Global Rising litigation, tighter regulation pose risks for PFAS producers and users ESG Measures Many PFA producers face significant costs associated with rising litigations and remediation projects and tighter regulation. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used across industry that can have long-lasting negative impacts on human health and the environment. [...]
Renewed EU Sustainable Finance Strategy: building on progress, supporting the transition and setting global ambition By Rahul Ghosh, Jimmy Greer MOODY'S ESG SOLUTIONS Why a Renewed Strategy? On 6 July 2021, the European Commission unveiled the Renewed EU Sustainable Finance Strategy. The ‘Strategy for Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy’, sets out its approach [...]
Rising investor focus on marine biodiversity will heighten scrutiny of companies’ governance and policy measures, new Moody's ESG Solutions report states. A healthy ocean benefits all stakeholders, but also sustains key industries that our economic and trade systems rely on. However, risks to ocean health and marine biodiversity are increasing, with regional and local regulation [...]
Biodiversity controversies are captured within our Controversy Risk Assessment database. Data and analytics compiled by V.E, part of Moody’s ESG Solutions, captured 337 individual biodiversity allegations between December 2016 and April 2021. This represents 7% of the 5,097 controversies analysed over the same period. We expect the spotlight on the materiality and impact of biodiversity [...]
To understand companies’ governance of biodiversity issues, we assess the level of their commitment to integrating biodiversity measures, based on disclosures. The average biodiversity protection score for 1,200 assessed companies was 32 out of 100, highlighting a general lack of disclosures. Within a subsample of 67 heavy construction companies, we find that 61% disclose commitments [...]
Credible targets and structures are the key to longterm growth of sustainability-linked bonds, states new report from Moody's ESG Solutions. Recognised market standards, ambitious corporate agendas and strong investor demand provide fertile ground for rapid growth of the sustainability-linked bond (SLB) market. By focusing on general purpose spending, SLBs open the door to a more [...]
In recent years, the European Union (EU) has substantially increased its funding for the research and development of new weapon systems and military technologies by European defence companies. In this regard, in April 2021 the European Parliament approved a European Defence Fund (EDF) worth EUR 7.9 billion over seven years (2021-2027).1 The Fund will finance [...]
Read our latest #5MinuteRead on Nuclear Power March 2021 marks the 10 year anniversary of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant. This caused a slowdown of the Nuclear Renaissance, a nuclear-enthusiastic period started in 2001. Since then, some countries have re-evaluated their use of nuclear power whilst others have [...]
In celebration of the United Nations International Women’s Day, V.E’s analysts, Nadia Boujdadi and Marianna Fatti, are offering insights on one of the emerging trends in ESG that highlights the importance of investing resources in women and their presence in the financial industry. Gender Lens Investing strategies seek to intentionally and measurably use capital to address gender disparities between women and [...]
2020 was a year defined by social risks. The global pandemic, protests against inequality, workforce digitalisation and the social impacts of the energy transition are shifting the risk landscape for investors at an unprecedented rate. To help investors in navigating this context, the Moody’s ESG Solutions Group, through its affiliate V.E, provides daily ESG controversy [...]
