ESG 國際新聞週報 1/29-2/5

資料來源Resource:ESG TODAY

1.Texas Bans Barclays from Bond Market over Bank’s ESG Policies
德州由於巴克萊的ESG 政策禁止承銷債券市場

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a definitive stance against Barclays, a prominent UK-based bank, by prohibiting its participation as an underwriter in the state's municipal bond market. This action stems from Barclays' failure to disclose detailed information about its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies upon request by the Texas government. The move is part of Texas' broader campaign against the ESG movement, which the state views as potentially detrimental to its critical energy sector, heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Texas, a leading energy supplier in the U.S., has initiated several measures to counteract what it perceives as the financial industry's ESG-driven disinvestment from traditional energy sources. The state has been vigilant in identifying and taking action against financial institutions that align their investment strategies with ESG principles, fearing such practices could lead to a boycott of the fossil fuel industry. This ban on Barclays underscores Texas' commitment to safeguarding its economic interests against the perceived threats of ESG policies, illustrating the state's broader resistance to ESG influences that it believes could undermine its energy sector and, by extension, its economy.

德州州長律師肯帕克斯頓宣布，由於英國巴克萊銀行未能回應有關其環境、社會及治理（ESG）政策的信息請求，該州已禁止該銀行參與德州市政債券市場的承銷活動。這一行動是美國共和黨政治人物持續反ESG運動的最新舉措之一，德州在反ESG倡議中是最活躍的州之一，採取的行動包括將數家資產管理公司列入潛在撤資名單，理由是它們“抵制”能源公司，並加入多州聯盟以“保護個人免受ESG運動的影響”，通過諸如在州和地方層面禁止使用ESG進行所有投資決策，以及禁止州基金經理在代表州的投資中考慮ESG因素等行動。德州是美國最大的淨能源供應州，根據美國能源信息管理局（EIA）的數據，提供了該國近四分之一的國內生產能源，並佔全國原油證實儲量和產量的40%以上。德州州長辦公室（OAG）的聲明中指出，由於巴克萊參與了一個淨零聯盟，被認定為潛在的“化石燃料抵制者”，並在11月份與其他銀行一起被發送信件，請求提供更多有關其ESG承諾的信息。OAG表示，巴克萊通知律師將無法回應該查詢，導致裁決“在進一步通知之前，我們將不批准任何巴克萊購買或承銷的公共證券，或與公共證券有關的承包合約。” OAG補充說，“我們尚未聽到任何其他正在審查的銀行表示他們將無法回應我們的詢問。” 帕克斯頓說：“州長律師辦公室將繼續積極執行我們的法律，防止納稅人資金流向那些其‘ESG’政策損害德州人或德州關鍵產業的公司。” 雖然巴克萊是淨零銀行聯盟的成員，該聯盟的承諾包括將貸款和投資組合轉型以符合2050年淨零路徑並設定中期融資排放減少目標，但該銀行因持續對石油和天然氣融資而受到投資者和以可持續性為重點的團體的審查。

2.Brookfield Raises $10 Billion for Climate Transition Fund
私募基金Brookfield募資100 億美元投資氣候轉型
 

Brookfield Asset Management announced the successful first close of its second global private equity fund, the Brookfield Global Transition Fund (BGTF II), raising $10 billion. This fund is aimed at investments accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy. Launched last year, BGTF II is on track to surpass its predecessor, which closed at $15 billion, making it the largest private fund dedicated to the net-zero economy. The significant fundraising reflects the growing acceleration in transition opportunities globally. Co-led by Mark Carney and Connor Teskey, the fund targets investments in decarbonization technologies, clean power for the tech sector, new industrial supply chains, and technologies for industrial decarbonization. Brookfield focuses on expanding clean energy, transforming carbon-intensive sectors, and accelerating sustainable solutions. Investments so far include a major UK wind farm developer and a solar partnership in India, with the aim to complete fundraising by Q3 this year. The inaugural fund's capital is largely deployed in renewable power and carbon capture, among other areas, aiming for substantial avoided emissions.

 布魯克菲爾德資產管理宣布其第二個全球私募股權基金——布魯克菲爾德全球轉型基金（BGTF II）首次募集成功，籌集了100億美元。該基金旨在加速過渡到淨零經濟的投資。去年推出的BGTF II正軌道超越其前身，後者在2022年6月最終募集了150億美元，成為專注於淨零經濟的最大私募基金。這次顯著的募資反映了全球轉型機會的加速增長。基金由馬克·卡尼和康納·特斯基共同領導，目標投資於去碳化技術、為科技部門提供乾淨能源、建立全新的工業供應鏈以及工業去碳化所需的技術。布魯克菲爾德專注於擴大清潔能源、將碳密集型行業轉型為更可持續的商業模式，以及加速可持續解決方案。迄今為止的投資包括收購英國最大的獨立陸上風電開發商和運營商之一，以及在印度的太陽能發展合作夥伴關係，目標在今年第三季度完成基金募集。該公司表示，首個基金的資本已大量部署或承諾，投資範圍涵蓋可再生能源、業務轉型、碳捕獲和儲存、可再生天然氣和核服務機會。布魯克菲爾德補充說，所有投資都遵循科學基礎的行業淨零路徑管理，該基金預計達到的避免排放量將超過紐約市、倫敦和多倫多的年度總排放量。


3.ECB Announces Increased Focus on Climate Risk, Green Transition
歐洲中央銀行（ECB）擴大氣候風險與綠色轉型工作

 

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced its decision to expand its climate change efforts with a new "climate and nature plan 2024-2025." This plan serves as a roadmap for the next two years, aiming to address the increasing impacts of the climate crisis on the economy and financial system. The plan will focus on the implications and risks associated with the green transition, the physical risks of climate change, and the dangers stemming from nature loss and degradation. ECB President Christine Lagarde highlighted the necessity of adapting to changes forced by a hotter climate and the degradation of natural capital to fulfill the bank's mandate. Following its 2022 commitment to elevate climate change efforts as a supervisory priority, the ECB plans to assess banks' climate risks, review compliance with climate risk disclosure requirements, and examine reputational and litigation risks. The new roadmap includes actions like analyzing the effects of transition funding, assessing green investment needs, and advancing macroeconomic modeling with a climate focus. The ECB will also integrate climate change impacts into its macroeconomic projections, improve data for physical risk analysis, and explore climate adaptation's economic and financial impacts. Additionally, the ECB is set to update its Environmental Management Programme to meet its 2030 carbon reduction targets, including eco-design principles for euro banknotes and environmental considerations in the design of a digital euro.

 歐洲中央銀行（ECB）宣布決定擴大其氣候變化工作，推出新的“2024-2025年氣候與自然計劃”，為接下來兩年在這些領域的行動路線圖。此計劃旨在應對氣候危機對經濟和金融系統日益增加的影響，將重點放在綠色轉型的影響和風險、氣候變化的日益增加的物理風險，以及自然損失和退化帶來的風險上。ECB主席克里斯蒂娜·拉加德強調，由於氣候變暖和自然資本退化，我們的經濟和金融系統被迫變化，我們必須理解並跟上這一變化，以繼續履行我們的使命。繼2022年決定將“加大努力應對氣候變化”作為其最高監管優先事項後，ECB計劃評估銀行的氣候風險，審查銀行遵守氣候風險披露要求的情況，並檢查與銀行的氣候和環境戰略及風險相關的聲譽和訴訟風險。新的路線圖包括評估過渡融資對貨幣政策機制的影響、評估綠色投資需求、分析轉型帶來的結構後果，以及推進以氣候方面為重點的宏觀經濟建模框架等行動。ECB還將推進將氣候變化影響整合到氣候情景和宏觀經濟預測框架中，改善支持物理風險分析的數據可用性，探索氣候適應對經濟和金融部門的影響，包括保險保護差距和投資需求。ECB還將分析氣候變化與自然退化及生物多樣性損失之間的聯繫及其經濟和金融影響。此外，ECB將啟動更新的環境管理計劃，以支持其2030年碳減排目標，並計劃包括對歐元鈔票應用生態設計原則，以及將環境足跡考慮納入數位歐元的設計中。


4.U.S. Invests $254 Million in Industrial Decarbonization Projects, Technologies
美國能源部投資超過2.5億美元推進工業部門脫碳的項目和技術
 

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced over $250 million in investments to further decarbonize the industrial sector. This includes $171 million allocated to 49 projects aimed at reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions and an additional $83 million in funding for applications targeting sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as chemicals, steel, food, and buildings. This initiative is part of the Biden administration's climate agenda, with the industrial sector responsible for about a third of U.S. emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) support these efforts with nearly $500 billion in climate-focused investments. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm emphasized the importance of keeping America's industrial sector competitive and advancing clean energy futures. The funding will support a range of projects, including decarbonization in iron and steel production, high-volume chemical manufacturing, industrial heat and thermal processes, low carbon fuel utilization, and cement and concrete technologies. The $83 million funding opportunity focuses on applied research and development for high-emitting sectors, crucial for decarbonizing supply chains.

美國能源部宣布將投資超過2.5億美元，以推進旨在使工業部門脫碳的項目和技術。這包括撥款1.71億美元給49個選定的項目，以減少工業溫室氣體排放，以及開放針對難以脫碳部門的8300萬美元資金申請，例如化學品、鋼鐵、食品和建築。這項措施是拜登政府氣候議程的關鍵焦點領域，工業部門幾乎占美國排放的三分之一。政府的通脹減輕法案（IRA）和雙黨基礎設施法（BIL）在包括無碳能源、製造業和清潔技術等領域提供了近5000億美元的氣候聚焦投資。美國能源部長珍妮弗·格蘭霍姆強調，確保美國工業部門及其強大的勞動力保持競爭力，對於維持我國作為全球經濟強國的優勢以及加速實現拜登總統的美國製造清潔能源未來的願景至關重要。這些資金將支持一系列項目，包括鋼鐵生產的脫碳機會、高體積化學品的脫碳技術、工業熱和熱過程的脫碳、低碳燃料利用，以及水泥和混凝土的脫碳項目和技術。8300萬美元的資金機會將聚焦於針對最高排放部門（包括化學品和燃料、鋼鐵、食品和飲料、建築和基礎設施材料以及林產品）的應用研究、開發和示範，這些部門佔美國工業製造排放的65％以上，對脫碳供應鏈至關重要。格蘭霍姆補充說：“今天的公告將有助於推進我們需要的創新技術，以降低成本並提高美國工廠和工業中心的能源效率。


5.Moody’s Forecasts Resilient Sustainable Bond Market, with Cleantech Investment Offset by Soft Macro Environment
根據穆迪投資新報告：2023年綠色、社會、可持續性及可持續性聯結（GSSS）債券發行量輕微增加

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Moody's Investors Service reports a modest increase in green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bond issuances in 2023, reaching $946 billion from $925 billion in 2022, maintaining a 14% share of the overall bond market. Growth in Europe and Asia Pacific offset declines in North America, where sustainable bond volumes fell by over 20% to $110 billion. For 2024, the GSSS market is expected to stay steady at around $950 billion, supported by investment in green technologies despite higher interest rates and economic slowdown. Europe remains the largest market, with sustainable bonds making up 20% of total issuances, growing to $428 billion. Asia Pacific also showed strong performance, with $234 billion issued in 2023. North American volumes are expected to bottom out in 2024, potentially boosted by the Inflation Reduction Act. Green bond volumes are projected to modestly increase to $580 billion in 2024, while social bond volumes may slightly decrease. Sustainability-linked bond issuance is expected to see a modest decline. Factors supporting the GSSS market include emerging regulatory standards, like the European Green Bonds label, and increasing reliance on sustainable finance by sovereign emerging markets to fund climate plans.

根據穆迪投資新報告，2023年綠色、社會、可持續性及可持續性聯結（GSSS）債券發行量輕微增加，從2022年的9250億美元增至9460億美元，保持總債券市場14%的份額。歐洲和亞太市場的增長抵消了北美的持續下降，其中可持續債券量在2023年下降了20%以上，降至1100億美元。預計2024年GSSS市場將保持在9500億美元左右，綠色技術的增加投資有助於市場在高息環境和經濟增長放緩中保持韌性。歐洲將繼續保持GSSS發行量最大的份額，可持續債券佔總債券發行量的20%，2023年增長至4280億美元。亞太地區的GSSS發行仍然強勁，2023年達到2340億美元。預計北美地區的量在2024年可能觸底，通脹減輕法案的激勵可能推動綠色技術的增長。預計綠色債券量在2024年將輕微增加至5800億美元，社會債券量可能輕微下降。可持續性聯結債券（SLB）發行量預計在2024年輕微下降。穆迪指出，支持GSSS市場的因素包括新的監管綠色債券標準的出現，如歐洲綠色債券（EuGB）標籤，以及主權新興市場發行人越來越依賴可持續金融市場來資助其氣候緩解和適應計劃。