Latest news with #ESG-related
Hi Dubai
12-06-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
ICBC Lists USD 1.72 Billion in Green Bonds on Nasdaq Dubai
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has listed three green bond issuances worth a combined USD 1.72 billion on Nasdaq Dubai, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable finance and its commitment to the UAE capital market. The listings were made under ICBC's USD 20 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme through its branches in Dubai (DIFC), Hong Kong, and Singapore. The issuances include USD 1 billion floating rate notes by the Hong Kong branch, USD 300 million fixed-rate notes by the Singapore branch, and CNH 3 billion notes by the Dubai (DIFC) branch — all due in 2028. To mark the milestone, His Excellency Zhang Yiming, Ambassador of China to the UAE, rang the market-opening bell at Nasdaq Dubai, joined by Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), and Liu Hua, General Manager of ICBC Dubai (DIFC). Liu emphasized the significance of the multi-currency, carbon-neutrality-themed bonds as a reflection of ICBC's strategic focus on sustainable development, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative. With USD 5.6 billion in total outstanding bonds in the UAE, ICBC continues to expand its green finance footprint globally. Hamed Ali noted that the listings highlight Dubai's growing role as a global hub for sustainable finance, adding that Nasdaq Dubai remains committed to supporting responsible investment and innovation in capital markets. With this addition, Nasdaq Dubai's total debt listings have reached USD 136 billion, including USD 29 billion in ESG-related instruments — further cementing its position as a key platform for sustainable investment in the region. News Source: Dubai Media Office
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sustainability-related jobs signal ESG growth
The green building industry, as a sunrise industry in China, has become so popular that ESG (environmental, social and governance)-related positions are springing up like mushrooms after rain. With demand in the green building field skyrocketing, occupations like green building consultants, sustainable construction managers, sustainable trainers in human resources, sustainable trainers in legal compliance department, green building engineers, and carbon neutrality business analysts are vying for attention. If you typed "green building" to search jobs under the real estate category in Beijing on one of China's major recruitment portals, on May 12, the listing showed that there were 232 jobs available. The one with the highest monthly salary is senior green building engineer, with monthly salaries ranging from 29,000 yuan ($4,035) to 40,000 yuan. Green building consultant is also a hot position, with monthly salaries ranging from 5,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. They offer professional consulting, certification, and management services in every link, including the selection of building materials, construction techniques, energy consumption component testing and certification, emission control, facility updates, equipment management, and low-carbon management in the construction and usage processes. "As the era of carbon constraints fully arrives, carbon emissions may have a more direct impact on asset performance. In the field of commercial real estate, green buildings have become a new norm. Green building consultants have been playing a critical role in the process of promoting the green transition of buildings," said Alan Li, president of CBRE China, a global commercial real estate services and investment firm. Speaking of the reason why ESG-related positions are gaining popularity, Li noted that in addition to the widely recognised advantages of reducing operating expenses and being offered green financial support, the advantages of green buildings in terms of rental income are also very much evident. According to the latest survey from CBRE, one-fifth of tenants said that they will consider applying for a rental discount if a building does not have a green certification. At present, investors' allocation of ESG assets has shown a rapidly increasing trend. Latest statistics from CBRE showed that 91 percent of the respondents have or plan to include ESG into their investment decisions, while 71 percent of the investors are willing to offer a certain premium on ESG assets. Then, how can a green building consultant help an occupier or landlord in decarbonization? The report outlines that for occupiers, a green building consultant helps them in improving energy efficiency, decarbonising their energy chain by transitioning to renewable energy, optimising their workplace strategy planning, decarbonising the supply chain, as well as exploring carbon offset opportunities. For landlords, on the other hand, green building consultants help them in using intelligent building systems and adopting green leases, which enables clarifying the obligations and rights of landlords and occupiers in leasing terms where both parties can share the costs and benefits of green retrofitting and operation and participate more actively in decarbonization. Li noted that with the development of the green building industry, in the next three to five years, more demand is expected to emerge. For industry practitioners, they are advised to grasp basic knowledge of green building, including commercial real estate carbon footprint, to be familiar with national and local policy standards and energy-saving transformation technologies and promotion lists, and understand green financial instruments. As an international property consultancy, CBRE manages more than 46,500 buildings around the world. So far, CBRE has provided green building certification services to more than 20 million square meters of properties on the Chinese mainland, data from the company showed. - China Daily/ANN
Mid East Info
11-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Dubai Chamber of Commerce survey reveals growing awareness among local business community on the importance of ESG standards
72% of surveyed companies are aware of the importance of ESG standards and related initiatives. • 50% of companies are implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. • The highest rate of ESG implementation is recorded in the professional, scientific, and technical activities sector, followed by the insurance, financial services, and real estate sector. • 87% of large companies and 83% of multinational corporations are applying ESG-related initiatives. • Advanced recycling technologies and waste reduction lead corporate circular economy strategies. Dubai, UAE – Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced the results of its 2025 ESG Pulse Survey. The survey evaluates the level of awareness and adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards among the local business community, as well as the extent to which companies are implementing related initiatives. The survey results, conducted by the Centre for Responsible Business, reveal a growing awareness among Dubai's business community about the importance of ESG standards. A total of 72% of participating companies indicated they are familiar with ESG standards and related initiatives, while 50% confirmed they are actively implementing ESG-related initiatives. In addition, 35% of companies reported that they prepare specific reports on the initiatives they have adopted. Corporate values and institutional goals ranked as the primary motivation for implementing ESG initiatives, followed by regulatory compliance, corporate reputation, innovation and growth, competitiveness, customer expectations, and investor demands. Among the companies participating in the survey, 87% of the large companies reported implementing ESG initiatives, compared to 83% of multinational corporations and 46% of small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs. In terms of sectors, 55% of surveyed companies in the professional, scientific, and technical activities sector reported implementing ESG initiatives, representing the highest rate among all sectors. This was followed by the insurance, financial services, and real estate sector, with 52%, and the transport and storage sector at 50%. In terms of environmental sustainability initiatives, waste management ranked first, followed by pollution reduction, climate change practices, and sustainable procurement. For social initiatives, transparency and communication practices came first, followed by employee relations, customer relations, and community engagement. For governance-related initiatives, business ethics and compliance ranked first, followed by leadership and strategy, risk management, and then impact on businesses and stakeholders. The survey findings also highlighted that advanced recycling and waste reduction strategies are the top approaches adopted under companies' circular economy strategies. This is followed by collaboration with external stakeholders to implement circular economy projects and the development of sustainable products using recycled materials. Dubai Chamber of Commerce's Centre for Responsible Business plays a key role in promoting responsible and sustainable business practices across the emirate. The Centre is committed to encouraging and supporting companies in adopting corporate social responsibility, with the goal of enhancing their performance, competitiveness, and social and environmental contributions. It offers a range of platforms, tools, and knowledge resources to help businesses integrate governance, sustainability, and social responsibility into their corporate practices.
India Gazette
06-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
NSE subsidiary launches ESG rating services for listed companies
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 6 (ANI): NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics, a defunct subsidiary of the stock exchange NSE, has launched ESG ratings services for listed companies. It marks a significant milestone in advancing sustainable business practices in India. NSE Sustainability focuses on assessing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, providing stakeholders with vital information to make informed decisions. The company NSE Sustainability said in a statement Friday it received its certificate of registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as a Category I ESG Rating Provider (ERP). As a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE Indices Limited, which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE), NSE Sustainability embodies the principles of transparency and actionable insights. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, NSE, said, 'NSE Sustainability's mission is to provide stakeholders, including investors, businesses, regulators and the public, with accurate, comprehensive and unbiased evaluations of corporate sustainability practices.' The ESG ratings are derived from thoroughly evaluating company practices, policies, and disclosures across relevant sectors and industries. NSE Sustainability said in the statement it employs a transparent, data-driven, and materiality-based ESG ratings methodology aligned with both national and international standards and best practices. By integrating a wide array of parameters, NSE Sustainability ensures its ESG ratings reflect a balanced and objective perspective, free from biases related to size, scale, or industry. Aniruddha Chatterjee, CEO, NSE Indices, said 'The launch of ESG ratings by NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics Ltd underscores our commitment to innovation in sustainable finance and we believe that our ESG ratings, data and analytics will set a benchmark in advancing ESG practices across industries.' In addition to ESG ratings services, NSE Sustainability will be actively involved in a range of associated ESG-related activities including but not limited to scoring products, and research activities incidental to ESG ratings, for domestic and international dissemination. (ANI)
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Why New Zealand Businesses Must Keep Abreast Of Evolving Environmental And Social Responsibility Regulations
Opinion – OneAdvanced Businesses in NZ now face increasing scrutiny from regulators, customers, investors and the wider community to demonstrate accountability and transparency regarding their ESG impact. Failure to comply can result in substantial reputational damage, … Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations have rapidly evolved from optional corporate strategies into mandatory components of responsible business practice, particularly in New Zealand. In this region, we have witnessed significant shifts in the regulatory landscape, driven by rising societal expectations and international commitments. Businesses in New Zealand now face increasing scrutiny from regulators, customers, investors and the wider community to demonstrate accountability and transparency regarding their ESG impact. Failure to comply can result in substantial reputational damage, loss of business opportunities and hefty penalties. Unfortunately, the ESG regulatory environment is in a state of flux internationally. In Europe, businesses are grappling with proposed simplification reforms of the European Union's sustainability regulations. Meanwhile, federal support for ESG initiatives has significantly diminished in the United States since the Trump administration was re-elected. Navigating the ESG regulatory landscape in New Zealand In New Zealand, ESG-related regulations have intensified significantly with the introduction of the Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021, which mandates climate-related disclosures (CRD) for significant financial institutions. New Zealand is among the first nations globally to implement mandatory climate reporting, further solidifying its commitment to transparency and accountability. The first climate statements were filed in the first quarter of 2024. Importance of proactive ESG management To mitigate potential compliance breaches and operational disruptions, New Zealand businesses must proactively manage ESG risks, particularly in supply chain operations. Modern supply chains, often complex and spanning multiple jurisdictions, pose substantial ESG risks, making proactive management and thorough due diligence critical. Robust Source-to-Contract (S2C) solutions play a pivotal role in ESG compliance. They enable companies to systematically incorporate sustainability criteria into supplier evaluation, contract negotiations and ongoing supplier management. These solutions facilitate comprehensive visibility into supply chains, allowing companies to assess and mitigate risks more effectively, enhance transparency and maintain regulatory compliance. Organisations can enforce ESG standards for procurement through a strategic Source-to-Contract approach, embedding sustainable and ethical considerations into contractual obligations. This proactive stance ensures regulatory compliance, strengthens stakeholder trust and enhances corporate reputation, aligning operational practices with broader organisational values and public expectations. Strategic benefits of ESG compliance Businesses proactively addressing ESG regulations enjoy tangible strategic advantages beyond mere regulatory compliance. These include enhanced brand loyalty, stronger market positioning and improved risk management. Customers and investors increasingly demand proof of responsible ESG practices, rewarding companies that demonstrate robust compliance and penalising those that are behind. Additionally, proactive ESG management provides valuable opportunities for innovation and efficiency improvements. Implementing ESG-compliant practices frequently results in resource optimisation, cost reductions and improved operational efficiencies. Such practices drive competitive differentiation, helping businesses establish clear market leadership. Staying ahead of the curve Given the rapid pace of ESG regulatory developments, New Zealand businesses must remain agile and proactive in their compliance approach. Staying informed about legislative changes and evolving best practices is crucial. Companies should regularly engage with regulators, industry groups and ESG solutions providers to ensure their practices are current and comprehensive. For New Zealand businesses, recognising and effectively managing the four primary drivers of ESG-related legal risks, domestic regulations, international rules, litigation motivated by ESG issues, and external stakeholder pressures, is crucial. Companies strategically managing these elements will be better equipped to handle the fast-evolving ESG landscape and gain competitive advantages over organisations adopting fragmented or reactive approaches to ongoing regulatory changes. Businesses also need to anticipate future regulatory trends. Emerging issues such as biodiversity conservation, human rights due diligence and circular economy principles will likely feature prominently in future regulatory frameworks. Businesses should consider pre-emptively aligning their practices with these potential regulations to avoid reactive compliance efforts and gain first-mover advantages. Conclusion As regulatory frameworks around ESG continue to evolve, New Zealand businesses face both a responsibility and an opportunity to engage proactively. Understanding and anticipating regulatory shifts, implementing robust ESG practices and leveraging strategic sourcing solutions are crucial. By embracing these steps, New Zealand businesses can safeguard compliance, reinforce their market positions, enhance resilience and deliver enduring value to all stakeholders. The accelerated pace and complexity of ESG regulations across Australia and New Zealand present both a formidable challenge and a valuable opportunity. Businesses that proactively integrate ESG considerations into their core strategies and operational frameworks will meet compliance demands and significantly enhance their resilience, competitive edge and reputation in the market.
