a negotiating position for the regulation of ESG ratings providers in the EU with some newly highlighted points on the scope of application and registration of providers.

Overall, December 2023 was a very busy month in Europe, as regulators voted on key pieces of legislation including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). MEPs decided that the directive will temporarily exclude the financial sector from its scope. The banking sector will, however, be subject to certain ESG disclosure requirements as the EU Commission would soon adopt the final elements of Basel III and implement the framework into EU law.  Additionally, the European Banking Authority (EBA) released final guidelines on benchmarking diversity practices and gender pay gaps to further transparency in the financial services sector.

Meanwhile, the European Supervisory Markets Authority (ESMA) announced a number of updates including a delay in the release of guidelines for using sustainability-related terms in fund names and new draft guidelines for the enforcement of sustainability information prepared under EU law. Furthermore, ESMA has launched a common supervisory action (CSA) to systematise national-level oversight of benchmarks with an ESG objective. European regulators have also indicated that at the beginning of this year, there may be more certainty on the status of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). On December 4th, European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published a revised list of principle adverse impact indicators and will review the draft RTS in the coming months. Moving to insurance and pension funds, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has opened a consultation on the prudential treatment of sustainability risks until March 2024.

Over to the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released informal guidance on how competition law applies to environmental sustainability agreements. The UK Government’s advancements in the climate policy realm included the finalisation of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by 2027 and an upcoming Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Asia-Pacific also closed the year with notable policy news as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched the Singapore-Asia Taxonomy and simultaneously, a code of conduct for ESG ratings and data providers. Further south in Australia, legislators agreed on a nature repair market bill for biodiversity loss prevention and restoration.

These developments and many more will shape the future of ESG regulation for years to come. We anticipate a flurry of regulatory activity in 2024 and will do our best to keep our readers informed on the latest news in sustainable finance regulation. Please continue to watch this space!

International

ICMA publishes voluntary code of conduct for ESG data and ratings providers

Following a mandate by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), on December 14, 2023, the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) released a voluntary code of conduct which may be applied in global jurisdictions where there is no regulation currently in place. This is intended to serve as a globally consistent, voluntary Code of Conduct for ESG ratings and data providers, aligning with IOSCO recommendations. Emphasising transparency and good governance, the Code aims to establish international standards in the sector. ICMA, appointed by the FCA in 2022, developed the Code together with the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG). Following a consultation period ending on October 5, 2023, the final Code was published, with ICMA taking ownership. The Code promotes transparency and trust in the ESG data and ratings market, endorsed by Sacha Sadan, FCA Director of ESG. A January 31, 2024 event at the London Stock Exchange will discuss the Code’s practical implementation and international implications, encouraging engagement from ESG data and ratings providers. Read more

Europe

European Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement on partial inclusion of the financial sector under CSDDD

On 14 December 2023, the Council and Parliament reached a provisional deal on CSDDD that finalised the scope of the regulation.  For corporates, the directive will apply to large companies with more than 500 employees and net turnover over €150 million. Three years from the directive’s entry into force it will also apply to non-EU companies with a net turnover over €150 million generated in the EU.  The deal last month reinforces CSDDD provisions concerning the obligation of large companies to adopt and implement a (means based) transition plan for climate change mitigation. After prolonged negotiations between MEPs, the directive will temporarily exclude the financial services sector from its scope. The decision to include the financial downstream sector will be revisited later based on a comprehensive impact assessment. Other parts of the directive focus on liabilities for non-compliant companies and outline an exhaustive list of specified rights and prohibited activities in line with UN human rights conventions. Similarly, the deal defines environmental impacts more broadly to include any measurable environmental degradation.  Read more

The Commission Banking Package adds final elements of Basel III

The Commission has finally decided to adopt remaining elements of Basel III in the banking package and implement the framework into EU law.  On the ESG side, European co-legislators are focused on the disclosure and management of climate and social risks in the banking sector. Specifically, the Commission Banking package would introduce a mandate for banks to draw up transition plans under the prudential framework which must uphold the commitments made by banks under various pieces of legislation included in the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan. The Commission has proposed that supervisory authorities oversee how banks integrate ESG risks and factors in the annual supervisory examination review.  ESG disclosure requirements will also start to apply to all EU banks, with proportionality of burden for smaller banks. Finally, it was agreed that banks financing infrastructure projects or activities with a positive or neutral environmental impact may be authorised to enjoy a favourable risk weight treatment.  This system of checks and balances is designed to bolster financial stability, enabling the EU’s banking sector to demonstrate resilience in the context of climate and social change. Read more

ESMA postpones guidelines on using sustainability-related terms in fund names

ESMA has announced a new timeline for the release of guidelines on the use of ESG and sustainability-related terms in fund names. This decision comes due to advancements in AIFMD and the UCITS Directive which specify circumstances where the name of an AIF or UCIT is unclear, misleading or unfair. If the amended texts are released on time, ESMA’s guidelines will be published and formally adopted in Q2 2024.  The Guidelines will take effect three months after their publication. Managers of newly managed funds must adhere to the Guidelines for those funds starting from the application date. For managers of funds already in existence before the application of the Guidelines, compliance with the Guidelines for those funds is expected within six months from the application date. Read more

ESMA launches “common supervisory action” (CSA) for ESG disclosures under EU BMR

The European Securities and Markets Authority has launched a CSA with National Competent Authorities (NCAs) to provide oversight of ESG disclosures made under the EU’s Benchmark Regulation (EU BMR).  The objective of this exercise is to establish a system for the “consistent and effective” supervision of benchmark administrators across the EU. Specifically, the CSA will assess compliance of EU-based and global benchmark administrators against requirements for the disclosure of ESG risks in Annex II of EU BMR with further explanation of ESG factors considered in the benchmark methodology statement. The CSA will also cover the disclosure requirements for climate benchmarks methodology. A key feature of BMR is the year-on-year decarbonisation trajectory for EU climate benchmarks with stricter thresholds for those aligned with the Paris agreement climate scenario of 1.5/2C.   Read more

EIOPA consults on the prudential treatment of sustainability risks

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has launched a consultation on the prudential treatment of sustainability risks, as mandated by the Solvency II Directive. This marks the second phase of EIOPA’s approach, assessing whether dedicated prudential treatment for assets or activities linked to environmental or social objectives is justified. Sustainability risks are increasingly relevant for insurers, and EIOPA aims to ensure the prudential framework adequately addresses these, prioritising consumer protection and financial stability. Stakeholders can provide feedback via the EU Survey until March 22, 2024. In addition, EIOPA announced a new catastrophe data hub which captures EU wide data on insured losses for past events and other exposure data on flood and windstorm disasters.  Read more.

European Supervisory Authorities publish revisions to SFDR

As the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation continues to evolve, ESMA, EIOPA and EBA have jointly published their proposed revisions to the list of principle adverse indicators (PAIs). The ESAs are adding additional social indicators to the list and will add further nuance to climate reporting by introducing product disclosures on greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.  Additional changes include some technical amendments to the treatment of derivatives and the calculation of sustainable investments, among others. The Commission will review the draft RTS and decide on whether to endorse them in the next three months. Read more

EC agrees negotiating position on ESG ratings regulation

The EU Council agreed on a negotiating mandate for a regulation on ESG ratings to boost investor confidence in sustainable products. The rules aim to improve the reliability of ESG ratings by enhancing transparency, requiring authorization and supervision by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and addressing conflicts of interest. Key points include clarification of scope, exemptions, and the introduction of a temporary registration regime for small ESG rating providers. This agreement, alongside the European Parliament’s mandate in December 2023, sets the stage for interinstitutional negotiations expected to commence in January 2024. Read more

EBA publishes final guidelines on DEI and gender pay gaps for financial services sector

On 18^th December 2023 the European Banking Authority (EBA) released final Guidelines on benchmarking diversity practices, encompassing diversity policies and gender pay gaps under the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) and Investment Firms Directive (IFD). These guidelines enhance transparency on the EBA’s work regarding diversity and gender equality, improving data quality and stakeholder awareness. Applicable to institutions and investment firms, the guidelines mandate data provision on management body diversity and gender pay gaps, collected every three years from a representative sample. The EBA Board of Supervisors determined technical aspects for the sampling of institutions. The reporting format, effective from 2025, will collect data as of December 31, 2024, in accordance with legal mandates outlined in the CRD and IFD. Read more

ESMA launches consultation on the enforcement of sustainability information prepared under EU law

ESMA is seeking input until March 15, 2024, on draft Guidelines for the Enforcement of Sustainability Information. The guidelines aim for consistent supervision by national authorities over listed companies’ sustainability information, ensuring alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and Article 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation. The objectives include fostering convergence in supervision and robust approaches to both sustainability and financial information, enhancing reporting connectivity. The consultation targets listed companies, investors, users of sustainability information, auditors, and assurance service providers. ESMA plans to release the final Guidelines in Q3 2024 after considering the feedback received. Read more

United Kingdom

CMA issues its first informal guidance to help green initiatives

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has responded to a request for informal guidance under its Green Agreements Guidance, which clarifies how competition law applies to environmental sustainability agreements. The CMA’s open-door policy allows businesses and organisations to seek guidance on proposed sustainability agreements. The response pertains to the Fairtrade Foundation’s Shared Impact initiative, targeting sustainability and resilience in food supply chains, particularly addressing emissions in the food and drinks industry. The initiative aims to offer longer-term contractual stability for producers adopting environmentally sustainable farming practices. Read more.

Addressing carbon leakage risk to support decarbonisation

After a consultation from March 30 to June 22, 2023, gathering over 160 submissions, the UK government has decided to implement a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) by 2027. The CBAM will levy charges on carbon emissions in imports from sectors like aluminium, cement, ceramics, fertiliser, glass, hydrogen, iron, and steel. Further refinement of CBAM delivery will be subject to additional consultation in 2024. The government also plans to collaborate with industry for voluntary product standards promoting low-carbon products and to develop an embodied emissions reporting framework, with both measures undergoing further technical consultations in 2024. Read more.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme: consultation and future markets policy

The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Authority, comprised of the UK, Scottish, Welsh Governments, and Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, seeks input on proposals to enhance future market policies. The consultation, closing on March 11, 2024, aims to optimize ETS markets policy for managing risks effectively in a maturing scheme, fostering stable conditions for decarbonization. Stakeholders, including companies in various sectors, ETS market traders, financial institutions, investors, and environmental groups, are invited to provide views on identifying significant risks, assessing policy options, and designing individual market stability policies. Read more.

Asia Pacific

MAS releases multi-sector Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

Singapore’s latest initiative exemplifies its status as a regional leader in sustainable finance policy and regulation. This will be the first Taxonomy to include guidance on identifying and classifying activities that can be considered green or transitional, thereby considering starting positions and ensuring just transition in the region. MAS has adopted the traffic light system to distinguish between investments towards “green” activities, which can be identified based on specific metrics and thresholds, and “amber” or transition activities “that do not meet the green thresholds now but are on a pathway to net zero or contributing to net zero outcomes”. The Taxonomy will cover eight sectors and will use a “measures-based approach” that encourages capital allocation towards decarbonisation processes that are aligned with a 1.5C outcome. An additional section of the Taxonomy document provides criteria for transitioning away from coal-fired plants, allowing transition finance to support early coal phase out deals. Read more

Singapore finalises code of conduct for ESG ratings and data providers

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has also released its code of conduct (CoC) which largely relies on ratings and data providers to self-attest adherence to the CoC ‘Checklist’ for compliance. The CoC aims to crack down on black box methodologies which may obscure analysis around ESG ratings and data. The industry standards are based on recommendations from IOSCO. Similar to legislation in the EU, there is emphasis on preventing conflicts of interest and reforming governance structures to ensure integrity of ESG scores and data. MAS has added that although not necessary, those that adopt the CoC can provide assurance or audit where possible.  A list of providers that adopt the CoC will also be available on the ICMA website.  Read more

Australia has passed a nature repair market bill to restore biodiversity habitats.

The Australian government and Greens have agreed on a nature repair scheme, fast-tracking the expansion of the water trigger to all unconventional gas projects. The deal prohibits trades in the new nature market as offsets for habitat destruction. The nature repair bill aims to establish a market encouraging private investment in biodiversity projects, with businesses receiving tradeable certificates. Amendments, including the exclusion of trading credits as offsets, addressed earlier controversies. The expanded water trigger now covers all unconventional gas forms. Read more.

Other News & Resources

• The IFRS Taxonomy Consultative Group is seeking new candidates from April 1, 2024. Read more
• NGFS released recommendations for the development of nature-related financial risk scenarios. Read more
• The EFRAG and TNFD signed a cooperation agreement to advance nature-related sustainability reporting. Read more
• The Dubai Financial Services Authority and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced a partnership to enhance cross-border collaboration for the development of sustainable finance policies and regulations across the Middle East and Asia regions. Read more
• ESMA publishes methodological approach for modeling climate risks in the fund sector, along with analysis of the financial repercussions of greenwashing.
• The US Treasury Internal Revenue Service issue guidance on sustainable aviation fuel credit. Read more

2023: Year in Review:

Below are the main ESG Regulatory Developments that took place in 2023:

Adoption of Global ESG Standards and Frameworks

• ISSB issues inaugural global sustainability disclosure standards
• The Commission adopts the European Sustainability Reporting Standards
• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) publishes Recommendations

Evolution of international sustainable taxonomies: EU, Singapore, Brazil, UK Green Taxonomy

• EU Taxonomy: Delegated Acts with TSC for remaining four environmental objectives and amending climate TSC published in Official Journal
• Singapore: MAS Launches World’s First Multi-Sector Transition Taxonomy
• Brazil’s Sustainable Taxonomy Action Plan enters public consultation

ESG Ratings providers regulation: SEBI, EU, Japan, Singapore Code of Conduct

• India: SEBI Introduces Framework for ESG Rating Providers
• EU Council agrees negotiating mandate on ESG ratings
• Singapore: MAS Publishes Code of Conduct for Providers of Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) Rating and Data Products
• Japan Finalises Code of Conduct for ESG Data Providers

US Climate focus: SEC Climate rule postponed, California climate disclosure package passed

• SEC Once Again Delays Action on Final Climate Disclosure Rule
• California Passes Climate Disclosure Legislation

Supply chains: CSDDD and EUDR adoption

• Corporate sustainability due diligence: Council and Parliament strike deal to protect environment and human rights
• EU Approves Law on Deforestation-free Supply Chains

Global fund labelling regimes: US SEC Fund Labelling Rule adopted, UK Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR), SFDR proposed formal product categories, SEBI ESG mutual fund scheme

• USA: SEC Adopts Rule Requiring ESG-Labelled Funds to Invest 80% in Alignment with Theme
• FCA announces sustainability disclosure requirements (SDR) policy
• European Commission Consults on Changes to the SFDR Regime
• India: SEBI introduces a separate sub-category for ESG investments

COP28 aims to restore faith in Voluntary Carbon Markets

*ESG Book manages the world’s largest repository of sustainability reporting provisions with over 2,400 regulations across more than 80 jurisdictions globally. If there is a recent ESG regulatory development we have missed, we would like to hear from you and invite you to contribute below.

Click here to access the ESG Regulatory Provisions Contributor Form

Scientists at the EU’s climate agency Copernicus released their findings last week on the state of the planet’s climate. It made for stark, if not unexpected reading. The headline was that the planet was 1.48° Celsius hotter in 2023 compared to pre-industrial times. That’s a mere whisker below the 1.5° Celsius target set by countries in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement to avoid the most severe effects of warming. But is it strictly right to compare this 1.48°C with the target set in Paris?

To read the full article, click here

Last week (14th December), ESG Book submitted its response to the latest EU Commission Targeted consultation on the implementation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR), addressing concerns about the regulation’s current ambiguity and lack of clarity in defining ‘sustainable investment.’

ESG Book’s response underscores the importance of clarity, standardization, and collaboration in implementing SFDR to enhance transparency and comparability in sustainable finance reporting.

To read the full article, click here

In this month’s Policy Digest, we dive into various developments that reflect the evolving status of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). Most recently, the European Supervisory Authorities’ (ESAs) Final Report on Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) included new and updated indicators for reporting entities under SFDR. Meanwhile, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued high-level guidance on the interpretation of key concepts and definitions embedded within the sustainable finance framework. In the banking and financial services sector, the European Banking Authority (EBA) released the final templates and guidance for a one-off Fit-for-55 climate risk scenario analysis, involving approximately 110 EU banks. Regulation is also progressing on the sustainability ratings and data front, as European Parliament members made changes to the draft ESG ratings regulation, requiring providers to disclose the weighting of environmental, social, and governance factors. Additionally, the European Council adopted a proposal for centralized sustainability information, establishing the European Single Access Point (ESAP).

In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) finalised a sustainable investment fund labeling regime, introducing four labels and an Anti-Greenwashing Rule. The UK Parliament is also taking steps to enshrine “reasonable” human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) into law.

Moving to Taxonomy-related news, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched a multi-sector transition taxonomy to aid financial institutions in identifying green and transition activities. MAS also released a voluntary code of conduct (CoC) for ESG data and ratings providers. Also featured in the Asia-Pacific region update is Australia’s plan for a new Sustainable Finance Strategy. Australia’s Treasury has proposed mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, a sustainable finance taxonomy, and a labeling system for sustainable investment products under the new Strategy.

With the release of both ISSB standards and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) this year, regulators and standard setters alike are signaling a promising new era of alignment.  Once these standards are formally adopted and rendered in varying contexts, global regulators will start to examine the building blocks of sustainability reporting– ESG data and ratings – that have so far been outside the sphere of regulation in many jurisdictions.

Europe

ESAs release Final Report on Regulatory Technical Standards for SFDR

European financial regulators are finalising the list of mandatory and optional Principle Adverse Impact indicators as part of the disclosure rules for financial products under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The SFDR, effective since March 2021, mandates financial market participants and advisers to disclose sustainability integration at both entity and product levels. On 4^th December, European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) announced the publication of their Final Report amending the draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS). The RTS proposes new climate and social reporting metrics, including greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets and mandatory social metrics such as inadequate wages and exposure to tobacco cultivation and production. Importantly, there is an ongoing targeted consultation on SFDR. The European Commission is seeking feedback from stakeholders on how SFDR has been implemented so far and even proposed a revised system of product categorisation, given that the regulation has become a de facto fund labeling regime. The targeted consultation additionally explores the relevance of the existing list of PAIs. Areas of focus include the methodology of adverse impact indicators (materiality assessment for certain indicators), disclosure costs, data quality, and clarity of legal concepts embedded within the framework.  Read more

ESMA publishes explanatory notes on key concepts in EU’s sustainable finance framework

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has also acknowledged the recent focus on SFDR and questions around the assessment of the sustainable investment definition carried out by taking into account PAI indicators. ESMA has published three explanatory notes clarifying: a) the definition of sustainable investments; b) the application of the do no significant harm (DNSH) principle and; c) the use of estimates. These documents may be used as guidance supporting the implementation of the sustainable finance framework which includes both SFDR and the Taxonomy Regulation. SFDR introduces the key concept of ‘sustainable investment’ while the Taxonomy defines ‘environmentally sustainable’ economic activities. The Taxonomy Regulation interacts with SFDR mainly by necessitating DNSH checks for ‘environmentally sustainable’ economic activities. Despite similarities between these concepts and definitions, there may be differences in interpretation that could create practical challenges for both market participants and regulators in terms of legislative coherence. Read more

European Parliament advances ESG ratings regulation

MEPs have proposed significant changes to the draft ESG ratings regulation. The newly adopted changes would require ESG ratings providers to disclose the weighting of environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) factors in the aggregation of ESG scores. Furthermore, the breakdown of ESG ratings should include information on the extent to which a rating considers alignment with the decarbonization objective outlined in the Paris agreement and compliance with international conventions and standards across the ‘S’ and ‘G’ dimensions. Black box methodologies have been a longstanding issue plaguing the ESG ratings industry and the European Commission’s new rule would dig deeper into ESG scoring by imposing transparency requirements in two ways. First, the MEPs have adopted a ‘double materiality’ approach as best practice for the industry and are imposing a requirement for ratings products to explicitly disclose the selected materiality approach which may consider: i) both material financial risk and the overall impact on society and the environment; ii) only one of these. Second, to prevent providers from obscuring analysis around ratings, they must publicly disclose methodological information, models and key assumptions. Therefore, while there are no prescriptive methodological standards for the industry, the rule puts the onus on providers to create better governance systems to ensure that the methodologies for assessment, underlying data and analysis are sound.  Additionally, to reduce barriers to entry for new players, the rule provides that an entity seeking to obtain more than one ESG rating will have to select at least one provider with a market share below 15%. Read more

EBA finalises template for one-off climate stress test

The EBA has finalised templates and guidance for a one-off Fit-for-55 climate risk scenario analysis, with approximately 110 EU banks set to participate. Commencing on 1st December 2023, and concluding on March 12, 2024, the exercise aims to collect climate data to assess the resilience and preparedness of EU banks in the context of climate change.  The templates cover credit, market, and real estate risks, as well as interest, fees, and commission income. Banks must report aggregated and counterparty level data based on December 2022 balance sheet data. Aggregated data will inform climate-related risks in the financial sector more broadly, whereas the aggregated data will give an idea of ‘concentration risk of large climate exposures’. The EBA will also use aggregated data to study amplification mechanisms and second round effects. Read more

EFRAG and GRI announce joint release of an ‘Interoperability Index’

In a recent board meeting, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) announced the release of a draft ESRS-GRI Interoperability Index. The Index is a mapping tool which will help companies identify the ‘commonalities between ESRS and GRI Standards’ and reduce the corporate reporting burden. The mapping establishes a connection between the paragraph-level ESRS disclosure requirements and their corresponding GRI disclosures and requirements. Based on the mapping, companies that are reporting under ESRS can be considered as reporting “with reference” to GRI standards. Furthermore, if a company reporting under ESRS voluntarily discloses additional GRI requirements not covered under ESRS, it will be “in accordance” with GRI standards. In terms of materiality assessment, the joint initiative has clarified that GRI Disclosures can be reported as entity-specific disclosures in the ESRS report, provided that ESRS does not cover the material impact of the company or to a sufficient level of granularity. The mapping file will be publicly available in Excel format once it is finalised and approved by both GRI and EFRAG. The collaboration is a clear signal that regulators and standard setters alike are working towards a global baseline for sustainability reporting.  Read more

European Council adopts the proposal for centralized sustainability information

On 27th November 2023, the Council adopted the proposal for the regulation establishing the European Single Access Point (ESAP). ESAP will function as a centralized platform for public financial and non-financial information on EU companies and investment products. The platform will give investors access to sustainability data in a free, digital and user-friendly manner. Overall, the regulation aims to empower a broad range of investors with decision-useful information and facilitate the allocation of capital towards sustainable investments. The ESAP platform is expected to launch in summer 2027 and is set to gradually become the one-stop shop for sustainability-related information by collecting data disclosed against key regulations in the EU’s Sustainable Finance Action Plan – SFDR, EU Taxonomy and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Read more

United Kingdom

UK FCA finalises sustainable investment fund labelling regime

On 28^th November, the FCA released its final Policy Statement outlining Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) for investment labels. Based on feedback received from various stakeholders, the regulator has introduced four labels – ‘Sustainable Focus’, ‘Sustainable Improvers’, ‘Sustainable Impact’ and a newly launched ‘Sustainable Mixed Goals’ category. Firms will be able to use sustainability labels starting 31 July 2024 provided they meet the general and label-specific criteria. Each voluntary sustainability level has a distinct objective. These include criteria such as a minimum of 70% of assets aligning with the sustainability objective and general criteria applicable to all labels. The SDR also mandates sustainability disclosures at both product and entity levels, encompassing retail and professional investors. To support the implementation of SDR, specific naming and marketing rules will be established, preventing certain terms from being used in fund names. Lastly, the package of measures introduces an Anti-Greenwashing Rule that will be in force by 31^st May 2024.  Read more

UK Introduces draft Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill

Baroness Young of Hornsey introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill to the House of Lords, aiming to make human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) mandatory in the UK. The bill aligns with global standards, and companies are advised to prepare for potential legal requirements. The bill mandates that commercial organisations prevent human rights and environmental harms in their operations and supply chains, emphasising stakeholder engagement. Annual reporting would be required for companies surpassing a turnover threshold. Non-compliance may result in civil penalties, fines, and exclusion from public contracts. The bill provides guidance on tailoring HREDD to an organisation’s specifics, stressing integration into policies and public reporting. Best practices include establishing board-level processes, monitoring legislation, engaging stakeholders, conducting impact assessments, and reinforcing complaint mechanisms. Read more.

Asia Pacific

Monetary Authority of Singapore launches multi-sector transition taxonomy

With the release of the latest global taxonomy, MAS has integrated the unique feature of ‘starting positions’ and emphasised inclusive economic and social development. The aim of this classification system is to aid financial institutions in identifying green and transition activities. The ‘multi-sector’ taxonomy sets out environmental objectives and activities that are in scope. It also provides metrics and thresholds for the delineated objectives, explaining how an activity can be considered ‘green’ or the levels of alignment needed to be considered ‘transitioning’. Singapore has become a regional leader in sustainable finance, due in part to of MAS’s active participation in local, regional and global taxonomy initiatives, aiming to enhance the coherence of taxonomy frameworks on a broader scale. Read more

Singapore releases voluntary code of conduct for ESG data and ratings providers

Singapore’s MAS has also launched a code of conduct for ESG data and ratings providers in a bid to enhance transparency in the industry, improve comparability and reliability ESG data and scores. This marks a substantial shift in an industry that has experienced rapid growth outside the sphere of regulation. However, the code of conduct will be rolled out on a voluntary basis, incorporating a ‘comply or explain’ approach for providers. This will be accompanied by a checklist for providers to attest to their compliance. Providers are expected to have governance structures, including written policies and procedures for assuring that the methodology and supporting analysis is sound for all data ratings products. Regulators are focused on transparency of ESG ratings methodology and data sources and preventing conflicts of interest.  Read more

Australia’s Treasury announces plans for legislative reform under the new Sustainable Finance Strategy

Australia’s Treasury department has announced the proposal of a Sustainable Finance Strategy, featuring key initiatives such as establishing a framework for sustainability disclosures, creating net-zero transition plans, developing a sustainable finance taxonomy, and introducing a labeling system for sustainable investment products. The government aims to implement mandatory climate-related financial disclosure requirements for companies and financial institutions, starting in 2024 for large businesses and phased in over the next three years for smaller entities. The proposed taxonomy, initially developed by the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI), aims for international alignment. Additionally, the government plans to create a labeling regime for investment products marketed as ‘sustainable,’ focusing on retail investors, with Treasury commencing work on this initiative in 2024. The regime will include requirements for issuers to provide additional information on how sustainability is integrated into the investment process. Read more

Other news & resources

• Bursa Malaysia to launch platform for mandatory ESG reporting. Read more
• The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials has published standards on how its signatory banks should account for financed emissions.
• EFRAG and CDP announce cooperation to drive market uptake of ESRS. Read more
• TCFD has officially disbanded and integrated into ISSB. Read more

*ESG Book manages the world’s largest repository of sustainability reporting provisions with over 2,400 regulations across more than 80 jurisdictions globally. If there is a recent ESG regulatory development we have missed, we would like to hear from you and invite you to contribute below.

Click here to access the ESG Regulatory Provisions Contributor Form

This year, 2023, is considered by many to be the year of generative AI. It is also the year of ground-breaking ESG regulatory announcements impacting corporations, including the launch of the long-awaited global IFRS ISSB standards and the signing of two pioneering California bills, SB-253 and SB-261.

In this blog post, ESG Book and C3 AI provide a roundup of key 2023 ESG regulatory announcements worldwide and examples of AI use cases that corporations can leverage to facilitate compliance and generate new sources of strategic insight, including: 

1. Drafting questionnaire responses and natural language summaries. 

2. Continuous stakeholder materiality analysis to improve stakeholder engagement and support double materiality. 

3. Question and answer in natural language for interrogating and translating legalese and internal policy documents. 

4. Data validation and surfacing alerts on data anomalies and errors to improve audit confidence and disclosure readiness. 

To read the full article, click here.

In October 2023, there was a noticeable uptick in ESG policy developments worldwide. The world’s first green bond standards were issued as a regulation in the European Union. Meanwhile, efforts to dilute the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) were thwarted as the Members of European Parliament maintained that ESRS would be implemented without modifications, but introduced a delayed timeline for the adoption of sector-specific standards. Some questions remain however on proportionality of burden for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and revising the SME thresholds, given the backdrop of high inflation. Among other policy initiatives, the EU has also proposed a regulation that would prohibit goods made with forced labour.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch financial markets regulator has released guidelines to help financial institutions and pension providers accurately represent their products’ sustainability aspects. Shifting the focus to Switzerland, the Swiss Asset Management Association has introduced a voluntary stewardship code to promote stewardship activities and policies for sustainable value generation. Switzerland may also introduce a new sustainable fund labeling regime to prevent greenwashing.

In the United Kingdom, the creation of a Transition Plan Taskforce framework aligns with the IFRS S2 climate resilience reporting requirements while offering a broader spectrum of disclosure options. The UK is also seeking feedback from stakeholders on how to incorporate social factors into the occupational pension schemes industry.

Despite the enduring political debate on the value of ESG in the US, regulators are forging ahead with moderate policy action in this domain. The US Fed and other agencies have jointly finalized principles for climate risk management, while New York State considers mandatory employee data reporting to promote diversity and inclusion. Moving South, we observe Brazil’s pioneering move to adopt the ISSB standards in its regulatory framework. The country has laid out a roadmap to manage adoption and aims to attract local and global investment by enhancing transparency around sustainability matters.

Over to Asia Pacific, the Monetary Authority of Singapore unveiled transition planning guidelines to bolster climate resilience in the region and Australia proposed IFRS-aligned climate reporting standards, aiming to embed the international standards within a localised context. The high volume of policy initiatives is an unlikely ‘coincidence’ this close to COP28. Next month, we will find out what decisions will be taken by the global participants on mobilising climate finance at scale.

Europe

European Council adopts regulation to create an EU Green Bond Standard

 On 24^th October, the European Council took a significant step by adopting a new regulation to establish the EU Green Bond Standards. The regulation sets forth ‘uniform requirements’ for issuers of environmentally sustainable bonds that need to demonstrate funding of legitimate green projects that are aligned with the EU Taxonomy. It also includes rules to regulate external reviewers of European green bonds. EUGB provides a flexibility pocket of 15% for those activities and sectors that are not yet covered by the EU Taxonomy to ensure that this does not halt the initial use and progress of the standards. Overall, the regulation is designed to aid investor identification globally and enhance transparency in the green bond market. The final regulation will enter into force on November 12, 2024.  Read more

EU forges ahead with ESRS implementation despite political backlash

On 18^th October, the European Parliament rejected a motion put forth by MEPs to water down the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The ESRS is a key component of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which mandates around 50,000 companies to disclose their ESG performance. Meanwhile, the Council and Parliament have proposed adjusting size thresholds for companies to alleviate the reporting burden for SMEs.  The decision to postpone the adoption of sector-specific standards by two years, from 2024 to 2026, was also announced as part of the 2024 Commission Work Programme. The delay primarily affects the enforcement of sector-specific disclosures and extends to non-EU entities operating within the EU, with both facing a two-year delay in their respective reporting deadlines. The rationale behind this delay is to allow companies to concentrate on integrating the initial ESRS while giving the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) time to develop comprehensive sector-specific standards.  Read more

EU set to ban products made with forced labour

The European Parliament is currently reviewing a proposed regulation that would ban products in the EU market that are made with forced labour. The regulation would establish a framework for investigating human rights violations across the supply chain. Once it is proven that a company has produced goods made with forced labor, the export and import of those products will be suspended at the EU’s borders and the company will also be forced to withdraw goods that have already entered the EU market. Furthermore, the Internal Market and International Trade committees are proposing that reintroduction of previously banned goods to the market would necessitate corrective actions. MEPs have called for the establishment of a list identifying high-risk regions and sectors, and in such cases the burden to prove compliance with international human rights standards would fall on companies.  Read more

Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) releases guidelines on sustainability claims

The AFM aims to contribute to more transparency regarding sustainability claims, allowing customers of financial institutions and members of pension providers to have a clearer understanding of the sustainability aspects of their products and whether these match their expectations. In the guidelines, AFM highlights that consumers increasingly rely on ‘generic information’ from providers such as marketing information and can therefore find discrepancies between the expectations and real-world choices. By using principles, explanation statements and examples, these guidelines provide insight on how to correctly represent sustainability claims in generic product information. The key principle emphasises maintaining the factual accuracy of sustainability claims. Market participants are also advised to ensure claims about products are substantiated, comprehensible and accessible to readers. Read more

Swiss Asset Management Association voluntary stewardship code for asset managers

In response to international developments and recommendations from the Federal Council, Switzerland is introducing a Stewardship Code directed at asset owners, asset managers, and service providers to encourage the integration of stewardship activities into their business models and investment processes. The Code contains a set of 9 principles for effective stewardship ranging from governance, commitment to active and informed voting, proactive engagement with investee entities, effective management of conflicts of interest as well as stewardship activities that promote sustainable outcomes.  Read more

Swiss Federal Department of Finance announces sustainable fund labeling rules to prevent greenwashing  

The Federal Department of Finance (FDF) announced that it will implement the Federal Council’s position on tackling greenwashing in the financial services sector by proposing a principles-based state regulation. In a position paper issued in December 2022, the Federal Council proposed that financial services providers with products labelled ‘sustainable’, ‘ESG’ or ‘green’ should provide clarity on sustainability objectives to clients and investors to avoid misleading them. Secondly, the Council recommended that providers describe their investment strategies and define KPIs to validate sustainability impact and set measurable targets. The final recommendation called for regularity in reporting sustainability and climate alignment progress and recommended that these reports should be subject to third-party verification. Based on the initial position, the FDF will submit a consultation draft to the Federal Council by the end of August 2024, with the possibility of industry self-regulation being considered as an alternative if it effectively aligns with the Federal Council’s objectives.  Read more

United Kingdom

UK Transition Plan Taskforce publishes sector-neutral Disclosure Framework for transition plan disclosures

The TPT has developed a sector neutral Disclosure Framework for best-practice transition plan disclosures, alongside implementation guidance and sector guidance. The TPT Disclosure Framework is designed to be available for voluntary and mandatory use internationally, purposefully supporting regulatory implementation in a manner consistent with reporting under the ISSB Standards and accommodating a net-zero or other climate ambition. It complements, and builds on, IFRS S2 climate resilience reporting requirements. For entities with a strategy for the management of climate-change related risks and low carbon business models, the TPT Disclosure Framework offers a broader spectrum of disclosure options. Read more

Guidance from the Taskforce on Social Factors considers social dimension in pension scheme investments

The UK Department for Work and Pensions’ Taskforce on Social Factors has initiated a consultation on guidance for incorporating social factors into pension investment decisions, emphasizing the need for trustees to assess both ‘material’ and ‘salient’ social risks and opportunities. With over 30 recommendations, the guidance encourages asset managers to integrate social factors into their stewardship policy and investment strategies. It includes a materiality assessment framework and provides examples of best practice such as a ‘clear voting policy’ and directly engaging with top performing companies across the ‘S’ dimension.  The taskforce hopes to formalise these guidelines by early 2024 for UK pension scheme trustees.  Read more

UK launches consultation on Scope 3 Emissions reporting landscape

The UK government is soliciting input on the costs, benefits, and practical implications of reporting Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, considering whether to incorporate the ISSB standards in the Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SDS) regulation. This call for evidence also covers the existing Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework and its voluntary Scope 3 disclosures, with the Financial Conduct Authority set to consult on rule changes for referring to UK-endorsed standards by early 2024, and the potential introduction of new rules for listed companies for accounting periods starting in 2025. Read more

Green Agreements Guidance provides clarity on sustainability-related business agreements

In response to the growing importance of environmental sustainability, the CMA has taken a significant step by issuing revised guidelines for businesses. These guidelines, which pertain to Chapter I provisions of the Competition Act 1998, shed light on how companies within the same supply chain can collaborate on sustainability initiatives. Following extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, these guidelines provide clarity and practical insights, aiming to encourage responsible competition in the pursuit of environmental goals. Read more

United States

Board of Governors of the Fed finalises principles for climate risk management for financial institutions

The Federal Reserve, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency have issued guidance in the form of “Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions,” aimed at helping these institutions effectively manage financial risks associated with climate change across different areas and risk categories. This guidance outlines key principles related to governance, policies, strategic planning, risk management, data reporting, and scenario analysis, offering a comprehensive framework for addressing climate-related financial risks. Read more

New York State Assembly bill to mandate employee data regarding gender, race, and ethnicity

The bill, if enacted, would require certain companies and corporations in the state of New York to report data regarding the gender, race, and ethnicity of their employees. This data would need to be filed with the Secretary of State and subsequently published on the Secretary of State’s official website, enhancing transparency and accountability in terms of diversity and inclusion in the workforce.  Read more

South America

Brazil announces regulatory framework to adopt ISSB-aligned standards

The Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) introduced Rule No. 193 on October 20, 2023, implementing the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 frameworks for sustainability reporting. This rule mandates publicly traded companies to provide comprehensive information on governance, risk management, strategy, and goals and metrics related to sustainability, with a specific focus on climate-related information. Brazil is the first country to commit to adopting these standards, aligning with international efforts to harmonize sustainability data disclosure. Mandatory adoption begins for fiscal years starting on or after January 1, 2026, while voluntary adoption can commence as early as January 1, 2024.  Read more

Asia Pacific

Monetary Authority of Singapore launches consultation papers on transition planning

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has released a set of Consultation Papers outlining Transition Planning (TP) Guidelines for banks, insurers, and asset managers to enhance climate resilience and facilitate climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, focusing on internal strategic planning, risk management, governance, data, implementation, and disclosure. MAS expects financial institutions to engage and steward customers and investee companies, take a multi-year approach to assess climate-related risks, address environmental risks and provide comprehensive climate-related risk disclosures.

Australia announces proposed IFRS-climate reporting standards

The Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), including draft ASRS 1 and ASRS 2, are developed with the ISSB standards as a foundation. The Australian Accounting Standards Board have used the ISSB’s IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures as a baseline, however, there may be modifications or adaptations to the ISSB standards to meet the specific needs of Australian stakeholders and the legislative and regulatory requirements in Australia. The ASRS aim to provide a framework for sustainability reporting in Australia, with a focus on climate-related financial disclosures, however there is a critical balance to be maintained between ensuring interoperability with ISSB standards while accommodating local considerations and requirements. Read more

Other News & Resources

• EFRAG provides resources for implementation of ESRS including Excel workbook with draft list of datapoints and guidance. Read more
• EFRAG launches ESRS Q&A Platform. Read more
• ICMA launches report on Market integrity and greenwashing risks in sustainable finances. Read more
• Swiss Federal Council launches Climate Scores to assess climate resilience of portfolios based on selected indicators and minimum criteria for transition to net zero. Read more
• Securities and Futures Commission announces support for voluntary code of conduct of ESG ratings and data providers in Hong Kong. Read more
• Finance for Biodiversity Foundation publishes guidelines on unlocking the biodiversity-climate nexus. Read more
• ICMA launches report on Market integrity and greenwashing risks in sustainable finances. Read more

*ESG Book manages the world’s largest repository of sustainability reporting provisions with over 2,400 regulations across more than 80 jurisdictions globally. If there is a recent ESG regulatory development we have missed, we would like to hear from you and invite you to contribute below.

Click here to access the ESG Regulatory Provisions Contributor Form

California is not waiting around for nationwide corporate emissions disclosure rules, having moved ahead to adopt laws requiring companies to disclose climate-related data. Even though this is state legislation, the impact of these new climate disclosure rules goes well beyond California’s borders. As we explain in this new article, we see California’s disclosure rules having ‘long arms’ in three key ways:

1. They set the first U.S. corporate climate disclosure standard for public AND private companies.
2. By requiring Scope 3 emissions disclosure, California’s rules can reach every part of a company’s value chain.
3. Many US companies headquartered outside California can fall under its scope, both U.S. as well as foreign companies.

As ESG Book’s Isabel Verkes explains, these new disclosure rules have far-reaching consequences for transparency on corporate climate-related information. See the article here.

The European Commission initiated two consultations on 14 September 2023 to gather feedback on the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The goal is to assess SFDR’s implementation progress since March 2021 and find ways to enhance its effectiveness against greenwashing. The consultations target general stakeholders and experts in sustainable finance. They focus on improving clarity, usefulness of disclosures, costs, data, and alignment with other EU sustainable finance laws. Below is our summary of the key takeaways, including a useful comparison table between SFDR and other international fund labelling regimes such as the UK SDR, the US SEC and India’s SEBI. 

Download the article here.

In the dynamic landscape of global ESG policies, September 2023 witnessed pivotal developments across continents. In Europe, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive overhaul of SFDR categories, aiming to prevent mislabeling and align practices with the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Concurrently, the EU Parliament pursued stringent regulations to curb greenwashing and enhance consumer protection, pending final approval. Notably, France emerged as a trailblazer by enshrining CSRD into law, meeting stringent reporting deadlines. Shifting focus to the United Kingdom, regulatory bodies unveiled measures fostering diversity and inclusion within the financial sector, emphasizing non-financial misconduct considerations and transparent reporting. In the United States, the SEC adopted a fund labeling rule to deter greenwashing, ensuring transparency for investors navigating sustainable investment options. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific saw the Hong Kong Monetary Authority releasing principles guiding banks toward a net-zero economy, while Indonesia’s consideration of coal for green financing raised environmental concerns. Additionally, global collaborations, such as TNFD’s final recommendations and ISO-UNDP initiatives, underscored the international drive for standardized sustainable finance practices.

Europe

European Commission proposes overhaul of SFDR product categories

In a targeted consultation, the EU Commission has proposed overhauling product categories established under SFDR. The Commission will consider outlining “precise criteria” and formal product categories for Article 8 “light green” and Article 9 “dark green” funds to prevent the mislabeling of funds. This comes after a wave of funds were downgraded from Article 9 to Article 8 status, while Article 6 funds upgraded to Article 8 status. Market participants have expressed concern over the possibility of Article 8 and 9 being scrapped in lieu of a new categorization system. The consultation will also examine the relevance of key concepts embedded within the SFDR framework.  On the positive side, the proposed changes to Article 8 and 9 criteria in SFDR would provide clearer guidelines and align with market practices, thereby reducing mislabeling and encouraging transparent sustainability disclosure. Moreover, the inclusion of Article 6 funds in the disclosure requirements would help investors uncover the least sustainable assets. Under the new SFDR category proposals, the regulation would align with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) by introducing new types of investment categories, including those with quantifiable targets, measurable sustainable solutions and thematic investments. Introducing new categories, on the other hand, may lead to transitional challenges and uncertainties for asset managers and financial institutions. A new system could cause fragmentation, increase compliance costs and potentially stifle innovation due to overcaution. However, it seems the demand for consistent and reliable sustainability data is not going anywhere and will likely increase for those products making sustainability claims. Read more

EU Parliament reaches provisional agreement to ban greenwashing and improve consumer product information

The EU is set to implement rules that will crack down on misleading marketing practices including generic environmental claims without proof of ‘recognised excellent environmental performance’. This will prohibit product communication for goods designed to limit durability, claims based on emissions offsetting and sustainability labels without approved certification schemes. Additionally, the agreement mandates the introduction of a harmonized label to highlight products with extended guarantees. The new rules would aim to protect consumers from deceptive practices, promote product durability, and ensure transparency in advertising. The agreement is pending final approval from both the Parliament and the Council, with a vote expected in November, followed by a 24-month period for member states to implement the new rules. Read more

France to enshrine CSRD into law

France has become the first EU member state to submit a draft of the national law that will impose CSRD reporting. CSRD will supersede the existing Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), with reporting taking place in three phases. In the first reporting phase, large companies with over 500 employees already subject to NFRD must begin reporting in 2025 on their 2024 financial year. All member countries are expected to codify the directive into national law and adopt the necessary regulatory provisions to support cross-border alignment of sustainability reporting rules. Read more

United Kingdom

FCA and PRA introduce diversity and inclusion measures for financial services sector

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have launched consultations in parallel on regulatory measures aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I) within the financial sector. These proposals include integrating non-financial misconduct considerations into staff assessments, introducing reporting requirements for D&I data, mandating D&I strategies, setting diversity targets, and recognizing a lack of D&I as a non-financial risk. Smaller firms with fewer than 251 employees would face reduced regulatory burdens, while the overarching goal of both measures is to foster healthier firm cultures, reduce groupthink, unlock new talent, and better address diverse consumer needs. The framework seeks to establish minimum standards and enhance transparency without imposing sector-wide targets. These regulatory proposals represent a significant step toward addressing diversity and inclusion in the financial sector. By requiring firms to develop and publish D&I strategies and set targets for underrepresented groups, they encourage a more inclusive corporate culture and board governance. The emphasis on individual accountability and monitoring, as well as reporting and disclosure, aims to ensure ongoing progress.  Read more

United States

SEC adopts fund labelling rule to prevent greenwashing

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted amendments to the ‘Names Rule,’ a fund labeling regulation that requires 80% of holdings to be invested in accordance with the fund’s suggested investment focus. Funds that deem themselves ‘ESG,’ ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’ must identify securities included in the 80% basket. The rule will further transparency, enhance data comparability and help investors differentiate between investment strategies. Given the investment industry’s demand for quantitative data, the SEC has also provided a standardized methodology for reporting emissions metrics. With increasing scrutiny of ESG labels, regulators are equipping investors with the tools to better navigate the sustainable investment landscape and avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing. The SEC is no exception, as the latest rule sets a disclosure obligation for funds to substantiate effective ESG strategies. As an alternative to overwrought regulation, this clearly outlines investment conditions for ESG funds and prescribes a strategy-specific approach to disclosures. The regulation will have profound implications for asset managers who are keen to invest in more funds that are environmentally and socially conscious. Read more

US Treasury releases principles for net-zero banking

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has unveiled voluntary Principles for Net-Zero Financing & Investment aiming to guide financial institutions with net-zero commitments. The voluntary Principles are largely informed by private sector financial institutions that are effectively and credibly mobilising capital to mitigate the effects of climate change, support green transition and ultimately deliver net-zero commitments. The Treasury has compiled best practices and initiated engagement with stakeholders to develop consistent practices in net-zero financing and investment while addressing climate change’s impacts. Additionally, GFANZ has announced that over 50 US financial institutions will publish net-zero transition plans using common frameworks. The voluntary principles emphasize the importance of clear transition plans aligned with limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degree Celsius, along with support for clients and portfolio companies in achieving net-zero commitments.  Read more

California emissions disclosure bill set to become law

California’s Climate Corporate Accountability Act (CA SB 253) has been approved by the California State Assembly and State Senate and is set to become law once it is approved by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill would require large US-based organizations operating in California, generating over $1 billion in annual revenue (an estimated 5,400 companies) to disclose their GHG emissions, including Scope 3 emissions, in accordance with the GHG Protocol. Tech giants including Apple and Google voiced their support for the bill as a key measure to “encourage others to speed up their efforts towards carbon neutrality”. CA SB3 is part of the Climate Accountability Package introduced by California lawmakers in January 2023. The package also includes a bill (CA SB 261), which would require corporations with over $500 million in annual revenue doing business in California to submit annual climate-related financial risk reports (TCFD disclosures) by 2026. Meanwhile, climate policy action at the federal level remains static at best as federal agencies face pushback from stakeholders on both sides of the political aisle. Read more

Asia Pacific

HKMA releases principles to help banks plan for net-zero transition

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued high-level principles for transitioning to a net-zero economy to assist banks in maintaining financial stability. In 2022, HKMA introduced a two-year plan to integrate climate risk into its banking supervision, including reviewing the “greenness” assessment framework. International organizations and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) have also focused on transition planning. The principles include setting clear objectives and targets aligned with net-zero goals, establishing a robust governance framework, devising appropriate initiatives, engaging with clients, performing reviews and updates, and maintaining transparency. These principles may evolve based on international developments, and HKMA will continue to engage with the industry and conduct a survey on transition planning practices in 2023. Read more

Indonesia considers coal for green taxonomy

Indonesia’s financial regulator is considering labeling coal-fired power plants that supply electricity to electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers as eligible for green financing, eliciting criticism from environmentalists. The country’s “green taxonomy” is being revised to align with ASEAN Taxonomy, which includes funding for retiring coal power plants and potentially extending green financing to power plants used by industries that make sustainable end-products such as electric batteries. Analysts at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) argue that this move contradicts scientific evidence and may place Indonesia at odds with global green finance standards, despite its pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2060.  Read more

Other News & Resources

• TNFD releases final recommendations. Read more
• ISO and UNDP to develop global standards for SDG reporting. Read more
• GFANZ launches consultation on transition finance. Read more
• NGFS publishes guidance following an increase in climate litigation. Read more

*ESG Book manages the world’s largest repository of sustainability reporting provisions with over 2,400 regulations across more than 80 jurisdictions globally. If there is a recent ESG regulatory development we have missed, we would like to hear from you and invite you to contribute below.
Click here to access the ESG Regulatory Provisions Contributor Form