News in the spotlight: EcoVadis and Workiva partner to streamline Scope 3 Reporting
EcoVadis is expanding its Carbon Data Network by integrating Workiva’s reporting platform, aiming to tighten the link between supplier‑level carbon data and corporate disclosure. The partnership connects EcoVadis’ primary supplier emissions data directly into Workiva Carbon, so companies can move from rough industry averages to granular, audit‑ready Scope 3 inputs.
Products and Services
FTSE Russell, Planetrics to launch climate-scenario indices for investors
FTSE Russell and Planetrics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop climate‑scenario‑based indices and analytics. Planetrics will provide its proprietary models and tools for physical and transition climate risk, which FTSE Russell will use to build indices across asset classes that explicitly embed climate scenarios into price and risk signals. The two firms will co‑design the underlying analytical frameworks and data inputs, with FTSE Russell responsible for governance, index construction, and commercial distribution, supported by Planetrics’ research and technical depth. The aim is to help investors move beyond generic climate awareness and start pricing different climate pathways into portfolios. New indices are expected to launch later in 2026. For investors, this means benchmarks that map how climate scenarios—such as extreme weather, policy changes, or uneven sector‑level transitions—transmit through supply chains and competitive positions to company‑level outcomes and portfolio risk.
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
New Zealand changes law to protect companies from climate lawsuits
New Zealand plans to change its climate law to stop courts from finding companies liable in private cases over greenhouse-gas-related harm. The amendment to the Climate Change Response Act would apply to both current and future proceedings, including a High Court case against six major emitters such as Fonterra. The government says climate accountability should be handled by Parliament, the emissions trading system, and existing climate rules, not through tort claims in court. It argues that litigation of this kind creates uncertainty for business and that courts are not well suited to resolving the wider economic and social questions involved. The move comes as climate litigation is growing globally, with cases in Europe, the US, and Australia testing corporate liability for emissions. Critics say the change would block one of the few legal routes available to people seeking compensation for climate damage. ClientEarth called it deeply concerning, arguing that access to courts is necessary to test climate obligations and uphold accountability. For companies, the proposal would reduce litigation risk.
ESG- and Green Bond Issuances
SEB arranges NWB’s first SEK social bond
SEB acted as sole manager for Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB Bank)’s first social bond in Swedish krona, a five‑year SEK 600 million issue and its first Nordic‑currency social bond since 2019. The proceeds will finance projects under NWB’s Social Bond Framework, supporting affordable housing and essential public infrastructure. The issuance followed an investor trip to the Netherlands, organised by SEB, which gave Nordic institutional investors—including Handelsbanken Fonder, SEB Asset Management and Swedbank Robur—direct exposure to NWB’s water‑infrastructure and social‑housing projects. This helped drive demand for the bond from highly rated public‑sector‑issued social paper. SEB highlighted the transaction as evidence of strong Nordic investor appetite for high‑quality social bonds and its role in helping NWB return to the Swedish krona market. For investors, the bond offers exposure to a well‑rated public‑sector issuer alongside targeted social impact linked to clearly defined projects.
HSBC and Hang Seng Bank back Hong Kong’s first biodiversity-linked loan
Henderson Land has completed Hong Kong’s first biodiversity‑linked loans, raising around HK-USD 100 million from HSBC and Hang Seng Bank to finance ecological enhancements at its Central Yards mixed‑use development on the New Central Harbourfront. The proceeds will fund native planting, smart systems to manage an urban forest, and biodiversity surveys and monitoring across the site. The loan is structured under the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association, Asia Pacific Loan Market Association and Loan Syndications and Trading Association, with a clear focus on urban biodiversity restoration, conservation and enhancement. More than 400 trees and a broad palette of plant species will be introduced across multi‑level gardens, including Central’s largest sky garden greenway. For the banks, the deal is marketed as a first‑mover step in Hong Kong’s nature‑positive finance toolkit, extending sustainable lending beyond carbon into measurable biodiversity outcomes. For Henderson Land, it aligns the Group’s capital strategy with its sustainability targets while signalling a practical model that other property developers could replicate.
ESG Data and Analytics
EcoVadis and Workiva partner to streamline Scope 3 Reporting
EcoVadis is expanding its Carbon Data Network by integrating Workiva’s reporting platform, aiming to tighten the link between supplier‑level carbon data and corporate disclosure. The partnership connects EcoVadis’ primary supplier emissions data directly into Workiva Carbon, so companies can move from rough industry averages to granular, audit‑ready Scope 3 inputs. EcoVadis acts as the data engine, collecting and validating supplier emissions via its Carbon Action Manager (CAM), while Workiva handles calculation, consolidation, and integrated reporting alongside financial and risk data in a governed, assurance‑ready environment. For procurement and ESG teams, this means one central system for supply chain engagement, decarbonisation workflows, and Scope 3 reporting. The collaboration is part of EcoVadis’ push to build a highly interconnected carbon data ecosystem, using Workiva’s AI‑powered platform to raise reporting accuracy and transparency. For investors and regulators, the main takeaway is that more companies will have access to verified, supplier‑specific carbon figures instead of estimated benchmarks.
Leadership Announcements
Diginex names Archana Kotecha chief impact officer
Diginex has appointed Archana Kotecha as chief impact officer, reinforcing its push into human rights and supply chain due diligence. The move follows Diginex’s acquisition of her advisory firm, The Remedy Project, earlier this year and links her expertise more directly to the company’s product and client strategy. Kotecha brings a background in labor rights, forced labor, grievance systems, remediation, and supply chain investigations. In her new role, she will help turn Diginex’s sustainability, compliance, and supply chain capabilities into integrated client solutions, with a focus on measurable outcomes rather than disclosure alone. The appointment comes as companies face tighter regulation and stronger investor scrutiny over sourcing practices and human rights risks in global supply chains. Diginex said the hire strengthens its ability to support clients navigating a more complex regulatory environment and expands its impact and compliance offering. For Diginex, the message is clear: human rights due diligence is becoming a core business function, and the company wants to position itself as a platform for both advisory work and compliance execution.