News in the spotlight: IFRS S2: The New Emissions Standard That Will Transform ESG – Official Guidance Now Available.
IFRS S2 sets a new global benchmark for climate-related disclosures, focusing on transparent reporting of Scope
1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.This official guidance helps companies align ESG reporting with international sustainability and financial standards.
Products and Services
Microsoft and Carbon Direct Establish Standards for Low-Carbon Building Materials
Microsoft, in partnership with Carbon Direct, has introduced new high-integrity standards for Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) in low-carbon concrete and steel. These standards aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions by verifying measurable and verifiable emissions reductions in construction materials.
Importantly, the framework sets clear criteria for EAC validity—emissions must be additional, catalytic, and independently confirmed. This is one of the first corporate-led initiatives to define quality in voluntary carbon markets for building materials. As a result, Microsoft not only advances net-zero strategies but also leads by example in green construction. Moreover, the initiative helps align procurement policies with climate goals, offering a replicable model for the industry.
By setting a benchmark for others to follow, Microsoft empowers governments, developers, and suppliers to decarbonize the built environment. This positions the company as both an innovator and a catalyst for systemic change in sustainable infrastructure (source: microsoft.com).
Tokio Marine Launches Green Underwriting Unit Targeting $1 Billion Revenue by 2030
Tokio Marine has launched Tokio Marine GX, a new underwriting unit focused on green and low-carbon technologies. The unit will target fast-growing sectors such as green hydrogen, low-emission cement, sustainable shipping, and energy transition infrastructure.
Importantly, the group aims to generate $1 billion in revenue by 2030, offering up to $500 million in coverage per client. This bold move seeks to close the insurance gap that often hampers decarbonization projects. Additionally, Tokio Marine GX plans to introduce innovative insurance solutions—such as tax credit coverage and tailored products for emerging clean technologies. These offerings support both risk mitigation and investment confidence.
As a result, the company strengthens its ESG leadership across Asia and globally. By enabling large-scale climate finance and de-risking new technologies, Tokio Marine positions insurance as a powerful driver of the net-zero transition (source: tokiomarinehd.com).
Green Finance Institute Launches 'Revenues for Nature' Projects
The Green Finance Institute (GFI) has launched the inaugural round of its “Revenues for Nature” program to channel private capital into biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. With up to $200 million in potential financing, the initiative targets scalable nature-based solutions such as regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and habitat protection.
The program introduces a financial model that monetizes ecosystem services—like carbon sequestration and water retention—offering measurable returns for investors. This marks a significant innovation in conservation finance, turning natural capital into a viable asset class.
By aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, GFI ensures that the initiative supports global environmental goals. All projects will be co-developed with local communities and stakeholders to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and measurable ecological impact. This launch positions GFI at the forefront of efforts to scale private investment in nature and redefine how sustainability is financed
(source: greenfinanceinstitute.com).
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
IFRS S2: The New Emissions Standard That Will Transform ESG – Official Guidance Now Available
The IFRS Foundation has released official Q&A guidance to support implementation of the new IFRS S2 standard for climate-related disclosures. This framework clarifies how to report greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3, following the GHG Protocol.
Importantly, the document helps companies align their ESG reporting with both investor expectations and regulatory requirements. As a result, IFRS S2 is expected to become the global baseline for sustainability reporting. Moreover, the guidance offers essential detail for Scope 3 emissions—often the most challenging area of climate reporting. By doing so, it promotes transparency, comparability, and data integrity in ESG metrics.
Organizations preparing for CSRD, ISSB, or other frameworks can use this resource to navigate complex reporting demands and enhance decision-making. Ultimately, it helps build investor trust and enables better risk assessments across markets (source: ifrs.com).
EBA Proposes Streamlined ESG Disclosure Rules to Ease Compliance Burden on Banks
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has opened a public consultation aimed at simplifying ESG disclosure requirements for banks and financial institutions. These revisions, part of the CRR3 package, seek to enhance clarity while reducing administrative burden.
Specifically, the proposals simplify how institutions report ESG risks and equity exposures, especially for smaller and mid-sized entities. By applying a proportional approach, the EBA addresses feasibility concerns while maintaining transparency. Importantly, the changes respond to long-standing feedback from financial firms asking for more workable ESG reporting frameworks. As regulatory expectations increase, the need for streamlined disclosures becomes urgent.
If adopted, the updated rules would standardize ESG data collection, ensure greater consistency across jurisdictions, and reduce reporting fatigue. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback during the consultation period, helping shape a more balanced and practical sustainability reporting landscape in Europe (source: eba.com).
ESG- and Green Bond Issuances
Snam Raises $2 Billion in Landmark USD Sustainability-Linked Bond with Net Zero Target
Snam has issued a groundbreaking $2 billion sustainability-linked bond (SLB) aligned with its net-zero strategy across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The bond features clear KPIs and includes financial penalties if the company fails to meet its decarbonization targets—ensuring accountability.
This issuance highlights Snam’s commitment to full-scope climate action and supports the growing demand for outcome-based green finance. It also reflects investor priorities: transparency, measurability, and performance-driven impact. The proceeds will fund energy transition infrastructure, including biomethane and hydrogen networks, accelerating low-carbon innovation. Notably, the SLB adheres to ICMA principles and received a positive second-party opinion, boosting its credibility in ESG markets.
Snam’s bond showcases how major corporates can link financing directly to science-based climate goals, setting a strong benchmark for the sustainable debt market (source: snam.com).
Amprion Raises €1 Billion via Green Bond to Fund German Energy Transition
Amprion, Germany’s leading electricity transmission operator, has issued a €1 billion green bond to finance critical infrastructure supporting the country’s Energiewende (energy transition). The funds will be used to build high-voltage power lines and implement digital upgrades essential for integrating renewable energy into the national grid.
Aligned with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities, the bond supports Germany’s long-term decarbonization strategy. It also responds to increasing demand for modern, resilient energy infrastructure capable of handling higher volumes of clean energy. Investor interest in the bond was strong, reflecting market confidence in utility-grade ESG assets and Amprion’s stable financial foundation. The capital raised will help boost transmission capacity, reduce energy losses, and improve grid reliability.
As Germany phases out fossil fuels, this green bond marks a strategic step toward scaling clean infrastructure and achieving national and EU climate targets (source: amprion.com).
Net Zero Commitments
OMV to Build One of Europe's Largest Green Hydrogen Plants
OMV has announced a major investment in a 140 MW green hydrogen plant in Austria, positioning it among the largest facilities of its kind in Central Europe. The plant will use renewable-powered electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, significantly reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
This project aligns with OMV’s long-term decarbonization strategy and the European Union’s climate neutrality goals. The hydrogen produced will support industrial applications—such as refining and heavy mobility—where direct electrification remains impractical.
Scheduled to start operations in 2027, the facility will help reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across multiple sectors. It also contributes directly to the EU’s REPowerEU initiative, which seeks to accelerate hydrogen adoption as a clean energy vector. By investing in green hydrogen infrastructure, OMV strengthens its role in Europe’s energy transition and supports scalable solutions for hard-to-abate industries (source: omv.com).
APG Invests €250 Million in SkyNRG to Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel Platform
Dutch pension fund APG is investing €250 million in SkyNRG, a global pioneer in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This strategic investment will scale SAF production capacity and expand infrastructure to meet the growing demand for low-carbon solutions in aviation.
As decarbonizing air travel becomes urgent, SAF offers one of the few viable paths to reduce lifecycle emissions in the sector. APG’s backing reinforces its commitment to climate-aligned investing and directly supports the EU’s Fit for 55 climate objectives.
SkyNRG plans to use the funding to expand production facilities, refine proprietary SAF technologies, and deepen partnerships with airports and fuel suppliers. This collaboration highlights the essential role of institutional capital in driving the clean energy transition in hard-to-abate industries. By bridging financial support and technological advancement, APG and SkyNRG are setting a precedent for sustainable infrastructure in aviation (source: skynrg.com).
ACWA Power to Invest Up to $10 Billion in Malaysia for Renewable Energy and Water Projects
ACWA Power, a leading Saudi Arabian utility developer, has unveiled plans to invest up to $10 billion in renewable energy and sustainable water infrastructure projects across Malaysia. This major green finance commitment includes the development of solar power plants, green hydrogen production, and desalination facilities.
Announced during a high-level government forum, the investment aligns with Malaysia’s energy transition roadmap and supports national climate and industrial goals. These projects are expected to boost clean energy capacity, enhance sustainable water access, and create long-term employment opportunities.
ACWA Power’s move marks its expansion into Southeast Asia, reinforcing South–South cooperation and positioning the region as an emerging hub for ESG investment. Beyond infrastructure, the initiative also promotes technology transfer, regional economic development, and scalable solutions for a low-carbon future (source: acwapower.com).
Leadership Announcements
Railpen, ImpactA Global, and ING Announce Key ESG Leadership Appointments
Railpen, ING, and ImpactA Global have announced strategic ESG leadership appointments, underscoring the growing importance of sustainable finance and regulatory preparedness.
Railpen appointed a new Head of Stewardship to oversee responsible investment and proxy voting. ING is strengthening its global ESG risk strategy with a newly named director focused on aligning operations with sustainability frameworks. Meanwhile, ImpactA Global has reinforced its blended finance team, with a focus on funding infrastructure in emerging markets.
These executive moves reflect a broader shift toward embedding ESG governance into financial institutions’ core strategies. As regulations like CSRD, SFDR, and ISSB advance, talent acquisition becomes vital for ensuring compliance, driving impact outcomes, and building investor trust. Together, these leadership changes signal a renewed commitment to ESG performance, climate risk management, and long-term value creation (source: railpen.com).
ESG Data & Analytics
Watershed Launches Free Global Emissions Database
Watershed has launched Open CEDA, a free and transparent emissions database covering more than 140 countries and 400 economic sectors. Designed to support accurate carbon accounting and ESG reporting, Open CEDA offers standardized emissions factors that organizations can rely on for sustainability disclosures.
This resource is especially valuable for companies calculating Scope 3 emissions, which are notoriously difficult to measure due to complex supply chains. By improving access to high-quality emissions data, Watershed empowers climate-conscious businesses to make informed decisions and reduce their carbon footprint.
The database aligns with widely used frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, making it compatible with many existing reporting platforms. As demand for net-zero strategies grows, Open CEDA fills a critical gap in global climate data infrastructure and promotes transparency and accountability in emissions disclosure (source: watershed.com).
Socialsuite Unveils AI-Driven Double Materiality Assessment Tool for CSRD Compliance
Socialsuite has unveiled a groundbreaking AI-powered platform to automate double materiality assessments, meeting new EU regulatory requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This innovative tool empowers companies to quickly assess how ESG factors impact their business—and how their operations affect society and the environment.
By aligning with ESRS, GRI, and ISSB frameworks, the platform ensures high-quality, consistent sustainability reporting. It enables ESG teams to prioritize both financial and societal material issues through a structured, AI-assisted workflow and stakeholder input integration.
The solution dramatically reduces manual effort, especially for mid-sized and large enterprises that must comply with CSRD mandates. Built-in features like data visualization, risk mapping, and stakeholder engagement tracking make this platform an essential tool for improving ESG governance, transparency, and strategic reporting outcomes (source:socialsuitehq.com).