The coal industry is likely to never recover from the heavy blow caused by COVID19, experts said. The modern society’s dependence on coal has been cut loose due to the slash in costs of its greener alternatives and heightened climate activism. Pandemic has accelerated the shift...
Biodiversity depletion is an environmental disaster deteriorating faster than climate change. Environmental risks will adversely affect the macroeconomic performance of various sectors and financial markets. Moving sustainable finance into mainstream practices is key. Evidence shows that nature-based solutions can be readily turned into cash flows and in the...
The issuance of social bonds has outpaced that of green bonds this year, reflecting a diversification in sustainability investments and increasing attention by investors on social matters and social risks in light of the challenges brought by COVID19. Covid-19 has brought investors increasing attention on social matters...
The US Department of Labor has issued a new rule proposal that requires pension funds fiduciaries to prove that by implementing ESG-oriented investments they are not sacrificing financial returns to social good, regardless of investors' preferences. The PRI, Morningstar and Nuveen have already expressed their opposition to...
Consumption of plastic destinated for single-use items, especially personal protective equipment, has grown dramatically in the last months due to COVID19. This phenomenon has been worsened by lockdown-driven behaviors and the oil price crash which has made recycled plastic more expensive. While overall plastic demand is expected to...
Since he became president, Trump has dismantled 100 environmental rules. A drastic accelerator to this law reformation has been put in place during the COVID19 pandemic [caption id="attachment_2625" align="aligncenter" width="892"] Credits: AP Photo/Evan Vucci[/caption] Since the beginning of his mandate as president of the United States, Trump has...
The COVID19 pandemic had a huge impact across the whole energy sector, particularly in terms of demand and supply. Read more on how this time the pandemic’s impact on the oil and gas industry is expected to endure. The COVID-19 pandemic had, and it is still having, a huge impact across...
Policymakers and experts share their thoughts on the post Covid-19 future The age-old adage that prevention is better than cure is completely at odds with the issues we will face tomorrow. In fact, the adage leaves room for a deadlock which we can no longer afford,...
The condition of civilized man in one of scarcity. It was 1798 when a young British economist published An Essay on the Principle of Population as it Affects the Future Improvement of Society, a text which criticized Utopians of his time who portrayed idyllic conditions...
What are the implications of climate change mitigation on the market value of coal, oil and gas companies? To assess how much market value these companies might lose as governments are increasingly eager to impose stricter measures on the hydrocarbon industry, analysts must consider the reserves...
The universe of investment is changing. Millennials are twice as likely to invest in sustainable investment products as the rest of the investors. If responsible investments are considered a niche choice for the majority of the investors, they have become the norm for women and...
The 2020 Global Forest Resources Assessment informs us about a consistently declining rate of deforestation, to be explained by diminishing deforestation coupled with natural forests expansion and afforestation. The African continent is however emerging as a key hotspot, and important ecosystems, such as the Congo Basin, are...
As of April 21, 2020, Morningstar, leading provider of independent investment research with headquarters in Chicago, announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Sustainalytics, ESG Ratings provider with headquarters in Amsterdam. Morningstar currently owns an approximate 40% ownership stake in Sustainalytics, first acquired in...
The COVID19 pandemic is having a huge impact across the whole energy sector, particularly in terms of demand and supply. After healing from coronavirus, the world might face an energy crisis. When the world heals from the coronavirus it may face an energy crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a...