News in the spotlight: EBA seeks simpler ESG Reporting rules for banks
The European Banking Authority launched consultations on revised Implementing Technical Standards for supervisory reporting and benchmarking, aiming to cut EU banks’ reporting burden by 50% while maintaining data quality for oversight. Changes apply from September 2027, covering IFRS 18, ESG, and FRTB additions.
Products and Services
LRQA acquires Partner Africa to expand responsible sourcing advisory
LRQA has acquired Partner Africa, a responsible sourcing advisory firm focused on improving supply chain sustainability, social compliance, and human rights due diligence across Africa and other emerging markets. The acquisition expands LRQA’s advisory capabilities in ethical sourcing and supply chain risk management, combining Partner Africa’s regional expertise with LRQA’s broader assurance, inspection, and cybersecurity services. According to the announcement, the move is intended to help clients address growing regulatory and stakeholder expectations related to responsible sourcing, including labor conditions, supplier engagement, and environmental and social governance. LRQA said Partner Africa’s experience working with brands, retailers, and investors will strengthen its ability to support customers in identifying and mitigating risks in complex supply chains. The integration is also expected to enhance LRQA’s reach in markets where transparency and traceability are becoming increasingly important for global companies. Financial terms were not disclosed.
BTG Pactual TIG raises USD 370mn for Latin America timberland strategy
BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG) completed a first close of USD 370 million for its core Latin America timberland strategy on April 16, 2026. The fund targets USD 1.5 billion deployment over five years into large-scale, sustainably managed assets across Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, diversifying by geography, climate zones, species, and end-markets. With two decades of regional experience managing scaled platforms like Lumin, Vista, Hermosa, and the recent Plateau (100,000 hectares with Klabin and BCI), BTG Pactual TIG leverages Latin America’s fast growth rates, advanced forest products industries, and expanding domestic/export demand. Plateau’s USD700 million acquisition marked one of Latin America’s largest timberland deals. The strategy incorporates an impact framework targeting climate solutions, carbon credits, biodiversity co-benefits, and community outcomes, capitalizing on vast reforestation potential amid rising institutional appetite for inflation-hedged natural capital. BTG Pactual TIG oversees a USD7.5 billion global portfolio spanning 3 million acres in the U.S. and Latin America.
Fondaction and Triodos IM launched Value Nature Fund I
Fondaction Asset Management and Triodos Investment Management launched Value Nature Fund I, a EUR 300mn closed-end natural capital fund targeting regenerative agriculture and closer-to-nature forestry across North America and Europe. Fondaction committed up to CAD 25mn as a founding investor, leveraging its CAD 4.25bn sustainable finance platform. The fund addresses a USD 700bn annual investment gap for biodiversity restoration, where current global flows reach only USD 200bn despite 65% of asset owners prioritizing nature in strategies. It converts farmland and forests to practices enhancing soil health, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services, targeting full portfolio transition. A dual-continent, dual-sector model diversifies across uncorrelated drivers: varied cropping systems, forest management, consumer markets, climates, and regulations. This reduces volatility while capturing untapped opportunities in sustainable food/timber supply chains, inflation hedging, and sector resilience. The fund is classified as SFDR Article 9 and mandates measurable KPIs across biodiversity/ecosystem services, climate mitigation/adaptation, and social wellbeing.
MIGA backs AMEA Power with USD 1.48bn renewables guarantee package
MIGA signed a framework agreement with AMEA Power providing up to USD 1.48bn in guarantees to support 23 renewable energy and battery storage projects across Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. The structure mobilizes USD 1.65bn in private investment for 2,766 MW generation capacity and 2,729 MWh storage. This portfolio guarantee model shifts from single-project coverage, accelerating timelines, improving capital efficiency, and diversifying risks across jurisdictions and technologies. Phase one targets Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, and Uzbekistan; phase two adds more markets. Construction creates 17,000+ direct jobs. Coverage spans 15 years against political risks including currency transfer restrictions, expropriation, war, civil disturbance, and contract breach. Initial guarantees issued for two Egyptian projects exceed USD 150mn in equity/quasi-equity. Several countries gain first grid-scale battery storage, enhancing stability and renewable penetration.
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) announced the release of ISO 14001:2026
ISO published the updated ISO 14001:2026 standard, refining the world’s most adopted environmental management system used by over 670,000 certified organizations. The revision enhances clarity, usability, and integration with other ISO management standards while prioritizing climate change, biodiversity, and resource efficiency. Key updates emphasize leadership accountability, governance structures, and value chain impact management. Navigation improves for faster implementation across operations, supply chains, and strategic planning. The framework aligns environmental performance with measurable outcomes rather than aspirational commitments. New research from the Standards Council of Canada analyzing 83 countries (1999-2022) links a 1% rise in ISO 14001 certifications to 0.14% lower GHG emissions per GDP unit. Mature standardization ecosystems amplify benefits, proving standards drive systemic efficiency even amid economic growth. BSI, holding the ISO/TC 207/SC 1 secretariat, highlights strengthened resilience against interconnected risks. The standard equips firms to meet rising transparency demands under CSRD, TNFD, and investor scrutiny, converting environmental data into operational KPIs.
EBA seeks simpler ESG Reporting rules for banks
The European Banking Authority launched consultations on revised Implementing Technical Standards for supervisory reporting and benchmarking, aiming to cut EU banks’ reporting burden by 50% while maintaining data quality for oversight. Changes apply from September 2027, covering IFRS 18, ESG, and FRTB additions. Proposals reduce data points and templates, adjust frequencies, and enhance proportionality for small non-complex institutions via a core-plus model. Stress tests and benchmarking integrate into regular cycles, eliminating overlaps and stabilizing requirements. National data requests will feed an EU public repository with best-practice guidance. Consultations close July 10, 2026 (May 10 for IFRS 18 FINREP). Public hearings occur May 5 and June 24; a June 4 workshop aids implementation. Feedback shapes JBRC’s integrated prudential-statistical reporting using DPM 2.0 standards. Revisions draw from EBA’s 2021 compliance cost study and 2025 efficiency report, targeting fragmented national collections. ESG reporting aligns with forthcoming Pillar 3 ITS under Article 449a CRR, streamlining disclosures for credit risk, IFRS 9, and sustainability metrics.
Net Zero Commitments
Exomad Green and Supercritical sign 500,000-Ton biochar removal deal
Exomad Green, the world’s largest biochar carbon removal producer by delivered volume, signed a three-year agreement with Supercritical for up to 500,000 tonnes of durable credits. The deal secures Exomad Green’s remaining 2026 inventory plus 2027-2028 allocations, all Puro.earth certified. This extends a third-year partnership through which Supercritical has already facilitated over 100,000 tonnes of Exomad credits. Exomad Green has delivered more than 320,000 tonnes total, expanding production 200% year-over-year from sustainably sourced Bolivian forestry residues that enhance soil health and support local communities. The agreement addresses constrained near-term supply amid rising corporate demand for verified, operational removals to meet 2026-2030 targets. Market execution gaps in early-stage projects elevate proven capacity, shifting focus from promises to performance. Supercritical, having facilitated nearly 2 million tonnes across biochar, mineralization, direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, and other pathways, provides buyers immediate access through exclusive partnerships and three-layer delivery protection.
Leadership Announcements
EFRAG names Kerstin Lopatta new chair of Sustainability Reporting Board
EFRAG appointed Kerstin Lopatta as Chair of its Sustainability Reporting Board (SRB) effective May 1, 2026, for a three-year term. The European Commission’s nomination, following consultations with Parliament and Council, was ratified by EFRAG’s General Assembly on April 13. Lopatta brings auditor, consultant, and academic expertise in corporate reporting, plus board and audit committee experience addressing business challenges. Her four years as SRB Vice Chair position her to lead during critical ESRS implementation. The timing aligns with the Commission’s planned June 2026 adoption of simplified ESRS delegated acts and a voluntary standard for non-CSRD firms. Lopatta will prioritize decision-useful disclosures while aiding company implementation, including EFRAG’s support for simplified standards. Her leadership comes as CSRD reporting accelerates: over 50,000 EU firms face mandatory ESRS from 2028, driving demand for investor-grade sustainability data. SRB oversight shapes standards balancing financial materiality with impact metrics under TNFD interoperability.