Penguin Perspectives Blog

The megatrend of 2019 was sustainability. Led by climate activist Greta Thunberg, youth across the world demanded politicians and business owners engage in immediate action on climate and sustainability.

The move to net zero must happen as quickly as possible – and it must happen at scale. To achieve real, quantifiable impacts we must explore all possible policy solutions. While carbon pricing and sustainable finance are critical tools for solving the climate crisis, Martin Stadelmann argues that it is clean technology that will help us hit the bullseye on our net-zero target.

On World Environment Day, Colonial First State's Pablo Berrutti joined more than 700 people for Climate Reality Leader training in Brisbane. Led by Chairman Al Gore, and CEO Ken Berlin, the Climate Reality Leaders program has trained almost 20,000 people who in the first six months of 2019 have logged almost 19,000 ‘acts of leadership’ ranging from delivering Mr Gore’s famous presentation to writing blogs – like this one!

The panel examined the lessons from existing de-risking tools and strategised how to increase investments in the low carbon economy from USD billions to trillions, at COP24. The insights were striking. South Pole's Director Green Finance, Martin Stadelmann and panel moderator shares his thoughts and 5 key takeaways.

All investments have an impact, be it positive or negative, socially and/or environmentally. Similarly, climate events—such as floods and droughts—have a financial impact. But how can the financial system navigate climate risks? Following the IPCC's Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC, this is a growing topic of debate and discussion. One emerging solution gaining traction is the fast-growing green bond market. In this article, Affirmative Investment Management's Lisa Wong explores how the green bond market can help investors navigate climate risk.

The dramatic increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in 2018 has brought the perceived long-term physical risks closer to the short-term for companies, supply chains and investors. Climate-risk assessments are the next frontier in future-proofing investments – and the agricultural sector should not be overlooked, says South Pole's John Davis...

The winds of change are blowing – and blockchain is at the forefront. In this article originally published by the World Economic Forum, South Pole's Renat Heuberger and Ingo Puhl delve into the huge potential of blockchain technology for impact investment and just how we can begin to tap into it...

Climate policy developments in Southeast Asia in the next few years will be pivotal in determining whether the world achieves the Paris Agreement's 2ºC goal – and in unlocking regional green growth opportunities worth an estimated $1 trillion. South Pole's Jeff Swartz takes a look at the prospects for Southeast Asian carbon markets in the latest edition of IETA Insights.

Our cities inhale the thoughts and dreams of 4.1 billion people, and exhale approximately 70% of our total global greenhouse gas. But while the task of making our cities sustainable is no easy feat, it is also by no means insurmountable. There are a number of initiatives that forward-thinking cities are fast adopting to reduce the impact of our global hubs. emissions.

The new Trump administration’s words and actions regarding climate change and energy policy portend a stark departure from the stance of the Obama Administration. For several years, the international community, led by the United States, has been heading towards a low-carbon economy. Many signs indicate that we are about to relinquish our role in the areas of climate change leadership and energy innovation. But will a change in direction significantly impact the energy transition and the way in which investors position themselves?

At the beginning of October, an environmental landmark passed with little fuss: The last of the world’s 55 biggest greenhouse gases emitters ratified the historic Paris Agreement. The news generated fewer headlines than the initial deal. It also generated fewer headlines than April’s joint ratification statement by the US and China. But it was arguably more significant than both. Because, as per the agreement’s small print, reaching the 55-country means that the ambitious pact can finally come into force. Now the hard work begins.

In recent years, green bond markets have emerged as a new way for investors in the capital markets to access sustainable investments. Cities have taken note. European cities in France and Sweden have been issuing green bonds since 2012. Municipalities in the US have a long track record of raising low-cost debt in the municipal bond market but only recently have begun to label bonds as ‘green’ in order to meet this demand signal from investors.