Even blue-chip companies with the strongest sustainability profiles, including robust ESG-mitigation strategies, have much room to improve their environmental and social impacts.

Wednesday, November 6th 2024 - 11:30 AM (CET)

Scope’s ESG Performance Score captures the three dimensions of a company’s sustainability by combining impact and risk assessment with strategy analysis in a newly comprehensive approach applicable to any firm, large or small.

Green and social covered bond issuance hit USD13.4bn in the first seven months of the year, representing approximately one in 10 new issues. But there is pressure to enforce consistent and standardised ESG disclosures related to cover pools.

Addressing climate change and reducing pollution, amid growing concerns about the impact of vehicle emissions on public health, remains a long, costly and painful journey for the automotive industry, original equipment makers (OEMs) and suppliers alike.

European ESG corporate bond issuance surged to EUR 93bn-equivalent in H1 2024, keeping pace with the torrent of overall market activity and stabilising at around 25% of total bond volumes. We expect full-year ESG issuance to grow 40% year over year.

Investor appetite for ESG corporate bonds cooled in 2023 and issuance from European utilities and real estate companies, historically the market’s two main sector contributors, declined sharply. We expect a moderate pick-up of in overall volumes in 2024.

Stress-test for exposure to drought; chemicals sector faces significant ESG challenges; long-awaited ESG disclosure initiatives by the EU; more ESG-linked debt issuance; EU carbon pricing

Issuance of ESG-linked bonds by non-financial companies in Europe fell sharply in the first half compared with the same period a year ago partly due to a drop in activity from real-estate firms, a trend that is likely to continue in the second half.

Confronted with high CO2 emissions and the dangers of plastic waste and chemical spills, Europe’s chemical companies are having to rethink production processes and how their products are used, presenting credit challenges and business opportunities.