EU sustainable funds invest in major polluters

EU-regulated "sustainable" funds invest billions in polluting companies, including fast fashion and fossil fuel firms, misleading investors about their environmental impact.

Ajit Niranjan, Giorgio Michalopoulos, and Stefano Valentino report for The Guardian.

In short:

EU-regulated sustainable funds have invested $18 billion in the 200 biggest polluters.
Funds marketed as environmentally-friendly include significant investments in high-emission sectors.
Campaigners call for stricter regulations to prevent greenwashing and misleading labels.

Key quote:

"Pension savers and the general public are being misled when it comes to sustainable finance."

— Lara Cuvelier, sustainable investment campaigner at Reclaim Finance

Why this matters:

The allure of sustainability has attracted a significant number of investors seeking to align their portfolios with their values. However, the lack of stringent criteria and transparency within the EU's regulatory framework has allowed companies with questionable environmental practices to slip through the cracks. Fast fashion, notorious for its massive carbon footprint and waste generation, and fossil fuel firms, the main contributors to climate change, are among the top beneficiaries of these "sustainable" funds.

www.theguardian.com

EU sustainable funds invest in major polluters

States OK solar panels for balconies. Safety guidelines haven't caught up

Evidence builds showing climate change could be intensifying El Niño events

Oatly joins climate journalism campaign

‘Digger’ is the year’s big climate movie. This climate reporter hated it

Heatwaves, wildfires expose a third of world to extreme ozone pollution

A 100-year-old freezer rule has a hidden climate cost

World's tallest wind turbine reaches final height in Germany's former coal mining region

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.