Ecuador Secures $1.5 Billion Debt Swap to Fund Amazon Conservation
$460M for conservation: Ecuador unlocks $460 million to protect 6.4M hectares of Amazonian forests, wetlands, and 18,000 km of rivers. Debt reduction: The deal reduces Ecuador’s debt stock by $527M and generates $800M in fiscal savings by 2035. Innovative financing: Supported by TNC, DFC, IDB, and Bank of America, the swap leverages political risk insurance […]
Google, H&M, Stripe and other Members of the Climate-Focused Frontier Coalition to buy $80M of Carbon Credits
$80 million investment: Google, Stripe, and others purchase carbon credits to support emerging carbon capture technologies. Innovative solutions: CO280 uses oil industry tech at paper mills, while CREW deploys limestone-based capture at sewage plants. Scaling goals: Deals aim to reduce carbon removal costs to $100 per ton and deliver scalable, affordable solutions. The News: Google, […]
EU Confirms Final Approval to One-Year Delay of Deforestation Law Compliance
Extended timeline: Large companies must comply with the EU deforestation regulation by December 2025; small and micro businesses have until June 2026. Scope of regulation: Companies must prove their products—like soy, beef, palm oil, and coffee—are not linked to deforestation. Implementation tools: The European Commission will deliver risk classification tools and systems to assist businesses […]
Japan Targets 40-50% Renewable Energy by 2040
Renewable growth: Japan aims for renewables to supply 40-50% of its electricity mix by 2040, doubling the 2023 share. Nuclear revival: Nuclear power will account for 20% of the mix, supported by next-generation reactors. Energy security: Long-term LNG contracts will hedge against supply disruptions during the energy transition. The News: Japan has unveiled a draft […]
ESMA Issues Q&A on ESG Fund Names and Green Bonds
Green Bonds: European Green Bonds are exempt from company exclusion rules; other green bonds require activity-based assessments. Sustainable Investments: Funds must allocate at least 50% to sustainable investments to claim “meaningful” ESG alignment. Controversial Weapons: Exclusions align with SFDR’s adverse impact indicator 14 for consistency. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a […]
