Green finance

Centre seeks experts to classify sustainable claims

Friday - The Centre for Sustainable Finance is looking for experts in sustainable finance, agriculture, and forestry, to develop the agriculture and forestry taxonomy for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Carbon offset pioneer charged with $100 million fraud scheme

Friday - US regulators say Australian national Ken Newcombe faked data for carbon credits investment. The Goldman and World Bank veteran denies the allegations but is facing up to 20 years in jail.

Fossil fuel dominance of India’s power mix to end by 2030, says central bank

Thursday - India's burgeoning economy continues to be overwhelmingly powered by fossil fuels including coal, but that dominance will be consigned to the history books by end of this decade, according to the country's central bank.

ESG is dead. Long live ESG

Tuesday - OPINION: We must urgently address the tension between profitability and sustainability.

'Why are carbon offsets not dead yet?'

26 Sep 24 - Journalist and environmental activist George Monbiot discusses neoliberalism, nature, and negative consequences with the Australia Institute's Climate and Energy program director.

Govt developing sustainable finance strategy

23 Sep 24 - The government is partnering with the Centre for Sustainable Finance to develop a sustainable finance strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.

500 finance institutions call for better govt climate policy ahead of COP29

20 Sep 24 - More than 500 financial institutions, collectively worth more than $29 trillion in assets under management, have written to national governments urging them to update and introduce policies to unlock investment into climate action and nature restoration.

NZ’s decision to restart fossil fuel exploration will be ‘hard to explain to future generations’: leading climate scientist

19 Sep 24 - By Liz Kivi | The government’s plan to restart oil and gas exploration is set to lock in higher levels of global warming, according to a leading Australian climate scientist.

New reports highlight NZ’s opportunity to boost climate finance

29 Aug 24 - Media release | Two new reports reveal how New Zealand can meet its climate finance obligations ahead of COP29.

Progress on work to classify 'sustainable' economic activity

7 Aug 24 - It may include some taxing terminology, but a ‘sustainable finance taxonomy’ could be just what the doctor (or the accountant) ordered for investors keen to ‘go green’.

Investment sector must accelerate climate action – new research

9 Jul 24 - A survey of investors managing more than $230 billion suggests the sector is moving too slowly to bankroll climate action.

NZ to cooperate with Philippines on international climate target, pledges $41 million climate finance to Southeast Asia

23 Apr 24 - By Liz Kivi | New Zealand has made its first tentative step towards forging an international agreement to meet its United Nations climate target by buying offshore offsetting.

Banks need to actively manage climate-related risks: Reserve Bank

23 Apr 24 - Too little climate action taken too late will cut banks’ profits, but won’t threaten bank solvency or financial stability, according to the latest Reserve Bank modelling.

Govt working on classification system for sustainable finance

26 Mar 24 - The government is setting up a specialised group to advise on a classification system for sustainable finance.

RBNZ signals banks must account for climate risk

7 Mar 24 - The Reserve Bank says financial institutions need to understand and manage climate-related risks - and it highlights agriculture as a risky sector.

NZ lagging in forging agreements to meet climate obligations

16 Feb 24 - New Zealand is lagging behind other countries in sealing bilateral deals to meet climate targets - a delay which could lead to higher costs, according to a climate policy consultant.

Climate finance is targeting the wrong industries

14 Feb 24 - Roughly half of the world’s emissions currently can’t be reduced, yet green investment continues to avoid the sectors that need the most help—manufacturing, agriculture, and built environment.

Shift to ethical KiwiSaver investment - but fossil fuel investment at all-time high

9 Feb 24 - The past six months has seen the biggest fall in ‘harmful’ Kiwisaver investments for five years, according to Mindful Money. But Kiwisaver investment in fossil fuel companies is at the highest level...

Best by the rest...

9 Feb 24 - In our weekly round-up of the best climate coverage in local media: Climate levy proposed for Christchurch; Peters promises $16.5 million to climate change initiatives in the Cook Islands; and more...