IMO Approves First Global Carbon Pricing Framework for Shipping In a landmark move for global climate action, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved the world’s first industry-wide carbon pricing framework for shipping. This historic agreement introduces a two-tier carbon fee system, imposing a $100 per ton levy on CO₂
In a landmark decision for sustainable finance, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the Green Impact Exchange (GIX) as a national securities exchange. This approval marks a significant step toward integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the core of capital markets. A New Era for
Key Impact Points: Urgent Call to Action To accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, the United Nations Global Compact hosted the SDGs Activation Day during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11). The event, part of the Forward Faster Now Africa initiative, gathered
The “Scaling Transition Finance” report, published in October 2024 by the Transition Finance Market Review (TFMR), offers a comprehensive roadmap for mobilizing the substantial capital required to achieve global net-zero goals. Commissioned by the UK government and hosted by the City of London Corporation, the report emphasizes the pivotal role
Key Impact Points: Ceres Launches Climate Disclosure Guide for Municipal Bond Market As climate-related disasters escalate in frequency and cost, Ceres has released “Leading with Transparency: A Guide to Strengthening Climate Disclosure and Resilience in the Municipal Bond Market” to help state and local governments improve transparency, access capital, and
Key Impact Points: USGCRP Funding Terminated, National Climate Report in Peril The White House has ended federal support for the coordination of the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)—the key body that delivers the U.S. government’s official assessment on climate change every four years. The move, confirmed by multiple sources,
Key Impact Points: Major Boost for Biofuel Infrastructure The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a landmark $537 million investment in biofuel infrastructure, spread across 543 projects in 29 states. This initiative is part of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), established during the Trump Administration. Secretary Brooke
Key Impact Points: Immediate Fallout from Funding Freeze More than 200 health facilities run by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan have been forced to close or halt operations following severe funding cuts implemented under former President Donald Trump’s administration. This has abruptly terminated vital medical services such as vaccinations,
Key Impact Points: Major Global Conservation Efforts in Jeopardy A wave of uncertainty is sweeping through hundreds of wildlife conservation projects globally following U.S. funding reductions initiated under the Trump administration. Once a lifeline for initiatives protecting critical habitats and endangered species, cuts to USAID and related agencies are now
Key Impact Points: Chaudhury to Shape Global Sustainability in Insurance Amita Chaudhury, Group Head of Sustainability at AIA Group Limited, has been appointed Vice Chair of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), the largest collaborative effort between the UN and the insurance
