About: sustainable finance
Sustainable finance: ‘Germany needs to show leadership’
The EU economic recovery plan presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 27 May will also be based on the so-called taxonomy which gives priority to sectors in the field of low-carbon transition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU reaches milestone by agreeing on green criteria for finance
MEPs and the Finnish presidency of the EU Council agreed Thursday (5 December) on a taxonomy to determine what economic activities can be considered ‘green’, paving the way for billions of euros to be channelled into investments to fight climate change.
Paris, Berlin divided over nuclear’s recognition as green energy
Disagreement on the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU’s upcoming green finance taxonomy has revived long-standing divisions between France and Germany over the energy transition. EURACTIV France reports.
Banks taking only ‘superficial’ climate action, study reveals
Despite an explosion in green finance, banks have made only superficial changes to their lending practices, with fossil fuel funding going virtually unabated over the past years, according to a new report by Boston Common Asset Management released today (11 November).
Gas industry storms into EU green finance taxonomy debate
Industry executives argue fossil gas should be considered green when it displaces coal in power generation, sparking fresh controversy around an upcoming EU sustainable finance taxonomy aimed at rewarding investments in clean technologies.
Council maintains nuclear as eligible for ‘green’ finance
EU ministers have decided not to exclude nuclear projects from a sustainable finance classification scheme, despite opposition from Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and the European Parliament.
Sustainable financing may have its limits
With an increasing number of investors being concerned about climate risks, they have started to push for sustainable business practices. Although they are showing more interest in protecting the environment, critics warn that such a "greening" of capitalism will not be enough. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Lagarde pledges to continue with Draghi’s loose monetary stance
Christine Lagarde promised on Wednesday (4 September) to respond with “agility” to the looming financial and economic turbulences once she becomes the president of the European Central Bank in November, while confirming that the current loose monetary stance will continue for a “long period of time.”
London’s bankers – pioneers of green finance?
Last week, the UK became the first major industrialised country to pass a law to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050. Now London is publishing a strategy for redirecting global financial investments into climate-friendly projects. The idea of bankers investing in the environment should sound less paradoxical in the future. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU expert group drives sustainable finance’s mainstreaming two steps ahead
European sustainable finance got an additional boost on Tuesday (18 June), following the release of three reports by the Technical Expert Group on sustainable finance (TEG) focusing on taxonomy, green bonds standards and climate benchmarks.
Europe wants to replenish UN Green Climate Fund
European member states want to commit to increasing international climate financing to a new level. They want to replenish the UN's Green Climate Fund, according to a draft of a European Council statement, which is to be adopted at the EU summit next week. EURACTIV Germany was able to see the declaration in advance.
French insurance companies to divest from German top utility RWE
Following the move by major European insurers Allianz, AXA, Generali and SCOR, the two French insurance companies Macif and AG2R La Mondiale will no longer invest in companies planning new coal-fired power plants. Germany’s top utility RWE is among the companies most affected by the new decision.
Goodbye Juncker plan, hello InvestEU, Europe’s new investment fund
The European Commission put forward a proposal on Wednesday (6 June) to bring all of the EU's existing investment instruments under the banner of a new fund called "InvestEU" which will formally succeed the Juncker Plan.
EU tables ground-breaking ‘low-carbon benchmark’ for green finance
The European Commission presented on Thursday (24 May) a set of proposals aimed at boosting private investment in low-carbon technologies like renewable energies while increasing transparency in sustainable finance to avoid green-washing.
MEPs ask to check financial sector’s investments against climate goals
EU legislators have proposed extending the European Supervisory Authorities’ (ESAs) powers to include checking the financial institutions’ investment portfolio alignment with the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Over 100 corporate giants align with UN climate goals
L'Oreal and Electrolux today (17 April) joined the likes of McDonald’s and Sony in aligning their emission goals with the 2°C target of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In Brussels, Michael Bloomberg praises EU drive for green finance
Capital markets are “one of the most powerful tools in the fight against climate change” which is often “overlooked”, said billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, praising Europe’s pioneering green finance action plan presented earlier this month.
Europe takes first step toward clarifying booming ‘green’ finance
The European Commission unveiled on Thursday (8 March) its highly expected action plan on sustainable finance, aiming to clarify what can be labelled as "green" investment and potentially lowering capital requirements on asset holders.
Commission to introduce rules to clarify ‘green’ investment in May
Following the action plan on sustainable finance to be published early next month, the European Commission will present legislation in May to define what represents 'green' investment, EURACTIV has learned.
Expert group recommends setting up European standards for ‘green bonds’
An EU sustainability taxonomy, a definition of priority investment areas, the clarification of investor duties and development of “official” European sustainability standards for green bonds are some of the recommendations experts made to the European Commission on Wednesday (31 January).
EU finance advisors back ‘less risky’ energy efficiency loans
A high level group of financial experts has advised European regulators to encourage more favourable treatment for energy saving loans and mortgages, in a move that could unlock billions in lending for green building renovation programmes across Europe.
Economy, finance take centre stage in Commission’s final legislative push
Initiatives to strengthen the financial markets and deepen the economic and monetary union will play a major role in the European Commission’s work programme for 2018, the final one before the legislative machine slows down in the run-up to European elections in 2019.