ESG International Weekly News 9/18-9/24

Resource: ESG TODAY,The Japan Time


1.SEC Adopts Rule Requiring ESG-Labelled Funds to Invest 80% in Alignment with Theme
   SEC採納規定要求ESG標籤的基金投資80%與主題保持一致


The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has updated its “Names Rule” requiring funds with names implying a focus on ESG or sustainability-related factors to invest at least 80% of their assets in line with those factors. Originally established in 2001 to prevent misrepresentation in fund names, the amendment now covers funds that suggest particular investment characteristics. The decision, which doesn't solely target ESG funds but emphasizes them, aims to combat the growing risk of greenwashing. The SEC acknowledges that ESG terminologies can be potent in attracting investors and believes this move ensures consistency between a fund’s name and its portfolio. SEC Chair Gary Gensler highlights the need for such truth in advertising for maintaining fund integrity.

美國證券交易委員會（SEC）更新了其“名稱規則”，要求名稱暗示專注於ESG或與可持續性相關因素的基金至少投資其資產的80%以符合這些因素。此項修正的原始目的是為了防止基金名稱的誤導，現在已涵蓋建議特定投資特性的基金。此決策不僅僅針對ESG基金，但主要強調它們，目的是對抗綠色洗牌的增長風險。SEC認為ESG術語可以有效地吸引投資者，並認為此舉確保基金名稱與其投資組合之間的一致性。SEC主席Gary Gensler強調了維護基金完整性的廣告真實性的需求。


2.EU Lawmakers Ban Generic and Emissions Offsetting-Based Green Product Claims
歐盟立法者禁止廣泛的和基於排放抵消的綠色產品宣稱


The European Parliament and EU Council have reached a provisional agreement on regulations to safeguard consumers from misleading sustainability claims and greenwashing. The action comes after the EU Commission found in March 2022 that over half of the green claims made by EU companies were either ambiguous or misleading, and 40% were baseless. Alberto Garzón Espinosa emphasized the importance of providing consumers with accurate information for making environmentally conscious decisions. The updated rules will prohibit broad environmental claims like “climate neutral” unless supported by concrete evidence. Claims based on emissions offsetting will be disallowed, and sustainability labels must originate from approved certification schemes. The new regulations, which will also tackle early obsolescence, will undergo formal approval by the Council and Parliament.

歐洲議會和歐盟理事會宣布，他們已就保護消費者免受誤導性可持續性聲明和綠色洗牌做法的新規則達成暫定協議。該行動是在2022年3月歐盟委員會發現超過一半的歐盟公司提出的綠色聲明要么模棱兩可，要么誤導，40%完全沒有根據之後採取的。Alberto Garzón Espinosa強調提供消費者準確信息以作出有利於環境的決策的重要性。更新後的規則將禁止如“氣候中立”之類的廣泛環境聲明，除非提供具體證據支持。將禁止基於排放抵消的聲明，且可持續性標籤必須來自經批准的認證計劃。新規則還將解決過早的過時問題，並將由理事會和議會正式批准。


3.Pacific island nations to hold second summit with Biden next week
太平洋島國下週將與拜登舉行第二次峰會
 

Next week, Pacific island nations will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden for their second summit, announced by Henry Puna, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, and Richard Verma, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. The announcement took place during an event at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New York. Puna highlighted the Pacific region's current challenges, including climate change and economic recovery post-COVID-19. He also emphasized the strategic attention the region is receiving due to the geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China. Puna stated that the Pacific island nations would collaborate with any partner willing to work directly with them. Mark Brown, the prime minister of the Cook Islands, stressed the need for tangible U.S. engagement for economic growth and climate change advocacy. Richard Verma reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region's vision of freedom, resilience, prosperity, and security.

 太平洋島國將於下週與美國總統喬·拜登進行第二次峰會，太平洋島國論壇秘書長Henry Puna和美國國務院高級官員Richard Verma於星期一宣布。此消息在紐約的卡內基國際和平基金會的一個活動中宣布。Puna強調太平洋地區目前面臨的挑戰，包括氣候變化和後COVID-19的經濟復蘇。他還強調了該地區因美中地緣政治競爭而受到的戰略關注。Puna表示，太平洋島國將與任何願意直接與他們合作的夥伴合作。Cook群島的總理Mark Brown強調了經濟增長和氣候變化倡導的具體美國參與的需求。Richard Verma重申了美國對印度-太平洋地區的自由、韌性、繁榮和安全願景的承諾。由於氣候變遷是低地國家所面臨的「最大生存威脅」，他們呼籲美國發揮倡導力和領導作用，並於10月德國的會議上向綠色氣候基金（GCF）提供關鍵性的投資。
 

4.US Saw $213B Investment in Clean Technologies, Paving the Way for Net Zero
   美國為實現淨零排放目標在再生能源科技上投資了2130億美元


The U.S. has seen a significant boost in investments towards decarbonization, with a total of $213 billion invested in clean technologies and infrastructure in the past year, as revealed by a new database, the Clean Investment Monitor, developed by Rhodium Group and MIT’s CEEPR. This amount represents a 37% rise from the previous year and a 165% increase from five years ago. The investments largely went to sectors like manufacturing, especially in EV and solar manufacturing, and retail, predominantly in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and heat pumps. Over the past two years, clean energy production investments have surged to $80 billion, marking a fivefold growth. Recent legislative measures, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 2022, and the CHIPS and Science Act 2022, have offered subsidies and tax incentives, propelling this growth. The U.S. aims to cut carbon emissions by 50%-52% below 2005 levels by 2030.

美國在去碳化方面的投資顯著增加，根據由Rhodium Group和MIT的CEEPR開發的新數據庫顯示，過去一年在再生能源技術和基礎設施上的投資總額達到2130億美元。這一數字較前一年增加了37%，較五年前增加了165%。這些投資主要流向了製造業，特別是電動車和太陽能製造，以及零排放車輛(ZEVs)和熱泵的零售業。在過去的兩年中，再生能源生產的投資飆升到800億美元，是前兩年的五倍。近期的立法措施，包括2021年的基礎設施投資和工作法案、2022年的通貨膨脹減少法案(IRA)和2022年的CHIPS和科學法案，提供了補貼和稅收優惠，推動了這一增長。美國的目標是到2030年將碳排放量削減到2005年水平的50%-52%以下。


5.Microsoft Signs Deal to Buy Biochar Carbon Removal Credits
 微軟簽署協議購買生物炭碳移除信用


Carbon Streaming, a carbon credit streaming company, has announced a partnership with Microsoft. Through this agreement, Microsoft will receive up to 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal credits annually from the Waverly Biochar project in Virginia. Biochar is a type of biological charcoal produced by heating biomass without oxygen; when buried in soil, it becomes a stable form of carbon that can sequester carbon for centuries and also improves soil fertility. The Waverly Biochar project aims to remove over 262,000 tCO2e of emissions over 25 years. This collaboration is a part of Microsoft's strategy to become carbon negative by 2030 and remove all of its historical emissions by 2050. Microsoft has been expanding its carbon removal initiatives recently, signing multiple agreements with various companies for different carbon capture and storage technologies.

碳信用流動公司Carbon Streaming宣布與Microsoft合作。通過此協議，Microsoft每年將從維吉尼亞的Waverly Biochar項目獲得最多10,000噸的二氧化碳去除信用。生物炭是一種通過在無氧的條件下加熱生物質製成的生物炭；當它被埋在土壤中時，它會成為一種穩定的碳形式，可以長時間固碳，並改善土壤肥沃度。Waverly Biochar項目旨在在25年內減少超過262,000 tCO2e的排放。此次合作是Microsoft策略的一部分，該策略旨在到2030年成為碳負面，並到2050年去除其所有歷史排放。近期，Microsoft一直在擴大其碳去除計劃，與多家公司簽訂了不同的碳捕捉和存儲技術協議。


6.TNFD Releases Framework for Reporting on Nature-Related Risks and Opportunities
   TNFD發布有關自然相關風險和機會的報告框架


The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has published its final recommendations on managing and disclosing nature-related risks. The objective is to better guide companies and financial bodies on risks, opportunities, dependencies, and impacts related to nature and biodiversity. This move also seeks to encourage a financial shift towards positive nature outcomes and global preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The new framework is an essential advancement for corporate sustainability reporting, and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the environmental disclosure platform CDP have both shown intent to align their practices with TNFD's guidelines. David Craig, Co-Chair of the TNFD, emphasized the accelerating nature loss and the necessity for businesses to address nature-related issues. Established in June 2021, the TNFD based its publication on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) model, featuring 14 disclosure suggestions under four pillars: Governance, Strategy, Risk and impact management, and Metrics and targets.

自然相關金融披露專案組(TNFD)已發布其對管理和披露與自然相關風險的最終建議。目的是更好地指導公司和金融機構了解與自然和生物多樣性相關的風險、機會、依賴性和影響。此舉還旨在鼓勵金融向正面自然結果和全球生物多樣性和生態系統的保護轉變。這一新框架對於企業可持續性報告是一個重要的進展，國際可持續性標準委員會(ISSB)和環境披露平台CDP都已表明打算與TNFD的指南保持一致。TNFD的共同主席David Craig強調了自然損失的加速和企業應對與自然相關問題的必要性。TNFD於2021年6月成立，並根據氣候相關金融披露專案組(TCFD)的模型，提出了14項披露建議，分為四大支柱：管治、策略、風險和影響管理以及指標和目標。

下載詳細報告：TNFD