ESG

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, invested $200 million in The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited’s green bond placed on the London Stock Exchange today. It’s Africa’s largest green bond and South Africa’s first offshore green bond issuance, which will increase access to climate finance.

Germany (AAA/Stable) is set to enter the sovereign green bond market in the second half of 2020 as part of a longer-term strategy to shift debt towards green alternatives. Future issuance depends on the government’s willingness to move to a green economy.

Pension schemes have struggled to get to grips with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. However, 2020 is likely to be the year when the growing pressure from regulators to address these issues becomes an avalanche.

Germany’s and Europe’s leading venture capital firms commit themselves and their portfolio companies to sustainability and make a significant contribution to climate protection. This measure should act as an example for other start-up ecosystems and industries.

ESG and climate risks appear to be a real source of concern for most of those who responded to the request for information that the EIOPA conducted in order to prepare its opinion. The EIOPA rendered its opinion on 30th September; at this stage it advises undertakings to incorporate these risks only into their governance and risk management...