The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and 15 other departments issued the National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2035...
More ESG Research and Insights are Available from Subscription to GC Insights Monthly ESG Regulatory Watch: info@gc-insights.com
APAC
China
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and 15 other departments issued the National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2035.
The NDRC and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly released a circular that allows new types of energy storage projects to participate in the power market.
The National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors (NAFMII), a self-regulatory body of China’s interbank bond market under the central bank, has launched a pilot program for companies to issue bonds designed to finance their green transformation efforts.
Taiwan
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission plans to conduct mandatory climate-change stress tests for banks for the first time in the first half of 2023.
Singapore
Singapore MAS publishes the information papers on environmental risk management for banks, insurers, and asset managers to provide an overview of the progress made in implementing the MAS Guidelines on Environmental Risk Management.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the first use case of NovA! to help financial institutions assess the sustainability performance of Singapore’s real estate sector.
Singapore Green Bond Framework Introduced for Upcoming Inaugural Singapore Sovereign Green Bond Issuance.
Australia
The Australian Government has lodged an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued a new information sheet (INFO 271) to help funds avoid ‘greenwashing’ and enhance disclosures when offering or promoting sustainability-related products.
Malaysia
Bursa Malaysia has issued a second guidebook for listed companies to help them better understand the importance of embedding ESG aspects in their governance frameworks.
EMEA
EU
In light of the feedback received and further assessments, the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) activities table has been updated with additional activities contributing to climate change mitigation.
European Parliament pushes for broader scope and faster implementation in new carbon leakage instrument: CBAM.
EU Emissions Trading System reform: free allowances for industries phased out more quickly and citizens included later in ETS II.
Parliament announced the establishment of a Social Climate Fund to combat energy and mobility poverty. Parliament agrees with the creation of an SCF to help those most affected by energy and mobility poverty cope with the increased costs of the energy transition.
The three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA – ESAs) published a statement providing clarifications on the draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) issued under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which include the financial product disclosures under the Taxonomy Regulation.
Parliament agrees to higher EU carbon sink ambitions by 2030. MEPs support increasing the target for carbon sinks in land use, land-use change, and the forestry sector, de facto raising the EU’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target to 57 %.
MEPs back objective of zero emissions for cars and vans in 2035. Calling for a methodology for assessing the full life-cycle of CO2 emissions. Mitigate the negative economic impact of the transition with targeted funding
MEPs object to Commission’s plan to include gas and nuclear activities in EU Taxonomy. The resolution is scheduled for a vote during Parliament’s plenary session of 4-7 July 2022. Parliament and Council have until 11 July 2022 to decide whether to veto the Commission’s proposal. If an absolute majority of MEPs (353) object to the Commission’s proposal, the Commission will have to withdraw or amend it.
EU Commission welcomes political agreement on Gender Balance on Corporate Boards. At least 40% of the underrepresented gender must be represented in non-executive boards of listed companies or 33% among all directors. Clear and transparent board appointment procedures with an objective assessment based on merit, irrespective of gender. Member States' penalties for companies that fail to comply with selection and reporting obligations must be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive They could include fines and nullity or annulment of the contested director's appointment.
UK
UK pension fund schemes will be required to report on the alignment of their investments with the global climate goal to limit warming to 1.5°C, according to new measures introduced by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).
AMER
US
S.4355 - A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a carbon border adjustment based on carbon intensity, and for other purposes, The US Clean Competition Act was introduced in Congress by Senator Whitehouse.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission unanimously voted to release a Request for Information (RFI) to seek public comment on climate-related financial risk to better inform its understanding and oversight of climate-related financial risk as pertinent to the derivatives markets and underlying commodities markets.