ESG

The European Commission has clarified that the EU sustainable finance framework does not impose structural barriers to defense industry investment. This guidance addresses concerns raised in the Wennink report about financing obstacles for European defense companies, confirming that responsible defense investments can contribute to EU resilience and security while remaining compatible with ESG requirements.

The Philippines lacks comprehensive carbon rights legislation and carbon trading laws, yet carbon projects continue to develop across the country. In response to this regulatory gap and aligned with international climate commitments, Philippine regulators have recently issued new regulations establishing frameworks for carbon project implementation in the forestry and energy sectors.

The European Union's ESG Ratings Regulation introduces a comprehensive regulatory framework for ESG ratings providers that may unexpectedly capture asset managers using proprietary ESG scoring methodologies in their marketing materials. Asset managers must carefully evaluate whether their ESG-related disclosures, particularly in pitchbooks and case studies, fall within the Regulation's scope and determine their compliance strategy before the July 2026 implementation date.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has formally initiated the process of withdrawing its 2024 climate-risk disclosure regulation (“The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures...