June 2023 Week-4; Senegal seals $2.7 billion green energy deal; Netherlands & Denmark launch $1 billion South Africa green hydrogen fund; Gender gap not on Pace to close until 2154; Kroger to donate 10 billion meals by 2030; Church of England announces fossil fuel disinvestment; Netflix & Disney form Clean Mobile Power Initiative; BBVA and IFC announce launch of first blue bond in Colombia…

See below for the highlights of the past week:

Sustainability Goals, Initiatives and Achievements

• Starbucks and Arizona State University To Open Sustainability Learning and Innovation Lab in Costa Rica
• Bank of America to Join One of the World’s Largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programs
• Airbus and LanzaJet to Collaborate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
• The Home Depot Set Goal for Battery Powered Products to Drive Over 85% of Outdoor Lawn Equipment Sales by 2028

Executive Moves

• Farnek Appoints Muna AlNahdi as New Head of Sustainability

ESG Around the World

• World Bank Approves $250 Million to Improve Water Services and Build Climate Resilience in Jordan
• BBVA and IFC Announce Launch of First Blue Bond in Colombia
• Canada Invests $350 Million in National Sustainable Aviation Innovation Network
• EU Invests €110 Million to Advance Education, Health and Green Energy in Zambia
• Netherlands, Denmark Launch $1 Billion South Africa Green Hydrogen Fund
• South Korea Says 6 European Firms to Invest $929 Million in Wind Power, Batteries
• EU Commission Approves €1.1 Billion To Support Electricity Storage Facilities in Hungary
• UNDP, GLEIF and MAS Team to Digitise Basic ESG Credentials for MSMEs
• IFC and Bank BTPN Partner in $500 Million Social and Green Bond Deal to Strengthen Climate Action and Boost Inclusive Development in Indonesia
• Senegal Seals $2.7 Billion Green Energy Deal with Richer Nations
• Church of England Pensions Board Announces Fossil Fuel Disinvestment

Government & Regulators

• EPA Finalizes New Renewable Fuel Standards to Strengthen U.S. Energy Security, Support U.S. Rural Economy, and Expand Production of Low-Carbon Fuels

ESG Services & Tools

• Boeing Launches SAF Dashboard to Track and Project Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
• Morningstar Sustainalytics Enhances its Physical Climate Risk Assessments for Public Companies

ESG Investing

• Transgrid To Invest $11 Billion To Prepare Australian State For 100% Renewables
• Tesla Returns to S&P 500 ESG Index after Adding More Environmental Disclosures
• Avaana Capital’s Climate and Sustainability Fund Raises $70 Million
• EU Invests €6.2 Billion in Sustainable, Safe, Efficient Transportation Projects

Sustainable Finance

• EIB Issues First Ever Digital Climate Awareness Bond and Swedish Krona Transaction
• MUFG and Partners Launch $1.5 Billion Climate Finance Platform

Energy Transition

• Cargill and H2 Green Steel Sign Contract to Supply Near Zero Emission Steel
• Boston Consulting Group Enters 40,000-ton Carbon Removal Credit Agreement with CarbonCapture
• Netflix, The Walt Disney Company to Develop Zero-Emissions Power Through Clean Mobile Power Initiative

Social Responsibility & DEI

• WEF Report: Gender Gap Not On Pace to Close Until 2154
• Kroger To Donate 10 Billion Meals by 2030 To Feed Neighbors Struggling with Hunger

ESG Research & Reports

• Ralph Lauren Releases 2023 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report
• Global ESG Regulation Increases by 155% Over the Past Decade
• IEA-IFC Report Calls for Ramping Up Clean Energy Investments in Emerging and Developing Economies
• MetLife Publishes 2022 Sustainability Report

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