Sen. Cruz Seeks to Block ESG, DEI Voting in $1 Trillion Federal Retirement Plan
• The bill would bar BlackRock and State Street from casting any shareholder votes tied to the $1 trillion Thrift Savings Plan, the retirement system for U.S. federal employees.• The legislation expands ongoing Republican efforts to curb asset-manager participation in ESG and climate coalitions, amid lawsuits alleging antitrust violations tied to sustainability initiatives.• The proposal […]
EU Watchdog Criticizes Commission for Fast Tracking Cuts to Sustainability Rules Without Transparency
• The EU Ombudsman found the Commission committed “maladministration” by rushing its Omnibus sustainability reforms without following its own Better Regulation rules.• The inquiry revealed a sub-24-hour internal consultation, unclear climate-consistency checks, and no public consultation prior to proposing regulatory cuts.• The investigation comes as Parliament and Council negotiate sweeping reductions to CSRD and CSDDD […]
Lloyds Invests $148 Million to Modernize and Decarbonize Halifax Headquarters
• Lloyds Banking Group has invested £116 million ($148 million) to modernize and decarbonize its 317,000-sq-ft Halifax headquarters, one of Yorkshire’s most recognizable commercial buildings.• The site now runs on zero-carbon heating through deep-bore geothermal heat pumps expected to cut more than 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and achieve an EPC A rating.• The refurbished […]
UK Opens Green Financing Framework to Nuclear Power as Global Support Quietly Builds
• The UK has added nuclear energy to its green financing framework, allowing green gilt proceeds to fund nuclear projects from November 27.• The shift comes amid diverging views from financial institutions, with major banks backing nuclear expansion while others warn high costs may curb long-term appetite.• The move follows a broader global trend: the […]
FCA Moves to Tighten Regulation of ESG Ratings in Bid to Strengthen Market Trust
• UK proposes a regulated regime for ESG ratings, with an estimated £500 million in net economic benefits over the next decade.• Rules focus on transparency, governance and conflict-management amid rising concerns from investors about opaque methodologies.• The regime positions the UK to compete in a fast-growing global ESG data market projected to reach $2.2 […]
