News in the spotlight: New carbon credit service launched by Amazon
Amazon has launched a carbon credit service through its Sustainability Exchange, providing access to high-quality, science-based carbon credits for qualified companies.
Products & Services
Arcmont Asset Management launches new impact lending strategy
Arcmont Asset Management, a member of Nuveen Private Capital, has launched a new Impact Lending strategy, securing two mandates totaling €475 million from APG and TIAA. The strategy aims to finance companies addressing key environmental and social challenges in climate, health, education, and sustainable economic growth. Developed with Bridgespan Social Impact and verified by BlueMark, it integrates responsible investing principles and rigorous impact due diligence. Arcmont commits to transparent ESG reporting, reinforcing its leadership in the European Private Debt sector. APG and TIAA highlight that this strategy combines attractive investment returns with meaningful social impact (source: arcmont.com).
Stafford raised more than USD 1bn for Timberland Fund
Stafford Capital Partners has closed its flagship timberland fund, SIT X, at $1.04 billion, surpassing its $1 billion target and making it the largest dedicated secondaries timberland fund to date. The fund, which also secured co-investments, raised over $1.1 billion from 13 institutional investors, primarily pension schemes, with commitments from the UK (48%), Germany (23%), Korea (19%), and North America (10%). Stafford has already committed over $330 million to five investments covering 27 sustainably managed timberland assets spanning 1 million hectares, contributing to an estimated 16 Mt CO2e sequestration between 2023 and 2024. CEO Angus Whiteley emphasized timberland’s role as a stable, yielding real asset that mitigates climate risk, while Co-Managing Partner Stephen Addicott highlighted the fund’s ability to offer investors diversified, high-quality timberland portfolios through strategic secondary transactions. With a strong pipeline, including a pending $140 million transaction, Stafford expects to invest $470 million in the coming weeks (source: staffordcp.com).
PGIM launches Better Future Fund
PGIM, the $1.38 trillion global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc., has expanded its equities portfolio with the introduction of the PGIM Jennison Better Future Fund. This Irish-domiciled UCITS sub-fund is tailored for institutional and wholesale investors, focusing on high-growth companies aligned with select United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Managed by Jennison Associates, PGIM’s active equity arm, the fund targets firms with disruptive technologies, dynamic product development, and expanding market opportunities. Utilizing a bottom-up stock selection approach, the global portfolio comprises 25-40 companies without constraints on country or sector allocations.
While benchmark-agnostic in strategy, its performance is measured against the MSCI All Country World Index. The investment team is led by Mark Baribeau, Head of Global Equity, and Rebecca Irwin, Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst at Jennison Associates. With nearly two decades of experience at Jennison, the team is supported by global growth sector analysts and a sustainability research unit. Baribeau emphasized that the strategy seeks robust revenue and profit growth in companies contributing to sustainable and inclusive development, integrating relevant UN SDGs into its analytical framework (source: pgim.com).
Just Climate secured $175mn from CalSTRS and Microsoft´s Climate Innovation Fund
Just Climate has secured $175 million from CalSTRS and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund to accelerate investment in Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). This initiative aims to transform land use practices, which contribute to one-third of global emissions and biodiversity loss. The NCS strategy funds scalable solutions, including biological alternatives to chemical fertilizers, innovative restoration financing, and carbon sequestration verification technologies. Its first investment backed NatureMetrics, a UK-based biodiversity monitoring firm. CalSTRS’ involvement highlights the role of institutional investors in land-use transitions, while Microsoft’s participation supports scaling net-zero solutions and high-quality carbon credits. Microsoft also co-founded the Just Climate Nature Alliance, a coalition fostering corporate investment in nature-based solutions (source: justclimate.com).
New carbon credit service launched by Amazon
Amazon has launched a carbon credit service through its Sustainability Exchange, providing access to high-quality, science-based carbon credits for qualified companies. The initiative supports businesses in their sustainability efforts by financing nature-based projects and carbon removal technologies. To ensure credibility, only companies with net-zero targets covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, regular emissions reporting, and science-aligned decarbonization strategies can participate. Amazon aims to address transparency and quality concerns in the voluntary carbon market, reinforcing its commitment to combating climate change. Key partners already involved include Flickr, Slalom, and Steelcase, among others (source: aboutamazon.com).
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
SBTi launches draft Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 for consultation
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has released a draft of its revised Corporate Net-Zero Standard for public consultation, aiming to accelerate corporate decarbonization. The updated framework tackles barriers to Scope 3 emissions reductions, emphasizes emissions reduction while exploring incentives for climate finance and carbon removals, and introduces streamlined requirements for businesses in emerging economies. Key proposals include a commitment to low-carbon electricity by 2040, new options for addressing Scope 3 emissions through green procurement and revenue generation, and recognizing companies investing in Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM). The draft also introduces measures for tracking and communicating progress against targets to enhance accountability. The consultation runs until June 1, with feedback shaping the final standard (source: sciencebasedtargets.com).
CDP and EFRAG publish mapping between CDP question bank and ESRS E1
CDP and EFRAG have published a correspondence mapping between the CDP question bank and the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS E1) to enhance alignment in climate disclosures. The mapping highlights interoperability in key areas such as climate transition plans, emissions reporting (Scopes 1, 2, 3), and internal carbon pricing. This resource simplifies reporting for companies, reducing complexity and improving efficiency by aligning CDP and ESRS E1 requirements. Leaders from both organizations emphasized the value of the initiative in fostering transparency and compliance. The collaboration will continue to strengthen interoperability and support businesses in implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Net Zero Commitments
Nordea signs carbon removal contract
Nordea has signed a multi-year carbon removal contract with Inherit Carbon Solutions to capture and permanently store at least 68,000 tonnes of CO2. This agreement is a key milestone in Nordea’s carbon removal strategy, which aims to support the scaling of high-quality carbon removal technologies. The captured CO2 will come from a biogas plant in Denmark that processes agricultural organic waste. Using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology, the CO2 will be liquified and stored in geological formations under the North Sea. Nordea has already reduced emissions from its own operations by 53% compared to 2019 and aims to achieve a positive carbon contribution by 2030. The agreement with Inherit Carbon Solutions is the bank’s first step in building a portfolio of high-quality carbon removal projects, with a preference for Nordic initiatives. The project is set to begin generating carbon removal credits in 2026, making it one of the first operational BECCS projects in the region (source: nordea.com).