On 13 May 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) submitted to the European Commission 10 queries regarding the interpretation of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Taxonomy Regulation (TR). The queries relate to the following five areas: Principal adverse impact (PAI) disclosures: Whether it is possible for a financial market participant to not … Continue Reading
On 12 May 2022, the government issued a call for evidence to support the development of an update to the UK’s Green Finance Strategy. The call for evidence contains 39 questions on four key objectives: Capturing the opportunity of green finance. Mobilising finance for the UK’s energy security, climate and environmental objectives. Greening the financial … Continue Reading
On 11 May 2022, the Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) launched a Call for Evidence on a Sector-Neutral Framework for private sector transition plans. The consultation asks for feedback on a range of questions regarding the content of a gold standard transition plan. The consultation period closes on 13 July 2022. After this, the TPT will … Continue Reading
On 6 May 2022, the European Commission published a letter (dated 11 April 2022) which it had sent to the chairs of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) concerning the draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The Commission decided to bundle all 13 draft RTS into a single delegated regulation … Continue Reading
On 3 May 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities issued a consultation paper seeking input on draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) on the content, methodologies and presentation of information in respect of the sustainability indicators for simple, transparent and standardised (STS) securitisations. The draft RTS do not provide a framework for ‘sustainable securitisation’. Rather they provide … Continue Reading
On 29 April 2022, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) issued a report setting out certain recommendations that are intended to assist supervisory authorities in developing their approaches to monitor, manage and mitigate cross-sectoral and system-wide risks arising from climate change and promote consistent approaches across sectors and jurisdictions. The report: Examines supervisory and regulatory reporting … Continue Reading
On 6 April 2022, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation (together with five annexes) containing regulatory technical standards (RTS) for disclosures of sustainability-related information under the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR). The RTS specify the content, methodology and presentation of the information to be disclosed, thereby improving its quality and comparability. It also supports … Continue Reading
On 23 February 2022, the European Commission (the Commission) published a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD or the Directive). This note summarises ten key issues enterprises active in the EU should know about the proposed Directive. 1) Aim of the proposal The proposed CSDD serves a number of purposes. First, … Continue Reading
On 4 April 2022, the European Commission issued a targeted consultation on the functioning of environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and sustainability factors in credit ratings. The purpose of the consultation is to help the Commission gain a better insight on the functioning of the market for ESG ratings, as well as better understand … Continue Reading
On 30 March 2022, the Platform on Sustainable Finance (Platform) issued a report containing recommendations on the technical screening criteria for the four remaining environmental objectives of the EU taxonomy. The report principally contains recommendations relating to technical screening criteria for objectives 3 – 6 of the Taxonomy Regulation, as well as recommendations to improve … Continue Reading
On 25 March 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) updated their joint supervisory statement on the application of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The updated statement includes a new timeline, expectations about the explicit quantification of the product disclosures under Articles 5 and 6 of the Taxonomy Regulation, and the use of estimates. The … Continue Reading
On 24 March 2022, the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) issued a statement on nature-related financial risks. Among other things the statement notes that on the basis of available scientific evidence, the NGFS is of the view that nature-related risks, including those associated with biodiversity loss, could have significant macro-economic implications, and that … Continue Reading
On 14 March 2022, the European Central Bank (ECB) published its report on banks’ progress towards transparent disclosure of their climate-related and environmental risk profiles. Frank Elderson, Member of the ECB’s Executive Board and Vice-Chair of the ECB’s Supervisory Board, has also delivered a speech on the ECB’s supervisory approach on climate-related and environmental risks. … Continue Reading
On 9 March 2022, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation (together with Annexes 1, 2 and 3) amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 (the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act) as regards economic activities in certain energy sectors and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178 (the Taxonomy Disclosures Delegated Act) as regards specific public disclosures for those economic activities. … Continue Reading
On 14 March 2022, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published its work plan to develop sustainable finance. Among other things IOSCO plans to review the soon-to-be-published IFRS International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Exposure Drafts of proposed climate and general sustainability disclosure requirements, as well as the final standards when they are produced. The … Continue Reading
On 4 March 2022, the European Commission updated its webpage on EU labels for benchmarks (climate, ESG) and benchmarks’ ESG disclosures by providing details of a study on feasibility, minimum standards and transparency requirements of an EU ESG benchmark label. The Commission explains that it is exploring the possibility of introducing a new label which … Continue Reading
On 2 March 2022, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published a report that analyses recent developments and challenges in introducing sustainability in the EU securitisation market. The report examines how sustainability could be introduced in the specific context of securitisation to foster transparency and credibility in the EU sustainable securitisation market and to support its … Continue Reading
At a Norton Rose Fulbright-hosted event, Executive Director of insurance at the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), Charlotte Gerken, set out her priorities for the insurance sector in 2022. The speech expands upon the priorities set out in the ‘Dear CEO’ letter sent to insurance companies on 12 January 2022. The speech focused on the importance … Continue Reading
On 28 February 2022, the Platform on Sustainable Finance issued a report proposing a structure for a social taxonomy within the current EU legislative environment on sustainable finance and sustainable governance. The current environment consists of: (i) the existing legislation and proposed initiatives on the EU taxonomy; (ii) the proposed corporate sustainability reporting directive; (iii) … Continue Reading
On 25 February 2022, the FCA published Primary Market Bulletin No. 38 stating that it has added to its knowledge base a new technical note concerning Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) aligned climate-related disclosure requirements for listed companies. The technical note concerns: Listing Rule (LR) 9.8.6R(8) and LR 14.3.27R which require premium listed … Continue Reading
On 15 February 2022, the European Banking Federation, together with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, issued a report, “Practical approaches to applying the EU Taxonomy to bank lending”, that explores practical approaches for banks who wish to use the EU Taxonomy. This includes how the EU Taxonomy could be used by banks that … Continue Reading
On 11 February 2022, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2022-2024. In the Roadmap ESMA identifies three priorities for its sustainable finance work: Tackling greenwashing and promoting transparency. ESMA will investigate this issue, define its fundamental features and address it with coordinated action across multiple sectors. Building Member State … Continue Reading
On 22 September 2021, the European Commission adopted a review of the Solvency II regime. The Solvency II regime includes the Solvency II framework directive (Directive 2009/138/EC) and delegated regulations. The review includes a legislative proposal to amend the framework directive as well as a legislative proposal for a new EU Insurance Recovery and Resolution … Continue Reading
On 6 September 2021, the FCA announced that the application window for the second Green FinTech Challenge was open. The first Green FinTech Challenge was held in 2018. The purpose of the Green FinTech Challenge is to support the development and live market testing of new products and services that will aid the transition to … Continue Reading
