Eco-Business

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Petronas head of human resources Farehana Hanapiah and British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ailsa Terry.

As Big Oil draws criticism for delaying climate action, the British government's Chevening scholarship programme has come under scrutiny for accepting Petronas' sponsorship. Climate advocacy group Rimbawatch is concerned Petronas will exert influence through the scholarship; the Chevening team says scholars are not subject to any obligations.

The unregulated product is increasingly offered by ESG raters to gauge how “green” a bond or loan is. But “overly positive” reviews challenge their ability to bring credibility to the trillion-dollar sustainable debt market, experts say.

The Singapore branch of Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Sustainability-linked loans reward borrowers that meet sustainability goals. Rainforest Action Network argues that MUFG, in lending millions to resources company RGE despite its links to deforestation, is guilty of sustainable finance greenwash. MUFG and RGE have responded to explain how performance targets are verified and audited.

Post-restructure early this year, the organisation that runs the B Corp certification scheme in Singapore has seen two executives appointed to head up business development leave the role. It has not filled its CEO position, left vacant since last December.

By Rhick Lars Albay

Thomson Reuters Foundation

By Robin Hicks

By Gabrielle See

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If the EU is to achieve its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, it must act now to ensure that it can weather the inevitable political headwinds. A new green social contract and industrial policy can make all the difference. By Simone Tagliapietra

House Bill 7705, the low carbon economy bill, could help the climate-vulnerable nation seize the economic opportunities that come with decarbonisation. By Ping Manongdo

Non-populist policies pose risks for politicians. Prabowo Subianto, who has claimed victory in the Indonesian presidential elections, is looking at creating five million green jobs, but stops short of pledging to phase out fossil fuels subsidies. By Anissa R. Suharsono and Yanuar Nugroho

Palm oil plantation Kalimantan Indonesia

EB Studio Mutual benefits are assured when the financial sector collaborates with palm oil stakeholders. FIs can help smallholders secure credit, while getting access to data and insights required to make sound and profitable investment decisions. By Joseph D'Cruz

By Makhtar Diop

By Razan Al Mubarak

By Dr Justin See

By Lorenzo Cotula and Camilla More

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The climate non-profit's head Sherry Madera insists there are just 450 questions, not over 5,500 as some industry players have cited, in its new questionnaire, which has faced pushback for failing to ease disclosure burden as intended.

Climate tech podcast with Steve Melhuish

Entrepreneur Steve Melhuish tells the EB Podcast where the biggest opportunities to reduce emissions and make money are in Southeast Asia, and why finding the right economic incentives is critical for climate tech startups.

ADX's chief strategy and transformation officer Matthias Büchler tells the Eco-Business podcast why sustainability is a key growth strategy and how the COP summit shaped ESG reporting for listed companies on the exchange.

A protest for climate justice in the Philippines

The new head of Japan and Southeast Asia for ClientEarth tells the Eco-Business Podcast how the law can be used to hold polluters to account in the world's biggest emitting region. She also says it's time the legal profession faced scrutiny for greenwashing.

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