News in the spotlight: Mizuho Targets ESG Leadership with Augusta & Co Acquisition
Mizuho’s acquisition of Augusta & Co marks a strategic leap into the heart of Europe’s clean energy advisory landscape. This bold move positions the Japanese bank as a rising force in ESG finance, M&A, and energy transition leadership.
Products and Services
Corporate Cash Goes Green: Standard Chartered Launches ESG-Aligned Liquidity Platform
Standard Chartered has introduced a new sustainable cash management solution for corporate clients, signaling a major shift in how treasury services align with ESG goals. This green platform helps companies manage their working capital while meeting sustainability targets, offering transparency, efficiency, and environmental benefits. It integrates ESG metrics directly into cash flow structures, enabling corporates to optimize both financial and climate performance. The offering reflects a broader trend among global banks to turn back-office functions into climate-aligned tools. For clients, it provides a seamless way to advance sustainability without compromising liquidity. For the bank, it differentiates its services in an increasingly purpose-driven marketplace. As green finance moves from investment to infrastructure, tools like this will be essential for mainstream ESG integration across corporate operations (source: sc.com).
Banking on Resilience: NGFS Unveils Climate Adaptation Blueprint for Financial Institutions
The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) has released a new framework to integrate climate adaptation into financial transition planning. This forward-thinking initiative equips banks and regulators with guidance on how to embed resilience to physical climate risks in long-term strategies. Unlike previous frameworks focused solely on decarbonization, this one addresses the need to adapt to rising climate volatility—floods, droughts, fires, and storms. It encourages institutions to assess systemic risk, develop scenario planning, and support adaptation-related investments. The move expands ESG finance from mitigation to holistic risk management. For investors and policymakers, it signals a maturing of the financial sector’s role in climate stability. NGFS’s blueprint may serve as a global reference, helping finance not only reduce emissions, but also withstand their consequences (source: ngfs.com).
From Exclusion to Engagement: Emirates NBD Shifts Toward Nature-Positive Finance
Emirates NBD has announced it will begin moving away from exclusion-based policies on biodiversity and nature, opting instead for active client engagement. The decision marks a significant evolution in how the bank approaches environmental risk—shifting from simple divestment to constructive dialogue and stewardship. By choosing engagement, Emirates NBD aims to guide clients toward more sustainable land use, conservation practices, and biodiversity reporting. The bank’s pivot reflects growing recognition that financial institutions must be allies in nature-positive transition, not merely watchdogs. It also follows global trends where regulators and stakeholders are urging deeper integration of nature into financial frameworks. This leadership move positions Emirates NBD as a proactive force in aligning finance with natural capital goals—opening new pathways for green innovation and impact (source: emiratesnbd.com).
Strategic Sustainability: Mizuho Acquires Augusta & Co to Boost Green Advisory Firepower
Japanese banking giant Mizuho has acquired Augusta & Co, a London-based investment advisory firm specializing in renewable energy and energy transition. The acquisition positions Mizuho to lead in ESG advisory, M&A, and project finance across Europe and beyond. It reflects the bank’s growing focus on climate-aligned services and underscores the increasing strategic importance of sustainability expertise. As investors demand climate-credible deal pipelines, banks need specialized teams to deliver. Augusta’s deep track record in clean energy makes Mizuho more competitive in the global ESG finance arena. The move is part of a wider trend: major financial institutions are acquiring or building out ESG capabilities to meet surging client expectations. In a world where climate policy, technology, and finance intersect, leadership means more than vision—it requires action, scale, and execution. Mizuho’s bold step could set a benchmark for climate-focused growth strategies in finance (source: mizuhogroup.com).
Regulations, Law and Frameworks
Climate Justice Takes the Stand: ICJ Declares State Duty to Act on Emissions
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has delivered a landmark advisory opinion, declaring that states have a legal obligation under international law to mitigate climate change. The ruling confirms that climate inaction could violate human rights and international treaties, opening the door to potential litigation. While non-binding, the opinion strengthens accountability frameworks and sets a precedent for future legal actions by vulnerable nations. It also highlights the role of international courts in shaping climate governance where politics fall short. The ICJ’s intervention reflects growing momentum behind climate justice—especially for Small Island Developing States and emerging economies most affected by global warming. Legal recognition of climate obligations raises the stakes for governments worldwide and pressures national policies to align with global environmental commitments. It’s a milestone in the shift from voluntary climate action to enforceable duty (source: blackstonechambers.com).
Inclusive by Design: Australia’s Green Taxonomy Opens Doors for Transition Sectors
Australia has unveiled a distinctive sustainable finance taxonomy that welcomes sectors previously excluded from ESG financing—especially heavy emitters with credible transition plans. Unlike the EU’s more rigid approach, Australia’s framework includes so-called “green-enabling” and “hard-to-abate” industries, recognizing their role in long-term decarbonization. The goal is to attract capital to transition projects while maintaining environmental integrity through strict thresholds and disclosure rules. This inclusionary approach has been praised for its pragmatism and potential as a global model. It reflects a shift toward finance that supports realistic, just transitions rather than only green perfection. For companies and investors operating in carbon-intensive sectors, Australia’s taxonomy may unlock financing avenues once considered off-limits. It’s a reminder that climate ambition must also be grounded in economic reality (source: climatebonds.com).
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Rating Agencies Urged to Reform ESG Models for Emerging Markets
Investment firm Ninety One has called on credit rating agencies to develop separate ESG assessment methodologies tailored to emerging markets (EMs). Currently, most ESG risk models apply standards designed for developed economies, often unfairly penalizing EM sovereign debt and corporate issuers. This practice can distort capital allocation, reinforce funding inequalities, and overlook local progress. Ninety One argues that without differentiated frameworks, rating agencies perpetuate systemic bias in ESG investing. The call comes amid growing debate over the fairness and applicability of global ESG benchmarks. Investors and regulators alike are recognizing that context matters—and that applying a one-size-fits-all lens undermines both impact and opportunity. A tailored approach could unlock ESG capital for vital transition projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America (source: ninetyone.com).
ESG- and Green Bond Issuances
India Joins the ESG Club: Landmark SLB Issuance by Vertis Infrastructure
India has entered the sustainability-linked bond (SLB) market with a landmark $104 million issuance by Vertis Infrastructure Trust, marking the country’s first infrastructure SLB. Backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the deal ties financing to measurable ESG performance targets in toll road development. It signals growing momentum for ESG financing in emerging markets, where infrastructure needs and climate goals intersect. The bond includes interest rate step-ups tied to sustainability KPIs, adding accountability. For India, the issuance reflects both regulatory readiness and investor confidence in climate-linked infrastructure. It also sets a precedent for other asset classes, including energy and transport. As ESG investing moves beyond developed economies, deals like this prove that sustainable finance can support inclusive, high-impact development. This SLB isn’t just a financial innovation—it’s a policy-aligned tool for decarbonizing India’s infrastructure sector (source: highwaystrust.com).
Green Bonds Go Global: Japan, Iberdrola, and Terna Expand Sustainable Debt Market
Global leaders in energy and infrastructure are ramping up sustainable debt issuance. Japan’s government and major utilities like Iberdrola (Spain) and Terna (Italy) have launched new green and sustainability-linked bonds to fund clean power, grid upgrades, and transition projects. These offerings reflect surging institutional demand for ESG-labeled instruments with credible climate impact. The bonds adhere to international standards, with clear use-of-proceeds and performance metrics. For issuers, green bonds offer reputational and financial benefits—lower borrowing costs, diversified investor bases, and stronger stakeholder alignment. For buyers, they deliver exposure to real-world climate solutions with embedded impact. As the market matures, scrutiny around transparency and impact verification is growing. Still, green debt is no longer niche—it’s foundational to climate finance. With trillions needed annually for the transition, ESG bonds are becoming one of the most scalable, effective tools to mobilize capital at speed and scale (source: terna.com).
Net Zero Commitments
Green Hydrogen Goes Industrial: Kimberly-Clark Invests $165M in UK Decarbonization
Kimberly-Clark has committed over $165 million to develop green hydrogen infrastructure for its UK manufacturing operations, marking one of the company’s largest industrial decarbonization efforts. The project will replace natural gas with clean hydrogen, targeting a 50% reduction in fossil fuel use by 2027. This investment supports broader net-zero ambitions while enhancing energy security and resilience. It also aligns with the UK’s national hydrogen strategy, reflecting industry-government alignment on clean energy. As a consumer goods giant, Kimberly-Clark’s move sends a strong signal to the broader sector: industrial decarbonization is not only possible but already underway. The initiative combines climate impact with economic opportunity, creating a blueprint for manufacturers looking to cut emissions while modernizing infrastructure. Green hydrogen, once considered niche, is rapidly becoming a pillar of climate strategy—and Kimberly-Clark is leading by example (source: csrwire.com).
ESG Data & Analytics
Turning Climate Science Into Strategy: Jupiter Intelligence Empowers Finance with Risk Tools
Jupiter Intelligence has launched an advanced analytics platform that enables banks and investors to measure physical climate risk across portfolios. The tools model exposure to events like floods, wildfires, heatwaves, and sea-level rise—translating environmental data into actionable financial metrics. With global regulation moving toward mandatory climate disclosure, this technology arrives at a critical time. It allows firms to assess resilience, guide capital flows, and support compliance with frameworks like TCFD and ISSB. Jupiter’s platform reflects a growing shift from qualitative ESG statements to quantitative climate intelligence. For asset managers and insurers, this marks a
step-change in risk modeling. Climate data is no longer abstract—it’s a competitive asset. With physical risks mounting, tools like Jupiter’s are becoming indispensable in building credible, climate-aligned strategies. The future of ESG will be data-led, science-based, and precision-driven (source: jupiterintel.com).