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Is now the time for Loss and Damage Action Plans?

1 week ago | illuminem.com | John Leo Algo

Illuminem VoicesSustainable Finance · illuminemX · Climate Change · Public GovernanceThe Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage is now operational. As of its Board meeting last April in Barbados, the FRLD will now proceed to give USD250 million in grants to developing countries for strengthening national responses against loss and damage (L&D). This is part of its “start-up phase” lasting until 2026, with nations able to access up to USD20 million for their projects.
Increasing corporate tax disclosures: Transparency or greenwashing?

2 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Nathan Goldman

Recent academic research explores a United Kingdom reform mandating large companies to disclose reports on tax strategy. The study finds that while the mandate leads to more disclosure, it does not increase overall tax transparency. It concludes that the enhanced tax disclosure requirements may not positively affect tax disclosures as intended.
AI vs. greenwashing: The future of ESG compliance in financial services

2 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Aparna Kumar

Can AI make banking truly sustainable? The financial industry is at a critical crossroads. Sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility—it’s a strategic priority. With governments enacting stricter ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations and stakeholders demanding transparency, financial institutions must redefine how they approach compliance and sustainability. Yet, achieving ESG compliance at scale remains a daunting challenge.
Japan’s hydrogen gamble: What the world can learn | illuminem

2 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Tomoki Matsuno

• Japan has envisioned a 'hydrogen society,' integrating hydrogen across sectors from transportation and steel production to gas and electricity • Japan promotes hydrogen use in power generation, gas blending and passenger vehicles, but this expansive scope raises questions about strategic focus and feasibility • Japan’s journey highlights the need for tailored national strategies that align technology, market design and geopolitical realities As the global pursuit of clean energy...
Forests: Pillars of climate resilience and sustainable agriculture

3 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Dianne Plummer

Forests are the lungs of our planet, absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating temperatures, and shaping the agricultural landscapes that feed billions. In the first article of the series, Forests: Guardians Of Food Security And Climate Resilience, the effects of deforestation and its ability to disrupt global food security, threatening soil health, water availability, and pollinators essential for crop production was discussed.
The leader who reminded us we belong to each other

3 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Paul Polman

Brothers and sisters all, humanity has lost one of its courageous moral voices — but his legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched, and in the movements he inspired. For me, this moment is not just for mourning, but for deep gratitude. We have been fortunate to witness a rare kind of leadership. At a time of widening divides — among nations, within societies, and between humanity and the planet — he offered a steady hand and a moral compass.
Letter to CEO: The power of capitalism

3 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Larry Fink

This article is shared for academic purposes as part of the course illuminem x HEC Paris Greentech University course: developing the next generation of sustainability leaders. Dear CEO,Each year I make it a priority to write to you on behalf of BlackRock’s clients, who are shareholders in your company. The majority of our clients are investing to finance retirement. Their time horizons can span decades. The financial security we seek to help our clients achieve is not created overnight.
It hurts but it is worth it…

3 weeks ago | illuminem.com | Sasja Beslik

Dear all,A silent ESG world. Beaten. Subdued. Coerced. If you listen carefully, you can hear… not much. Silence is doing its dirty work. I remember, a couple of years ago, there were three to four ESG conferences in Europe and across the rest of the world — every month. Panels, experts, presentations, proclamations, commitments. VIP sessions, workshops, education modules. London, Paris. New York, Tokyo.
Corporate sustainability is in crisis. What should companies do now?

1 month ago | illuminem.com | Georg Kell |Martin Reeves |Helena Fox

After much progress over the last two decades, corporate sustainability is at a crossroads. A shifting political landscape — intensifying rivalry between nations, increasing social polarization, and a populist backlash against sustainability efforts — is radically redefining the conditions under which corporations must survive and thrive. Some prominent companies have quietly watered down their ambitions while others are already back-pedaling.
U.S. speeds up energy and mineral projects in a 28-day approval revolution

1 month ago | illuminem.com | David Blackmon

The Department of the Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, published plans on April 23rd to implement emergency permitting procedures that would cut permitting timelines for energy-related projects on federal lands to no more than 28 days.