Sustainability, climate change and net zero news

Sustainability regulations don’t go far enough – so what can businesses do?

As focus on sustainability continues to drive corporate behaviour, Lucy Klinkenberg-Matthews, Head of ESG at Paragon explores how businesses can become market leaders.

By Lucy Klinkenberg-Matthews

Founded in 2022, Sumthing has developed a streamlined platform for investing in the restoration of nature. From its headquarters in Amsterdam, the startup connects businesses and individuals to carefully monitored projects all over the world. Read More

By Heather Dinwoodie

SG Voice Spotlight: Embracing a Sustainable, Circular Economy

The guide of guides to the circular economy

29 August 2023

Skyscrapers overlooking a large green park.

Eight core strategies for circular construction

2 February 2023

Circular economy in action: the new players turning construction waste into valuable resources

25 May 2023

Circular economy pivotal for net zero and biodiversity: Goldman Sachs

27 January 2023

Net zero by 2050: The transition to a circular construction industry with waste-to-energy conversion

5 July 2023

Fashion organisations develop circularity framework for UK cities

16 November 2022

IMechE report frames possibilities for circular economy

7 September 2022

Latest stories

Gigawaters S2: Episode 4 – ScotWind and Lessons Learned

By Felicia Jackson

Tata Steel's facility in the IJmund region of Holland.

Emissions from Tata’s steelmaking plant lower the lifespan of locals

By Heather Dinwoodie

Exxon weighs chemicals output boost as EVs threaten gasoline use

By Bloomberg

All Posts

Research

Public support for ‘brown tax’ on large buildings emissions

25 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

A survey by Pavegen shows that there is support for an emissions tax on commercial buildings that exceed set limits - highlighting how complex individual responses to addressing emissions can be.

Standards

RICS publishes new global edition of Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard

25 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has updated its standard to give greater visibility to embodied, operational, and user-related carbon, among other updated features for a global framework to reduce lifetime emissions in construction.

Finance

Gordon Brown: States that profited from oil surge should pay global windfall

25 September 2023

By Energy Voice

States which banked "staggering" profits from the high price of oil last year should pay a global windfall levy to help poorer nations in the fight against climate change, former prime minister Gordon Brown has said.

Policy

NZAOA calls for policy to unlock $275trn as UK weakens net zero

22 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

As New York Climate Week continues, ahead of its first AGM, the UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) has called on policymakers to boost support and unlock up to $275 trillion net-zero investment opportunity.

Finance

Natural capital is at risk and mispriced: Barclays

22 September 2023

By Erin Rizzato Devlin

Barclays (LSE:BARC) has warned that the market is underestimating the growing environmental dangers to countries’ natural capital, and only a few investors are correctly pricing sovereign bonds.

Profiles

Startup profile: florrent

22 September 2023

By Heather Dinwoodie

Founded in 2020, florrent has developed a range of ultracapacitors made using regenerative biomass rather than fossil fuels or imported coconuts. The Massachusetts-based startup was established by Jose LaSalle, Joe Hastry and Alex Nichols with the ultimate goal of supporting the global transition to renewable energy.

Wild flowers grow against a hilly backdrop in Cumbria, England.

Policy

New biodiversity laws could protect UK habitats

22 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

New biodiversity laws set to secure over 23,500 football fields worth of natural habitat in England each year.

Policy

Businesses lambast ‘historic mistake’ as Sunak confirms net-zero policy slide

22 September 2023

By Allister Thomas & Andrew Dykes.

Rishi Sunak confirmed he will push back a ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles to 2035, as well as net zero regulations that would phase out the use of gas and oil boilers in homes.

Research

Cable failure top cause of offshore wind insurance claims, warns Allianz

22 September 2023

By Allister Thomas

Damage to cables and turbine failure are the main causes of offshore wind insurance claims which risk hampering growth in the sector, a top firm has warned.

Markets

Driving sustainability through learning – building a green, compliant future

21 September 2023

By Mark Lamswood

Globally, organisations are facing rising pressure to do their bit in the effort to reverse climate change, and this pressure is coming from all angles. Mark Lamswood, regional director, content services, Cornerstone explains the importance of learning in addressing the challenge.

Markets

Planet Tracker warns plastics companies at risk of greenwash

21 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

New research from Planet Tracker found that nearly half of plastics companies are failing to link performance incentives to sustainability goals. It says that means the plastics industry approach to sustainability is ‘all wrapping and no substance’.

Striped t-shirt, labelled as 100% organic cotton.

Standards

Textile Exchange updates tool for navigating sustainable standards

21 September 2023

By Heather Dinwoodie

Textile Exchange, a global non-profit organisation, has updated its tool for assessing the standards used to determine which materials and fibres are truly sustainable.

Markets

Norway’s $1.4 trillion wealth fund advises against carbon offsets for climate goals

21 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the global stock market’s largest asset owner has said companies should prioritise operational and value chain emissions reduction to reach interim CO2 goals, and raised concern about the use of carbon credits.

A grower uses their tablet device to control the settings of a robotic indoor growing system.

Investing

Astanor Ventures secures €360m for its sustainable agrifood fund

21 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Global agrifood impact investor Astanor Ventures has announced the close of its second venture fund at €360 million.

Policy

Sunak plans roll back on green energy policies

20 September 2023

By Bloomberg

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would roll back some green energy policies while sustaining the country’s long-term carbon emission reduction target, a move that sparked a backlash among Tory MPs and created uncertainty for industry.

Podcast

California’s climate lawsuit, the cost of climate change and Planetary Guardians

20 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

In this week’s episode of SG Voice Out Loud, we discuss how California is drawing the battle lines in the fight against climate change, the potential costs of climate change to the fashion industry and a holistic new approach to understanding climate, sustainability and development.

Investing

The $2trn+ climate adaptation market offers quick wins against climate change

20 September 2023

By Divij Ruparelia

Global investment data shows that climate tech funding reached 10% of global VC investment in 2022 but Divij Ruparelia of DAI Magister explains why adaptation needs more focus.

Sustainable Development Goals represented as differently coloured segments surrounding the Earth.

Strategy

How can companies contribute to the closure of the SDG shortfall?

20 September 2023

By Heather Dinwoodie

With just seven years remaining until the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are supposed to be met, global progress is stalling and even regressing in several areas. Although the Goals are designed to be delivered by national governments, the private sector has a key role to play.

Markets

The road to 1.5ºC: VCM needs action to scale missing $90bn investment by 2030

20 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

The voluntary carbon markets must scale rapidly to fill a $90 billion investment gap but confusion about standards, credit verification and impact credibility make this a significant challenge.

Standards

BeZero Carbon publishes industry-first engineered carbon removal credit rating

20 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Global carbon credits ratings agency BeZero Carbon has announced its first engineered carbon removal rating. An industry-first, this rating analyses a biochar project and marks a shift towards the maturation of the nascent but essential carbon removal sector.

Profiles

Startup profile: BioCraft Pet Nutrition

20 September 2023

By Heather Dinwoodie

Founded in 2016, BioCraft Pet Nutrition is disrupting the global pet food industry with its development of lab-cultured meat products. The company has raised just under $10 million to date, funding its operations across the US and Europe as well as its ongoing research in Vienna.

Markets

Nature-positive shifts in household and personal care business could generate $62 billion a year by 2030

19 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

Prioritising responsible sourcing, water stewardship, nature conservation and circularity can produce additional value in billions across the household and personal care (HPC) supply chain.

Markets

VCM: evaluating carbon credit rating agencies

19 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

Independent European think tank Carbon Market Watch (CMW) has published a study assessing how reliable and robust the ratings of carbon credits are, evaluating agencies Sylvera, BeZero Carbon, Calyx Global and Renoster.

Standards

Normative’s Engage integrates primary emissions data across value chains for Scope 3 reductions

19 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Carbon accounting specialist Normative has launched a new product that the company says promises streamlined and integrated emissions calculations across the supply chain.

Strategy

Businesses are failing to act on biodiversity risk

19 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Despite the potential for catastrophic consequences that could ensue from biodiversity loss, businesses are failing to act. In fact, according to new research from Capgemini Research Institute, only a mere 24% of organisations have a biodiversity strategy in place.

Dr Johan Rockstrom at launch of Planetary Boundaries Framework.

Research

Six of the world’s nine Planetary Boundaries have been breached

19 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

A group of global leaders have come together to urge a new approach to measurement and risk management for global development, as the science shows that many planetary boundaries – maintenance of which ensure planetary equilibrium – have been breached.

Sustainable technology represented as a digitally projected Earth transposed over a real-life landscape.

Markets

Research shows alarming new evidence of inaction on nature and climate

18 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Over than 70 leaders and experts from business, science, NGO and youth groups released an open letter that urgently calls on UNFCCC Parties to deliver on their climate and biodiversity commitments and disclose their implementation plans as part of the Global Stocktake (GST) negotiations.

Policy

Renewable energy capacity must triple by 2030

18 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

Companies and organisations representing a market value of more than $12 trillion have published an open letter to world leaders calling for a target to triple renewable energy capacity to 11,000GW by 2030 to be agreed at COP28 later this year.

Strategy

New York Climate Week: an opportunity to pave the way for critical action at COP28

18 September 2023

By Glyn Richards

With the week now underway, Glyn Richards, sustainability director at Bupa, shares his thoughts on key areas of focus, desired outcomes and whether there is reason to be optimistic ahead of COP28.

Profiles

Startup profile: Kestrix

18 September 2023

By Giulia Bottaro

Kestrix is a retrofit management startup that helps housing providers, local governments and energy utilities map how heat is lost across portfolios or cities of buildings at once.

Research

Europe’s favourite groceries are threatened by the climate crisis

18 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

Price rises and supply shortages are predicted for crops including bananas, tea, avocado and coffee, threatening food security, as global agriculture faces increasing climate risks.

Research

Over a third of UK fish stocks in crisis, new report shows

18 September 2023

By Sraddha Sabu

Cod, mackerel, scallops and anglerfish are among the fish species deemed overfished or at critically low levels, posing a risk of future stock collapses in the fishing industry.

Investing

Costs of catastrophes rise as climate disclosure accelerates

18 September 2023

By Felicia Jackson

The big news of last week was the agreement of the rules on climate disclosure bill for large Californian companies by the Assembly. The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act is now in the hands of California’s Democratic Governor to see if it passes into law – if it does that means mandatory climate risk disclosure across the worlds fifth largest economy.

Companies

Apple launches carbon neutral watch as EU companies lag on SDGs

18 September 2023

By Giulia Bottaro

From Apple's launch of its carbon neutral range to award-winning circularity projects, in this weekly round-up we explore the latest developments regarding corporate initiatives, sustainability reports and key industry updates.

Investing

Africa’s businesses are vital to securing a sustainable future

16 September 2023

By Hassanein Hiridjee

As the international community gathers in New York City for the UNGA Summit, the message from world leaders is unequivocal: the private sector is vital for progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. Given the challenges facing Africa, from climate-driven food insecurity and cracking energy infrastructure to stalled international financial integration, now is the time to champion the ability of Africa’s businesses to secure a positive and sustainable future.

Standards

Understanding the European Sustainability Reporting Standards

15 September 2023

By Shraddha Sawant

Shraddha Sawant, senior sustainability analyst at TOS, explains how the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) fit in the context of global reporting requirements.

SG Voice

Latest News

Sustainability regulations don’t go far enough – so what can businesses do?

Companies

Emissions from Tata’s steelmaking plant lower the lifespan of locals

Exxon weighs chemicals output boost as EVs threaten gasoline use

Are companies leading or losing in the fight against climate change?

Technology

Top 20 disruptors and the turbulent road of foodtech and agtech

Transparency, circularity and a look from above

Nailing net zero: how universities can reinforce ESG efforts with modular construction

Investing

Scottish energy transition AI firm raises $10m as part of growth push

Carbon accounting catches fire as Plan A raises $27m

Carbon removals market focus and concern on nature greenwash

Startup profile: Sumthing

Top 20 disruptors and the turbulent road of foodtech and agtech

Carbon removals market focus and concern on nature greenwash

Are companies leading or losing in the fight against climate change?

SG Voice Spotlight: Embracing a Sustainable, Circular Economy

The guide of guides to the circular economy

Eight core strategies for circular construction

Circular economy in action: the new players turning construction waste into valuable resources

Circular economy pivotal for net zero and biodiversity: Goldman Sachs

Net zero by 2050: The transition to a circular construction industry with waste-to-energy conversion

Fashion organisations develop circularity framework for UK cities

IMechE report frames possibilities for circular economy

Latest stories

Gigawaters S2: Episode 4 – ScotWind and Lessons Learned

Emissions from Tata’s steelmaking plant lower the lifespan of locals

Exxon weighs chemicals output boost as EVs threaten gasoline use

All Posts

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