Aswathi Pacha

BNP Paribas Asset Management reports that ESG clients increasingly investing in money market funds because they are attracted to the stable returns offered by cash-like instruments.

Sundaram Alternates Assets (SAA), the private equity division of the Sundaram Finance Group, said that it aims to secure approximately $135 million (₹1,000 crore) from international investors. The funds will be allocated to support green real estate projects across India.

In collaboration with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Nandina REM has introduced an innovation in aviation circularity by reclaiming high-quality carbon fibre materials from end-of-life aircraft. 

Los Angeles-based Avnos announced the closure of a $36 million Series A funding round for carbon dioxide removal with its innovative Hybrid Direct Air Capture technology. The capital will fuel Avnos’ expansion efforts across North America and Europe and establish a cutting-edge research and development facility near New York City. 

SOHAR Port and Freezone announced the signing of a land lease agreement with Starsun Sohar (FZC) to establish a recycling plant dedicated to the sustainable management of lead-acid batteries.

Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority announced that flights departing from Singapore will be mandated to utilize sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) starting in 2026, with a target of a 1% uplift in 2026 and potential plans to increase it to 3%-5% by 2 030. 

EY Canada announced that it has collaborated with Microsoft Azure and launched an EY Climate Stress Testing and Scenario Analysis solution to assist Canada’s financial sector in managing the impacts of climate change. 

Asian asset owners increasingly prioritise environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in their investment strategies, noted a recent survey conducted by Asianinvestor.

The Indian government has issued scheme guidelines to support pilot projects utilizing green hydrogen as fuel in the transport sectors. The Ministry of New & […]

The World Bank has allocated nearly $300 million to the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) to boost distributed renewable energy and clean cooking projects.

ALTÉRRA, a new $30B catalytic climate investment fund launched at COP28, aims to become the "fund of choice" for the climate transition, HE Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, COP28 Director-General and ALTÉRRA CEO said at the World Governments Summit.

Aircastle Limited announced that it has invested in the United Airlines Ventures’ Sustainable Flight Fund. 

It is important for political parties to adopt long-term thinking and stable policies to finance the transition to a net-zero economy, said Angus Whiteley, CEO of Stafford Capital Partners, to Funds Europe.

Stora Enso announced that it has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on a framework to verify net positive impact on biodiversity. The framework, employing science, technology, and data, will focus on developing a framework to measure and disclose net positive biodiversity impact. The complete framework is expected to be launched during autumn 2025.

Verde AgriTech Ltd has partnered with WayCarbon to boost the development and monetization of its carbon removal project.

It is important for India to continue investing in the upstream sector to bolster oil and gas production, Mannish Mahesshwari, CEO of Invenire Energy, told S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Barclays has released a revised Climate Change Statement as part of its ongoing climate strategy. It also introduced a Transition Finance Framework to help meet the $ 1 trillion Sustainable and Transition Finance target by 2030. The framework aims to facilitate the necessary transition finance to decarbonize high-emitting sectors.

A new report by Climate Analytics has pointed out an investment totaling $8 trillion in new renewables and $4 trillion in grid and storage infrastructure is needed to achieve the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as agreed upon at COP28. 

A recent report by Information Services Group (ISG) has predicted a significant expansion in US enterprise investments in sustainability and other Environmental, Social, and Governance […]

CEOs are ready to make expenditures that address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues even if doing so reduces short-term profitability, according to the PwC’s […]

Mainland China’s major stock markets, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE), and Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE), have released their guidelines for listed […]

The US Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced a $100 million investment to help develop a commercially viable carbon dioxide removal industry in the United States. 

Clean energy investment in many emerging and developing economies (EMDE) remains low due to reduced capital flows to clean energy projects, notes a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). These investments are in technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, low-emissions power and fuels, electrification of mobility and heat, grids and storage. 

His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Gareth Bayley and Deputy Chairman of The New Urban Communities Authority Eng. Amin Ghoneim signed a […]

An in-depth analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation has found that Woodside Energy Group, Australia’s largest oil and gas producer, does not have a robust net-zero commitment and is not on track to do its part to reduce emissions.

About 65% of India’s energy requirements will come from non-fossil sources by 2030, said India’s Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy. The number currently stands at 44%.

JSW Group has signed an agreement with the Odisha government to set up electric vehicle (EV) facilities in the state, with an investment of ₹40,000 crore.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) announced that its financing program for electric cars, ‘VOLT’, has witnessed excellent customer demand. Over 2% of total car financing is allocated to green vehicles, aligning to advance sustainability and support UAE’s net-zero economy goals.

The Indian Biogas Association has proposed an investment of ₹30,000 crore for procuring machinery and equipment needed to supply biomass to compressed biogas plants. This will help ensure a reduction of 12 MMTA of LNG import.

The year 2023 was “the worst calendar year on record” for US sustainable funds, according to a new report by Morningstar. Investors pulled $5 billion […]

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have agreed to postpone sustainability reporting requirements for specific sectors and third-country companies by two years. The agreement postpones the adoption of new standards to June 30, 2026.

Air Liquide and Dow renewed their industrial gas supply agreement in Stade, one of Germany’s largest chemical production sites. 

US Forged Rings Inc. (USFR) announced a $700M investment in the US offshore wind industry. It will be used to construct a state-of-the-art tower fabrication facility and a steel forging plant. These two facilities will service the growing domestic offshore wind market with goals of deploying 30 GW by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. 

Blended finance, a combination of private and public capital, can offer a viable pathway to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy in developing countries, notes a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and auctusESG. It emphasizes that blended finance can play a significant role in bridging the gap between commercial imperatives and environmental objectives.

With the global energy sector moving towards net zero emissions by 2050, biofuels and other renewable, clean energy sources have taken center stage. Now, researchers from the University of California, Riverside, have discovered a new method to make the most of wood and plant materials, turning them into sustainable liquid fuels and other products.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has revealed its Environmental Plan 2025 (April 2024 to March 2026), which aims to address environmental challenges while fostering sustainable practices.

Emirates NBD (banking group in the MENAT region) has partnered with Sidara (specialist architecture, engineering, and consulting brands collaborative) to arrange a $50 million Sustainability Linked Loan. 

2024 will be a year of challenges and opportunities for the carbon offset market, notes the BloombergNEF’s (BNEF’s) Long-Term Carbon Offsets Outlook 2024 report.

The global energy demand will rise between now and 2045 by 23% and require about $14 trillion in investments over the next 20 years to meet global energy demands, OPEC’s Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais said. Speaking at the India Energy Week in Goa, he added that the oil demand will also continue to rise. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating the second edition of India Energy Week 2024 in Goa on February 6, said India offers opportunities for $67 billion investment as the country moves from 6% to 15% of natural gas share in the energy mix.

Schroders Greencoat has announced the launch of Schroders Greencoat Global Renewables+ Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF), the UK’s first LTAF exclusively dedicated to renewable energy and energy transition infrastructure.

Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., announced on February 6 that it had secured $160 million in project financing for its Bayou Galion Solar project. The 127 MWdc project in Morehouse Parish in Northeast Louisiana is expected to be operational by fall 2024.

During India Energy Week 2024 (February 6-9 in Goa), ONGC signed a cooperation agreement with TotalEnergies for methane emissions detection and measurement campaigns. TotalEnergies’ AUSEA […]

A new report from NatWest and S&P Global indicates that 75% of UK renters anticipating higher rental costs want landlords to enhance property sustainability. Natwest’s Greener Homes Attitudes tracker collects homebuyers’ preferences on environmental features and energy-saving enhancements.

On February 5, the Global Environment Facility allocated $916 million for international action on biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control and to advance five integrated programs designed to tackle complex challenges in their entirety.

A recent analysis titled “The hidden cost of delaying climate action for West Coast insurance markets” has highlighted potential billion-dollar losses for insurance companies if they continue investing in activities that fuel climate change. The findings were part of the first-ever "stress test" of insurance company investments.  

A recent survey conducted by Market Forces has shed light on a significant disconnect between institutional investors’ awareness of climate risks and their investment strategies. The research comprised an online survey of 150 institutional investors from over 100 US, UK, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and Belgium companies.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research have developed a method to make green steel out of waste produced during aluminum manufacturing. The […]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised ₹12.5 billion (about $150 million) from the green bond issue to date. ADB’s bond will support projects in […]

Energy company Gasum announced its decision to invest in a new biogas plant in Borlänge, Sweden. The project has been granted a subsidy of 15 million euros from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s Klimatklivet investment program. The construction is expected to commence in the spring of 2024. 

The Government of India has released “Scheme guidelines for implementation of pilot projects for use of Green Hydrogen in the shipping sector.” The guidelines were issued by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This mission was launched last year with an outlay of over $264 million (₹19,744 crores) up to Financial Year 2029-30.

Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) has more than doubled its sustainable financing, OCBC head of global commercial banking Linus Goh said during a media briefing.

A new report titled “Sustainable Signals,” published by Morgan Stanley, has highlighted a surge in global individual investor interest in sustainable investing. 

The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach a substantial value of $18.1 billion by 2033, according to a report from Market.US.

To meet carbon emission reduction targets, Asia requires at least $1.1 trillion annually for climate-related initiatives, noted a new report published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, existing investments fall short by $800 billion. 

Recognizing the importance of sustainable financing and transparent reporting, ARMSWISSBANK has officially joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). The bank said that it will be dedicated to fostering environmentally conscious investments. 

The methane hydrate extraction market is projected to reach 66,901.8 thousand cubic meters by 2025, notes a study by Allied Market Research. 

A report published by Allied Market Research has noted that the global power plant boiler market valued at $19.0 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $31.1 billion by 2031. 

Tata Steel has revealed its plan to transition from traditional blast furnaces to environmentally friendly steel production methods. Tata Steel aims to reverse over a decade of losses by transitioning to green steel production, aligning with global sustainability goals.

A comprehensive study prepared by Oak Ridge National Laboratory has unveiled the transformative potential of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) across the United States. 

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and ACWA Power inked an agreement to establish a joint "Clean Energy and Water Desalination Technologies Development Center."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced last week that Barclays is barred from underwriting Texas’s municipal bonds due to its failure to respond to requests for information on its net zero carbon emissions commitments. The decision came after Barclays declined to respond to inquiries on its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies.

A recent study by WTW revealed a significant rise in adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics within executive incentive plans across Asia Pacific (APAC) markets. They noted that energy and real estate companies saw the highest increase in the use of ESG measures.

In a move towards environmental responsibility, HSBC, one of the world’s largest international banks, has unveiled its Net Zero Transition Plan. 

Grow Indigo (regenerative agriculture startup) announced that it has raised over $8 million in the recent funding round. With this, the cumulative capital raised so far is over $23 million. 

The World Bank has approved a $300 million Resilient Recovery Development Policy Financing for Ghana. The contribution by the International Development Association (IDA) will help Ghana’s economic recovery and also support its resilient and inclusive growth.

SIX (global financial information provider) announced the launch of a new climate data offering to support the reporting, monitoring, and decision-making of climate factors, climate-related […]

ESG1 (sustainability division of oil & gas blockchain company GuildOne) and Rain Cage Carbon (company dedicated to decarbonizing industries) announced a new partnership to create an automated digital bridge between emissions removals and international carbon markets.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on January 24 launched the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) to support the country’s shift to a low-carbon economy. The SSFA’s first-year work plan focuses on carbon markets, transition finance, blended finance, natural capital and biodiversity, and taxonomy. 

A new report titled "Sustainable aviation fuel is the way forward for aviation industry," published by Research And Markets, provides an overview of the decarbonization challenges in the global commercial aviation sector. The report details the potential role of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in reducing emissions. 

Sparkion (AI-driven energy management company) announced a partnership with Voltus, Inc. (distributed energy resource platform) to support grid reliability in the US and enhance energy management for electric vehicles.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and British International Investment (BII) announced the launching of a new trade finance partnership to promote green trade in Asia and the Pacific. 

Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., announced that it has secured a $500 million preferred equity investment commitment from BlackRock, convertible into common equity.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) announced that through its Green Recovery Nigeria Program, it will aim to reforest about 25% of Nigeria’s total landmass. 

A survey of UK pension funds and insurers, who manage £359.82 billion in assets, found that 72% identified measurable targets and benefits, such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as the top ESG drivers for investing in renewable energy.

H2 Green Steel announced that it has secured €4.2 billion in project financing, adding to the previously announced €300 million in equity. 

Suzano (Brazilian paper and pulp-producing company) marked its 100th year on January 23 by announcing an investment of $100 million to advance initiatives to protect and restore nature. 

Over half of the global business leaders plan to increase investments in sustainability this year, notes a report from Capgemini (French multinational IT services and consulting company). Sustainability investments are expected to rise at 52% of organizations in 2024. Last year, the number was at 33%. 

According to a new report published by Research and Markets, the global carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market experienced significant growth from 2022 to 2023. 

Mashreq (financial institution in the Middle East and North Africa region) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Fils (UAE-based fintech firm) to create a corporate carbon footprint mitigation service. This will allow businesses to integrate carbon offsetting from their Mashreq corporate accounts seamlessly.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has set aside $104 million in funds for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 Federal facilities. The 31 projects aim to double the new carbon-free electricity capacity at the facilities, adding 27 megawatts of clean energy. DOE hopes these initiatives will also attract over $361 million in private investment.

Carbonaires (London-based carbon asset management company) has announced it has received an investment from KTM Chemicals S.A. (KTM) (distributor and trader of plastics and chemical raw materials). 

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has invested around $58.4 million (₹4.86 billion) in India’s Infrastructure Investment Trust, Sustainable Energy Infra Trust (SEIT). AIIB plans to aid the development of InvITs as a key infrastructure asset class in India. 

Inherit Carbon Solutions (Norwegian Carbon Capture and Storage company) announced an oversubscribed investment round with Sumitomo Corporation. The collaboration will help Inherit advance its goal of creating a net-negative world. 

Allied Climate Partners (philanthropic investment organization) announced the first close of Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund II (SEACEF II), managed by Clime Capital. 

Plenitude has joined hands with BlueFloat Energy and Sener Renewable Investments to develop offshore wind projects in Spain. They plan to establish a portfolio of […]

The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD), UNDP Kuwait, and Warba Bank announced the launch of a new online course titled “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Standards and Practices for Islamic Financial Institutions”. The free online course is set to start in the last quarter of 2024.

Friends of the Earth Netherlands (climate organization) announced that it is starting a climate lawsuit that will hold ING (Dutch multinational banking and financial services corporation) legally liable for contributing to climate change. 

TexPlast, an Estonian recycling startup, has announced its collaboration with FasterCapital to expand its efforts in converting waste plastic into premium polymer composite materials. While addressing waste management, TexPlast also fosters a circular economy and reduces reliance on virgin raw materials.

Derwent Investments (Singapore-based wealth management company) announced that it has strengthened its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) goals.

Mindspace Business Parks REIT has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for a research project on climate risk assessment. The pilot project currently involves setting up weather stations at Mindspace Airoli West. 

According to a new paper published by Cornwall Insight, Germany is unlikely to achieve its  committed to phasing out electricity generation from both nuclear and coal by 2030. The paper titled “Is Germany going green? Charting Germany’s energy transition” notes that the country needs to make comprehensive changes across the energy sector to achieve its energy transition goals on time. 

Tees Valley has secured £7 million in government funding for hydrogen projects to decarbonize deliveries and construct a new hydrogen refueling station for heavy goods vehicles.

Jupiter Exchange (financial services and technology company) has launched a new business segment dubbed Jupiter Environmental Commodities. Jupiter plans to expand its industry partnerships globally and drive the investment community towards global net-zero objectives.

Manulife Investment Management has published its inaugural timberland and agriculture nature disclosure, aligned with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). 

Two hydrogen hubs in Australia have secured a total of $147 million in funding. The Government signed an agreement to invest $70 million to develop the Bell Bay hydrogen hub in Northern Tasmania, and the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub in Western Australia received a $77 million grant.

Nestlé Vietnam announced an additional investment of $100 million to increase the sustainable coffee production capacity of the Nestlé Tri An factory. This brings the total investment capital at this factory to more than $500 million. Nestlé has invested about $830 million through Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd’s four factories and two distribution centers. 

PointFive (carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) company) and Trafigura (commodity trading company) announced that Trafigura will purchase carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits produced from […]

DefiQuant announced the introduction of a new initiative to integrate a sustainable approach to cloud mining. This initiative will align with environmental goals and also […]

MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals announced the development of a 588 MW solar portfolio in Chile, which is expected to produce approximately 1.6 TWh of green electricity annually.

Green Star Royalties Ltd. has partnered with Locus Agricultural Solutions LLC to enhance the operations and investment in Locus AG's regenerative agriculture carbon farming program, CarbonNOW. Green Star will partner with Locus AG for a 30% gross revenue royalty on CarbonNOW, maintaining its initial $20.6 million funding commitment. 

The World Economic Forum launched a new alliance at WEF 2024 providing a platform for developing economies to highlight their clean energy needs, exchange best practices, and also promote their energy transitions. 

Terra Natural Capital (“Terra” or the “Company”) announced its launch as a dedicated environmental commodities investment company. 

General Atlantic (a global growth equity investor) and Actis (a global investor in sustainable infrastructure) announce that the firms have entered into an agreement under which General Atlantic will acquire Actis, forming a diversified global investment platform with approximately $96 billion in combined assets under management (AUM).

A study on Japan's forests has predicted that afforestation and proper forest management can increase CO2 removal and contribute to the national and regional natural capital. The findings suggest that annual CO2 removal by forests could offset 15.3% of emissions and boost natural capital by 6.8% in Japan.

Mahindra Group (farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology, and financial services businesses in India), and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (a global institutional investor), have co-sponsored an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) in the renewable energy space. 

Extinction Rebellion (an international movement persuading governments to act on the climate emergency) will continue its campaign against Barclays’ fossil fuel investments. 

The International Energy Agency released a new report titled “Renewables 2023”, a primary analysis of the renewable sector based on policy trends and current developments in the market. IEA forecasts that by 2028, renewable energy technologies will be deployed in the electricity, transport, and heat sectors.

The year 2024 has seen decarbonization as a prevailing buzzword, reflecting the emphasis by counties and industries on reducing carbon emissions and switching to sustainable practices to address the challenges of climate change.

Twenty-seven major investors, who own around 5% of Shell’s stock have escalated pressure on Shell to take climate action. The shareholder resolution requests Shell to align its medium-term emissions reduction targets with the Paris Climate Agreement. 

The global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market size will see a compound annual growth rate of over ~42% from 2023 to 2035, according to a new report by Research Nester. 

Greenpeace USA has raised concern about the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approval of Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETF) from BlackRock and Fidelity.

An investment totaling approximately $223.05 million (₹17.05 lakh crore) is currently in the pipeline for the power and renewable energy sector, said R. K. Singh, India's Minister of New and Renewable Energy.

Rand Merchant Bank (an investment banking business) announced last week a strategic partnership with KOKO (a company that operates within the energy, climate, media, and retail sectors). RMB acted as the lead mandated arranger and financier for a new carbon financing solution, that will help further widen KOKO’s climate objectives.

The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum commenced on 15 January in Davos, Switzerland. The theme for this year 2024 is “Rebuilding Trust”, with over 200 sessions that will be live-streamed for access to the wider public. 

The Green Finance Institute (GFI) on January 11 has launched a new digital platform to help farmers understand and be a part of the fast-growing nature markets. The guide will also help them decode the carbon and/or biodiversity credits system.

BNP Paribas Asset Management released the new version of its Global Sustainability Strategy (GSS) updating the strategic approaches of the organization. The report lays out the progress made since 2019 and the plans for the next two years.