March ESG monthly Newsletter

Key highlights:

ESG Regulatory updates:

• ESMA has developed technical standards to regulate external auditors of European Green Bonds.
• CONSOB strengthens ESG supervision for asset managers, with specific requirements for Article 8 and 9 products.
• EU Work Programme 2025 reduces red tape by 25 per cent and aims at industrial decarbonisation.
• The Omnibus sustainability package simplifies ESG regulations, reducing administrative burdens for companies.

Insightful ESG research

• Maritime sector: progress in sustainability, but persistent challenges with methane emissions and pollution.
• Storebrand Asset Management: the interconnection between the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, highlighting the role of sustainable finance and public policy in the transition to a zero-emission economy.
• Investing in sustainable value chains: integrating ESG criteria into the value chain for resilience and innovation.
• AI & ESG: AI tools such as BERT and topic modelling improve ESG data analysis, offering more precise measurements and deepening the interactions between the three pillars of sustainability.

 ESG News

• Despite the US exit, the rest of the world remains committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• 85% of companies will maintain climate reporting, regardless of regulatory changes.