Today’s ESG Updates
- Higher Threat of Shocks to the Economy: The ECB warns of the high level of threats to the economy from different contributing factors.
- Avian Influenza: Researchers and doctors assure that it is unlikely to affect humans on a large scale and vaccines would be more available.
- A photosynthetic bacterium: Common microbe reveals a promising first step toward biological PFAS cleanup.
- Our beaches could be gone: Coastlines around the planet are eroding as climate-driven sea level rise combines with human settlement growth in coastal zones.
The European Central Bank warns of greater economic fragility amid existing threats
The European Central Bank (ECB) in its Supervisory priorities 2026-28 report warns that the threat of shocks to the economy, financial markets, and banks is at an all-time high. “Global uncertainties have surged to exceptional levels, creating an environment of heightened fragility, where risks once considered remote are becoming more likely,” the ECB said. The risks come from “geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies, climate and nature-related crises, demographic change and technological disruptions”, which are pronouncing vulnerabilities in already fragile systems. “Uncertainty is elevated. This combination of factors heightens the risk of sudden and severe disruptions with far-reaching consequences for economies, financial markets and banks alike. It echoes the call to banks over the past years to remain vigilant and to avoid complacency,” said the ECB report.
The ECB mentions they will strengthen the supervision of banks to ensure regulations and policies are followed. Most banks show an inadequate aversion to climate– and nature-related risks, given the growing frequency of natural disasters and the slow progress towards net-zero goals. “Going forward, supervisors will continue to monitor banks’ progress and remediation of shortcomings, while focusing targeted supervisory exercises on prudential transition planning requirements and persisting challenges to banks’ compliance,” it said.
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Further reading: Global risk of shocks is unprecedentedly high, warns ECB
Avian influenza could be the next pandemic
“The bird flu virus that has been spreading among wild birds, poultry and mammals could lead to a pandemic worse than COVID-19 if it mutates to transmit between humans” the head of France’s Institut Pasteur respiratory infections centre said. Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has led to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds in the past few years, disrupting food supplies and driving up prices. “What we fear is the virus adapting to mammals, and particularly to humans, becoming capable of human-to-human transmission, and that virus would be a pandemic virus,” Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti, medical director at the Institut Pasteur’s respiratory infections centre. People have antibodies against common H1 and H3 seasonal flu strains, but none against the H5 bird flu affecting birds and mammals, as they had none against COVID-19. “We need to be prepared to respond early enough. But for the time being, you can happily walk in the forest, eat chicken and eggs and enjoy your life. Pandemic risk is a possibility. But in terms of probability, it’s still very low,” said Gregorio Torres, head of the Science Department at the World Organisation for Animal Health.
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Further reading: Bird flu virus could risk pandemic worse than COVID if it mutates, France’s Institut Pasteur says
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Biological tools that might one day tackle toxic contamination
Scientists working in the labs of Rajib Saha and Nirupam Aich have found that a widespread photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, can interact with perfluorooctanoic acid, a highly resistant member of the PFAS family. The discovery offers a possible solution to protect water quality and public health by using natural microbes to help reduce PFAS pollution. During controlled lab tests, the researchers observed that R. palustris removed about 44% of PFOA from its surroundings within 20 days. Much of that absorbed chemical later returned to the environment, most likely because the cells broke apart. “This gives us a foundation to explore future genetic or systems biology interventions that could improve retention or even enable biotransformation” said Saha, Richard L. and Carol S. McNeel Associate Professor.
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Further reading: This tiny microbe may be the key to fighting forever chemicals
Our beaches are under threat from climate change and increasing human settlement
Concern about the threat on diverse life that depends on sandy environments, was raised by Uruguayan marine scientist Omar Defeo, a professor at Uruguay’s University of the Republic (UdelaR), during the opening sessions of the FAPESP Day Uruguay symposium, on November 13 in Montevideo. “Almost half of the beaches will disappear by the end of the century. We in Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina share these resources. Therefore, we must work in partnership with Brazilian scientists to manage and conserve coastal ecosystems,” Defeo said. A study led by Brazilian researcher Guilerme Corte, shows that increased numbers of beachgoers have the strongest negative impact on species richness and biomass, especially in submerged zones. Buildings constructed directly on the sand and mechanical beach cleaning also reduce species richness and biomass.
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Further reading: Scientists warn half the world’s beaches could disappear
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: European Central Bank.
