Today’s ESG Updates
- Dartington Declaration: 500+ scientists urge leaders to halve emissions by 2030 and hit net zero by 2050, warning of looming climate tipping points.
- EU Auto Rules Change: Stellantis backs Germany’s push to ease CO₂ targets and allow more leeway for plug-in hybrids and efficient engines ahead of the Dec 10 review.
- Green Bonds Under Fire: England’s water firms issued £10.5bn since 2017 despite sewage pollution; critics call it “greenwash on steroids.”
- UK Cancels $1.15bn Loan To Mozambique LNG: Government withdraws Ukef support over climate, security and rights concerns.
Now or never: 500+ scientists demand a 50% emissions cut by 2030
More than 500 scientists have signed the Dartington Declaration, a plain call to leaders to act fast on climate. The message is simple: cut global greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 from 2010 levels and reach net zero by 2050. The declaration, coordinated by the University of Exeter and WWF UK, follows new tipping point research that says coral reefs have already crossed a catastrophic threshold.
Why the urgency? Fossil fuels drive most emissions. The signatories want a rapid shift away from coal, oil, and gas, plus a scale-up of nature solutions like protecting forests and soils so stored carbon stays locked away. They also call for “positive tipping points” in clean tech, pointing to the rapid fall in solar and battery costs. With COP30 failing to land a fossil fuel phaseout roadmap, the declaration says action cannot wait for the next summit.
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Further reading: ‘If we wait it will be too late’: Why 500 scientists are backing this urgent climate declaration
Stellantis CEO backs Germany’s bid to ease EU car emissions rules
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa welcomed Berlin’s call to soften EU car emissions rules, saying Germany’s ideas line up with what the auto sector needs to restart growth. The European Commission will unveil proposals on December 10, including a review of CO₂ targets and potential flexibility to keep plug-in hybrids and some high-efficiency combustion cars beyond 2035.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged exemptions as carmakers face slow EV demand and tough competition from China. Stellantis leaders have warned that without adjustments, Europe’s car industry risks decline. Industry asks also include new goals for light commercial vehicles, measures to support small-car production, and faster fleet renewal—aiming to balance decarbonization with jobs and affordability. Filosa said the German plan builds on the ACEA proposal package and could help restore momentum across Europe’s auto market.
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Further reading: Stellantis CEO backs German push to ease EU car emissions rules ahead of key review
Klimado – Navigating climate complexity just got easier. Klimado offers a user-friendly platform for tracking local and global environmental shifts, making it an essential tool for climate-aware individuals and organizations.
England’s water firms issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record
England’s privately owned water companies have sold £10.5bn in green bonds since 2017—about 19% of all UK corporate green bonds (22% if Thames Tideway is included). Anglian Water issued £3.5bn and Thames Water £3.1bn. Green bonds are meant to fund projects with environmental benefits and often come with cheaper borrowing.
Critics say the financing jars with ongoing sewage pollution and a sector that the Environment Agency says worsened last year. Campaign group River Action called the practice “corporate greenwash on steroids.” Thames Water’s owners are seeking up to 15 years of leniency on environmental standards, and the company hasn’t published impact reports for two years (it says they’re coming). Anglian says funds support real improvements and emissions cuts, and urges a more “investable” regulatory framework. Water UK declined to comment.
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Further reading: England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record
UK drops support for Mozambique gas scheme amid rising climate concerns
The UK government has cancelled its $1.15bn (£870m) loan guarantee for the TotalEnergies Mozambique LNG project, citing rising climate, security, and human rights concerns. Business secretary Peter Kyle said UK Export Finance (Ukef) withdrew after reassessing risks that have grown since the project was first approved in 2020. The scheme has been on hold since an Islamist insurgency killed 800 people near the site in 2021, and campaigners say it has caused forced relocations and worsened instability. Groups including Friends of the Earth and Reclaim Finance welcomed the move and urged banks — Standard Chartered, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale — to also withdraw support.
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Further reading: UK pulls $1.15bn loan to Mozambique gas project after climate and terror concerns
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: William Bossen
