News in the spotlight: Switzerland proposes expanded Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence rules
The Swiss Federal Council adopted updated climate targets under the Paris Agreement on April 10, 2026, aligning with the Climate and Innovation Act’s reduction trajectory. Switzerland commits to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% below 1990 levels by 2035, with an average 59% reduction across 2031-2035, prioritizing domestic measures.
Products and Services
Australian Ethical and CEFC launch Australian USD 625m climate-focused private markets fund
Australian Ethical Investment and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) launched a AUSD625 million private markets fund targeting climate solutions. The Impact Investment Trust focuses on mature, scaled infrastructure assets delivering verifiable emissions reductions. The fund allocates across three core strategies: renewable energy generation, electrification and efficiency technologies, and sustainable transport infrastructure. Eligible investments include utility-scale solar and wind farms, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging networks, and green hydrogen production facilities. CEFC committed AUSD300 million as anchor investor, leveraging its mandate to catalyze private capital into Australia’s energy transition. Australian Ethical provides investment management expertise, targeting financial returns alongside measurable climate impact metrics such as tonnes of CO₂ avoided and renewable energy generated.
EIB grants EUR 60m guarantee to biodiversity fund
The European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group, provided a EUR60 million guarantee to Sienna Investment Managers’ Biodiversity Private Credit Fund on April 2, 2026. Backed by InvestEU Sustainability Guarantee, it covers up to 70% credit risk for loans to small and medium firms. The Article 9 SFDR fund, targeting EUR200 million size, secured EUR100 million initial commitment from Malakoff Humanis last year. Over 36 months, it finances European projects protecting, restoring, and enhancing natural capital or sharply cutting environmental footprints, using impact clauses for measurable progress. The guarantee unlocks capital for early-stage initiatives and those with weaker collateral, addressing biodiversity threats from pollution, overfarming, climate change, resource depletion, and invasives. Sienna IM’s private debt arm manages the fund, building on prior EIF collaborations. This mobilizes private investment into underfunded biodiversity credits and restoration, supporting EU goals amid EUR7.7 billion EIB 2025 agriculture/bioeconomy lending (up 22%).
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
Switzerland proposes expanded Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence rules
The Swiss Federal Council adopted updated climate targets under the Paris Agreement on April 10, 2026, aligning with the Climate and Innovation Act’s reduction trajectory. Switzerland commits to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% below 1990 levels by 2035, with an average 59% reduction across 2031-2035, prioritizing domestic measures. This builds on the existing 2030 goal of at least 50% reduction (35% average 2021-2030) and the legally binding net-zero target by 2050, followed by net-negative emissions. Interim milestones include 64% average cuts for 2031-2040, 75% by 2040, and 89% for 2041-2050. The Climate Protection Ordinance mandates transition plans for large firms, with net-zero required across buildings, transport, and industry sectors by 2050. Targets exclude international aviation/shipping refueled in Switzerland but emphasize technological advances like carbon capture for hard-to-abate sectors (e.g., cement, food production).
ESG Data and Analytics
SLR expands Climate-Risk advisory with Planetrics acquisition
SLR Consulting said it has acquired Planetrics, a climate analytics platform focused on physical climate risk and scenario analysis, to expand its capabilities in climate-risk advisory services. The transaction adds technology and expertise that can help clients assess exposure to climate hazards, stress-test assets and operations, and support decision-making on adaptation and resilience. SLR said the move strengthens its broader sustainability consulting offering and reflects growing demand from financial institutions, corporates and investors for more detailed climate-risk data and analysis. By bringing Planetrics into the group, SLR aims to combine consulting expertise with software-enabled analytics to deliver more integrated climate assessments. The acquisition follows SLR’s stated strategy of building out specialist capabilities in areas where climate, nature and business risk increasingly overlap. Financial terms were not disclosed.