News in the spotlight: Areim raises EUR 450 million for sustainable data center fund
Areim has successfully raised an additional EUR 450 million for its Nordic data centre fund, Areim DC Fund, bringing the total capital to EUR 900 million. The raise was significantly oversubscribed and included both Nordic and international institutional investors, further diversifying the fund’s investor base.
Products & Services
Mirova Research Center and Sweep partner for the creation of a Corporate Contribution Index to Carbon Neutrality
Mirova Research Center and Sweep have launched a call for applications to develop the Corporate Contribution Index, which will assess companies’ contributions to carbon neutrality. The goal is to create a tool that measures the real impact of businesses on CO₂ reduction. Organizers are seeking partners to help design the methodology and implement the index. The index will consider both companies’ direct emission reduction efforts and their support for offset projects. The initiative aims to enhance transparency and credibility in corporate climate strategies. Applications are open to organizations and experts from various industries.
Amundi launches new Green Bond ETF with a focus on Euro government, low duration bonds
Amundi, Europe’s leading asset manager, is expanding its Fixed Income ETF offering with three new funds to help investors manage their bond allocations more effectively. The new ETFs include:
- Amundi Euro Government Low Duration Tilted Green Bond UCITS ETF – an SFDR Article 8 fund focusing on shorter-duration green bonds.
- Amundi Global Corporate Bond UCITS ETF – providing core exposure to the global corporate bond market.
- Amundi Global Treasury Bond UCITS ETF – offering diversified exposure to global sovereign bonds.
This expansion reflects Amundi’s commitment to delivering innovative and investor-focused solutions in the evolving Fixed Income market.
M&G’s Sustain Paris aligned funds adopt ‘Sustainability Improvers’ label in the UK
M&G Investments has announced that its Sustain Paris Aligned fund range will adopt the “Sustainability Improvers” label in the UK. This range includes three funds: M&G Global Sustain Paris Aligned Fund, M&G European Sustain Paris Aligned Fund, and M&G UK Sustain Paris Aligned Fund. The first two funds are managed by John William Olsen, while the UK fund is managed by Rory Alexander. The funds invest at least 70% of their assets in companies that support the Paris Agreement climate goals and have the potential to decarbonize over time. The new label highlights M&G’s commitment to sustainable investing and enhances transparency for investors. M&G has also recently adopted the “Sustainability Impact” label for the M&G Positive Impact Fund.
Areim raises EUR 450 million for sustainable data center fund
Areim has successfully raised an additional EUR 450 million for its Nordic data centre fund, Areim DC Fund, bringing the total capital to EUR 900 million. The raise was significantly oversubscribed and included both Nordic and international institutional investors, further diversifying the fund’s investor base. Over the past two years, Areim has secured more than EUR 1.2 billion in capital for its platform, including equity, debt, and bond capital. The funds will be used to expand EcoDataCenter, which Areim fully acquired in 2023. CEO Henrik Brinck Landelius emphasized the strong investor support and the growing demand for sustainable data centres in the Nordic market. Founder Leif Andersson highlighted the crucial role of data centres in digital infrastructure and AI development. Andulf Advokat provided legal counsel for the capital raise.
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
Sustainability Standards Board of Japan issues disclosure standards
The Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ) has issued its inaugural sustainability disclosure standards, aligned with the ISSB’s IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. These standards, announced in February 2025, include guidelines on the application of sustainability disclosure standards, general disclosures, and climate-related disclosures. Currently available in Japanese, an English overview and comparison with ISSB standards will be published soon. The SSBJ aims to contribute to both Japan’s and international sustainability reporting efforts.
US Government rejects UN 2030 agenda and SDGs
On March 7, 2025, the United States rejected the UN’s 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), claiming that they promote “soft global governance” that harms American interests. US representative Edward Heartney criticized the SDGs for advancing gender and climate ideologies, which were opposed by former President Donald Trump. The UN General Assembly later adopted a resolution reaffirming the SDGs, but the US, Israel, and Argentina voted against it. The SDGs aim to address issues like poverty, hunger, gender equality, and climate change, with a target of achieving them by 2030. The US’s refusal to engage with the SDGs could hinder progress toward these global goals.
Green & ESG Bonds
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Plant (KHNP) issued first nuclear power green bond in Asia
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Plant (KHNP) issued Asia’s first nuclear power green bond, marking a significant step in financing environmentally clean nuclear energy. The green bond, valued at 1.2 billion Hong Kong dollars (approximately $154 million), was supported by global investors from Hong Kong and Singapore. It will fund research into improving nuclear safety and next-generation technologies, such as small modular reactors. Moody’s Ratings gave KHNP’s Green Bond Framework its highest sustainability score, recognizing the company’s commitment to sustainability in nuclear power. This marks a shift from KHNP’s reliance on conventional non-green bonds to support its nuclear operations.
Net Zero Commitments
Wells Fargo drops Net Zero goals
Wells Fargo has reversed its commitment to achieving net-zero financed emissions by 2050, making it the first major U.S. bank to do so. The bank also dropped its 2030 interim emissions targets due to factors like political changes, shifts in consumer behavior, and technological developments. While the bank will continue its efforts to reduce operational emissions and invest in sustainable finance, it plans to increase financing for fossil fuels, including oil and gas projects. This move reflects broader industry trends, with other banks like Goldman Sachs also stepping back from strict climate commitments. Critics argue that such decisions hinder progress toward addressing climate change.