Policy & regulation

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority launches consultation on new rules to prevent “exaggerated, misleading or unsubstantiated” claims regarding ESG products which can damage consumer confidence

Recently-introduced EU regulation affecting crowdfunding platforms is shaking up the sector, increasing competition and allowing licensed providers to operate and raise funds internationally

US political moves against environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing have implications for European asset managers, but hopefully will not be replicated on this side of the pond 

Rapid government action is needed to support climate-related investments by the private sector, according to the Investor Agenda group 

The Inflation Reduction Act is unlikely to reduce inflation but it has been hailed as the most significant piece of climate change legislation passed into law by the US Congress

Irish pension funds allocate less than 0.01% of their portfolios to local PE and VC funds, considerably less than their European counterparts. Pension funds could be an important source of capital for impactful SMEs

Demands of new EU framework could challenge companies’ ability to deliver sustainability data if it is not implemented carefully

EU plans to introduce a social taxonomy have been put on hold until at least the end of this parliamentary term, with lack of political will and absence of international standards to measure social impact cited as main stumbling blocks

A UK court has given the government eight months to spell out its net zero plans, as the number of court cases attempting to hold governments and companies to account over their climate policies continues to soar

This week, the European Parliament gave nuclear energy and gas a green label. Both energy sources are now included in the European taxonomy for sustainable investments