Jeremy Whannell

Ecobnb's sustainable tourism platform generated significant environmental and social impact in 2025, avoiding 58,207 kg of CO₂ and adding 583 eco-friendly accommodations. With a Social Return on Investment of 6.09, every euro invested created over €6 in community and environmental value. The platform continues expanding globally through responsible travel, reforestation, and regenerative tourism initiatives.

Swisscanto launches a Luxembourg UCITS catastrophe bond fund, giving qualified investors access to insurance-linked securities tied to extreme natural events. The fund aims to provide diversification through low correlation with traditional markets and is managed by a specialized team using quantitative models and risk frameworks to capture potential returns from catastrophe-related premiums.

Biodiversity is becoming central to the real estate sector, driven by regulations like the Biodiversity Net Gain and the demand for resilient assets. To avoid the “brown discount” and create true value, the sector is shifting from aesthetic greenery to functional approaches using native species and urban regeneration.

The French energy company TotalEnergies is appealing a decision by the Paris Judicial Court, which, for the first time in France, established that the company's monitoring plan must also take into account the climate impacts resulting from the use of the products it sells, as part of the law on the duty of vigilance.

Mercedes-Benz expands its partnership with Hydro to accelerate supply chain decarbonization. Future electric vehicles will use Hydro CIRCAL aluminum containing at least 75% post-consumer recycled material, reducing emissions and raw material needs. The agreement builds on a 2022 collaboration and supports Mercedes-Benz's goal of cutting production emissions and achieving carbon-neutral materials by 2039.

Sustainable funds attracted $3.7 billion in global inflows in Q2 2026, pushing assets to a record $3.7 trillion. Europe remained the dominant market, while investors favored passive strategies and selective products. Bond funds gained popularity, ESG equities faced outflows, and regulation continued reshaping the sector through stricter standards and consolidation.

A U.S. federal appeals court ruled that the EPA cannot revoke nearly $20 billion in clean energy funding approved under Biden's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The decision blocks attempts to cancel grants based on political changes, protecting climate investments. Funds remain frozen pending possible Supreme Court action, amid ongoing disputes over U.S. climate policy.

Climate Action 100+ has revised its 2026 Net Zero Company Benchmark to simplify ESG assessments, reduce duplication, and improve investor relevance. The World Benchmarking Alliance will assess climate governance and absolute emissions, while InfluenceMap will manage lobbying metrics. Several less-material indicators have been removed, strengthening the focus on governance, transition strategies, capital allocation, and actual emissions reductions.

The TEHA Group study warns that climate inaction is becoming more costly for businesses and economies. Italy could lose 9.5% of GDP by 2035 without climate action. Meanwhile, 75.5% of companies plan to maintain or increase ESG investments, prioritizing energy efficiency, innovation and circular economy strategies that strengthen competitiveness, resilience and financial performance.

A UN study warns that AI's rapid growth could significantly increase energy, water, land, and e-waste impacts. By 2030, data centers may consume 945 TWh annually and 9.3 trillion liters of water. Daily AI use, especially image and video generation, drives much consumption. Sustainable AI requires transparency, efficiency, responsible governance, international cooperation, and environmental equity.